california to PA (Harrisburg, Carlisle, Hershey: house, transfer, best school)

[joja]

Hi there

My husband is being transferred to Harrisburg...I have no clue where to move. We currently live in So California in a fairly nice area, terrific schools and each home is on approx 1 acre land. I have an 8 year old so good schools are important. I have checked out Hershey, and Carlisle any other suggestions? I want a city or town with character, good neighbors who care about eachother, great school community and all the usual stuff. Any input? Thanks so much...BTW, I am California born and raised and have never lived in the snow...am I crazy to let my husband take this job?

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by joja

BTW, I am California born and raised and have never lived in the snow...am I crazy to let my husband take this job?

There's not as much snow in Harrisburg as there is in Northern, Central and Western Pennsylvania. The climate of Harrisburg and south eastern PA is considered a mid-atlantic climate which is milder than the other areas of Pennsylvania.

Coming from California, you'll be amazed that the Harrisburg area is relatively traffic free---even during rush hour. You can be almost anywhere in minutes.

Where to live?

The western shore suburbs are considered more upscale than the eastern shore suburbs. Many of the western shore suburbs are in a different county----Cumberland County----whereas Harrisburg is in Dauphin County. Camp Hill is the best school district in Cumberland County.

Here's the school rankings for Dauphin County:

1 Camp Hill Camp Hill Cumberland 1480.0 1410.0 2890.0
2 Trinity High Trinity High Cumberland 1420.0 1410.0 2830.0
3 Carlisle Area Carlisle Area Cumberland 1390.0 1410.0 2800.0
4 Cumberland Valley Cumberland Valley Cumberland 1370.0 1340.0 2710.0
5 Cedar Cliff West Shore Cumberland 1340.0 1340.0 2680.0
6 East Pennsboro Area East Pennsboro Area Cumberland 1360.0 1300.0 2660.0
7 Mechanicsburg Area Mechanicsburg Area Cumberland 1350.0 1310.0 2660.0
8 Boiling Springs South Middleton Cumberland 1340.0 1310.0 2650.0
9 Red Land West Shore Cumberland 1300.0 1300.0 2600.0
10 Shippensburg Area Shippensburg Area Cumberland 1300.0 1290.0 2590.0
11 Big Spring Big Spring Cumberland 1240.0 1220.0 2460.0

Here's the school rankings for Dauphin County:

1 Central Dauphin Central Dauphin Dauphin 1390.0 1400.0 2790.0
2 Hershey Derry Township Dauphin 1410.0 1330.0 2740.0
3 Susquehanna Twp Susquehanna Township Dauphin 1380.0 1350.0 2730.0
4 Millersburg Area Millersburg Area Dauphin 1330.0 1340.0 2670.0
5 Lower Dauphin Lower Dauphin Dauphin 1360.0 1270.0 2630.0
6 Central Dauphin East Central Dauphin Dauphin 1300.0 1320.0 2620.0
7 Middletown Area Middletown Area Dauphin 1300.0 1320.0 2620.0
8 Upper Dauphin Area Upper Dauphin Area Dauphin 1290.0 1260.0 2550.0
9 Halifax Area Halifax Area Dauphin 1250.0 1250.0 2500.0
10 Alt. Rehab. Community Alt. Rehab. Community Dauphin 1210.0 1240.0 2450.0
11 Dauphin County Avts Dauphin County Avts Dauphin 1180.0 1180.0 2360.0
12 Steelton-Highspire Steelton Highspire Dauphin 1130.0 1190.0 2320.0
13 Harrisburg Harrisburg City Dauphin 1080.0 1100.0 2180.0

If your husband doesn't mind a little bit of a commute (1 hour), consider moving north toward the Sellinsgrove area in Snyder County. Selinsgove and surrounding towns are homes to many colleges. As a result, it's a fairly upscale area for being rural. Plus there's a decent sized Amish population up there which adds to the community feel.

Here's the school rankings for Snyder County:

1 Selinsgrove Area Selinsgrove Area Snyder 1320.0 1320.0 2640.0
2 Middleburg Midd West Snyder 1300.0 1280.0 2580.0
3 West Snyder Midd West Snyder 1220.0 1290.0 2510.0

[EdKnov2002]

I was born and raised in Pennsylvania. I really do not like Pennsylvania because it is awful worse weather and very poor economy in Pennsylvania and I had very poor education in Pennsylvania. California has alot great educations better than Pennsylvania. My daughters are happy they love educations here in CA better than PA. We cant comfortable with many bullies at schools in PA. I dont like many rednecks and hunters in PA. They are crazy and rude. California does not has redneck or hunter. I have problem with mexicans in Los Angeles. Mexicans alway make messy in Los Angeles. I wish they go back to Mexico. I know Oregon is better than PA. Oregon is perfect! I had too small paying job in PA. That sucks, but I have a very good job here in CA but I have problem to pay very high cost to live in house here in Pasadena, but I heard about desert and Riverside County are very affordable to live but I dont want to live in hot weather.

[danwxman]

Originally Posted by EdKnov2002

I was born and raised in Pennsylvania. I really do not like Pennsylvania because it is awful worse weather and very poor economy in Pennsylvania and I had very poor education in Pennsylvania. California has alot great educations better than Pennsylvania. My daughters are happy they love educations here in CA better than PA. We cant comfortable with many bullies at schools in PA. I dont like many rednecks and hunters in PA. They are crazy and rude. California does not has redneck or hunter. I have problem with mexicans in Los Angeles. Mexicans alway make messy in Los Angeles. I wish they go back to Mexico. I know Oregon is better than PA. Oregon is perfect! I had too small paying job in PA. That sucks, but I have a very good job here in CA but I have problem to pay very high cost to live in house here in Pasadena, but I heard about desert and Riverside County are very affordable to live but I dont want to live in hot weather.

I nominate this for worst post ever.

[mcorrales]

that if this post was an example of bad education in PA it would be all over for PA. PA is a state that prizes education. Lived there in the 1970's and when I had to move back to CA when my dad got sick, my 9 year old daughter was doing high school level work for California! California in general has low achieving schools, there are exceptions of course, but in general, the schools are not a priority in our political agendas except as a way to get elected and then they let things go on as usual. I went to private school here 40 years ago, and the public schools have not improved at all. My middle daughter and her husband will not leave SoCal, but they know and have planned accordingly to put their one and only child in private school as they want her well educated. The second poster on this thread needs to go back to school and not blame their lack of education on a state, but themself. You may not get educated in the schools, but a person can educate themselves with awareness. I would never post something that showed my lack of education that way in a public forum. I too, nominate it for the worse post ever.

[mcorrales]

I meant worst ever post.