Is Tennessee the place for me? (Knoxville, Franklin: best schools, university, to live)

[LESMC]

I've found myself in a place where I am able to move where ever I like now...I have always lived in the Southeast and I love the people in the South. I am a teacher and am not too concerned about finding a job. I love the outdoors and mountains....I'd also like to live somewhere that has REAL seasons. I love the small town feel of places but don't want to be too far from the city. Any ideas? What would be the best schools for me to work at or have my child attend.

Laura

[stara6]

I can tell you that Cookeville has one of the best rated school systems in the state. I relocated here from Cincinnati, OH and have been very pleased. The people are nice and there's enough to do - for me. We're 1.5 hrs from Nashville and about 2 hrs from Knoxville and Chatanooga.

[JMT]

Cookeville really is a great place. It's a small town (under 30,000) but yet it's got big-city amenities like shopping, restaurants, the symphony, etc. Having a university in town really helps.

And the schools there are outstanding. Because it's an open school system, you can live anywhere in the county and send your daughter to any school in the county (as long as you provide transportation). Capshaw Elementary in downtown Cookeville has one of the state's few programs for gifted students. Cookeville High is one of only five high schools in the state with the International Baccalaureate program (the others are in Nashville and Franklin).

And Cookeville is only an hour from the Nashville airport.