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OMG, coming from a person that did not grow up in the Black Hills area, the schools here SUCK!!! The only sure bet schools in Rapid are on the westside. Many of the rest of our schools are not meeting NCLB and go on and off warning status every other year.
STAY AWAY from the north part of town. Most of the students there are on free meals/assistance.
Somebody ought to tell those kids that they need to get out and get a job!
OMG, coming from a person that did not grow up in the Black Hills area, the schools here SUCK!!! The only sure bet schools in Rapid are on the westside.
57701 -entire Northside, some Southside
57702 -entire Westside, some Southside
57709 -Rapid Valley, Box Elder, Villa Ranchaero
57718 -Summerset, Piedmont, Piedmont Valley
STAY AWAY from the north part of town. Most of the students there are on free meals/assistance.
Oh no... not the free meal kids Free meals or assistance does not = crime - Hate to burst your bubble but many people are on assistance - probably many that you would not expect Just something to think about before you say something that may offend people in real life - watch the associations you make!
Many of the service jobs at businesses pay low with lackluster benefits and places a burden on families trying to make ends meet and that may be why some of them turn to assistance. I often wonder how a family can make it when two parents are working their tails off and are stuck in jobs that pay $8 to $10 per hour, which is scraping by in a larger town such as Rapid City (which have higher housing expenses on top of that). If the corporations pay their workers better with better benefits, this may take some of the burden off of the social service system (thus saving tax dollars).
Unfortuntely, there are some people who abuse the welfare system and should be working instead of staying at home, even if it is at a fast food place or discount store. The government benefits should be better targeted to improving job skills and assisting with child care expenses along with more focused assistance than an unrestricted money stipend.
I have grown up with having foster kids in the house and see this as a two-way street and different perspectives. Some who are on assistance are ones who are working hard and scraping by and regrettably others who are one who are a drain on our society (ones who have their kids taken away due to abuse or neglect, ones who have substance control issues, and/or ones who lack ambition to work and provide the best within their means for their families).
One thing that makes Rapid City different from most cities is that it can be divided very easily. Right down the middle of the city form north to south is a chain of hills that goes all the way round the north eastern edge of the hills. There are three major ways from the east to west side -the gap, I90, and Catron blv. Then there is the Green belt around rapid creek, which divides the center and south rapid areas with north rapid. Danny described the different areas well. Also, another nice area is the black hawk summerset area, aka, the foothills valley. Most of the housing is situated just off the pines, and everyone in that area is a nice short 1-2 miles off of I90. If you have kids, you also benfet from having the choice of going to rapid city public schools, Sturgis schools, or of course the private schools (the catholic school system is top notch)
or of course the private schools (the catholic school system is top notch)
Well sure it is! Just look at me!
About 7 years ago, the only way to get to the westside was through "The Gap". Considering half the city lives on the westside and most businesses are on the other side of town, traffic was TERRIBLE during the morning and afternoon commutes. Catron Boulevard and the Southeast Connector are the best things that ever happened to Rapid City growth-wise. There was consideration for a tunnel through the hills for a long time.
btw, only live in the 57718 area if you're ok with kids (if you have or are going to have any) being bussed to Sturgis for middle/high school. Those towns are in Meade county, not Pennington, so they don't attend upper schools in Rapid City. (unless that's changed recently)
57718 can attend Rapid City Schools - they even bus in the area so yes, it has changed.
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Just something to think about before you say something that may offend people in real life - watch the associations you make!
