RC move with questions about military services and schools (Rapid City: low crime, loans)

[kazmom2]

Hi All,
After doing a lot of reading on the Rapid City forums, I am ready to
post of few questions My family and I are anxious to move out of Georgia, where we live now. For months we have been looking at different states and towns/cities ,settling at one time on either Utah or Idaho. One thing I have done is pull up crime stats on every community that I thought would be a good relocation city. At that time, I never,ever, had South Dakota on our radar!

As I pulled up state stats, South Dakota began to shine-low on crime, in the top 5 states for good driving, and the most recent stat- SD students are at the top to repay their college loans..... I then began to look closer at Rapid City, Deadwood (my husband visited years ago), and Spearfish.

I would be grateful for any information you can give me on a few areas of concern and interest:
1. We have 2 children (13,14) and a grandson(2) that live with us. We home school right now through a wonderful program called K-12 (a virtual academy). It is part of our public school system and an option for parents in many states. It looks like SD does not have this program right now. I am wondering if it might become part of the ed system in the future. I am home schooling my son primarily because he is a special needs student. If we had to put him into the public school system in either RC or Spearfish, does anyone have personal knowledge of the special education curriculum?

2.My husband is retired military and I see that Ellsworth Air Force Base is close to Rapid. I would be interested in hearing from anyone else who has experience with Tricare Prime (medical), and on-base availability of shopping and other services.

3. Does Rapid City have a district with historic older homes? We live in an older (1881) home now and I would be interested in buying another one. However, I think that my husband would prefer to live outside the city limits and have a little room to roam. So, we are open on the housing.

I have really enjoyed reading all of the past blog posts and feel that through them have gotten a good feel for the RC community. I go to the Rapid City Journal website and read up on local events and weather there. Speaking of weather, it is 80 here today and I am so ready for that 50/60 degree FALL weather in SD

Happy Halloween!

[DannyBanany]

Kazmom, it's great to hear that you are interested in Rapid City! There is low crime, no traffic, and plenty of fresh clean air. I don't know if SD has the "K-12 Program" but many people home school their children. Other forum members have differing opinions on Rapid City public schools but I think that they're fine for the most part. Some schools may be a little overcrowded and some probably offer more programs than others, but unfortunately that is found most anywhere nowadays. I went to the Catholic schools in Rapid City and they are outstandig in academics, but I often wish I would have gone to public school so I could take more electives like film, photography, and drama.

Ellsworth is about 2 miles east of Rapid City and hopefully someone else will come along to talk about healthcare. There are two VAs in the Black Hills -one in Hot Springs, the other Fort Meade.

Rapid City has a BEAUTIFUL older district called the West Boulevard Historic District. It's about two miles long and 8 blocks wide and it's right next to downtown. Many turn of the century homes that have been restored and a nice wide boulevard in the center to walk your dog on. I also like some of the mid-century modernism homes on the Westside (big windows, low rooves). If you want something out of town a little ways there are plenty of options as well.

Happy Halloween too!

[exflyguy]

I'm retired military too & looking to move to SD, however probably not for awhile. I haven't researched the medical aspect but here's a Tricare site that will help you.

PS - you can search several ways - for a zip search I just used 57701 (I think that's in Rapid City) and picked a 50 mile radius. You can search by city/state too ...

I'm not sure if these ar network providers only or authorized providers or both - didn't spend too much time on the site. 'Good hunting ...

General Tricare site:
Welcome to TRICARE, your Military Health Plan

and more specifically ...

TRIW - Provider Directory - Search Provider

[Whob2b]

BX is very small but works in a pinch for base residents. Commissary is probably the smallest I've seen in the bases we've been to but has pretty much everything you need and what you can't find there you can easily find in RC (I'm not fond of their produce section). As for the retired aspect to Tricare, I can't offer any help as we are still active duty.

[kazmom2]

I am so appreciative to get all of your input. DannyBanany, I saw that Rapid City does have a Catholic school, but it looks like it is only up to 8th grade. I went to Catholic school, too, and would love for my kids to go. Unfortunately, my daughter will be in high school by the time we move. Catholic Schools rarely have the financial ability to accomodate special needs students, so that leaves my son out.
The West Boulevard Historic District sounds great. I guess I could do some research to find out about schools it is zoned for.
Exflyguy-thanks for all of the links. You have made my life so much easier!
Whob2b-we are spoiled right now with an awesome commissary (the selection is really good). I did a little bit of reading on Ellsworth and it sounds like it is a fairly small base. I am near Fort Gordon, in Augusta, GA, and the military is certainly putting money into the hospital and this installation.

[DannyBanany]

There is a Catholic High School. Saint Elizabeth Seton is K-8 and Saint Thomas More is 9-12.

[kazmom2]

Thanks! Yes, I knew about St. Elizabeth Seton, but not St. Thomas More HS.
I requested a packet of information and am glad to have this option.

On another subject-do you know if Rapid City has a community theatre group?

[DannyBanany]

There is the Black Hills Playhouse and the Dahl Fine Arts Museum has a community theatre too. Central HS also has an excellent theatre department.

Black Hills Playhouse - Broadway Quality... Black Hills Prices
The Dahl

[Jammie]

Danny, it's always great to see you in your home state forum. It looks so out of place to see your new location on your posts. I'm so used to your former area being there.

[kazmom2]

Thanks-I am a theatre major and taught middle school theatre arts. It is good
to know that there are several theatre choices!