Moving to Abilene Next Year

[fallguy]

LeneCityThrasher-
Thanks for your great post!! It brought a smile to my face & a laugh to my mouth & throat. After graduating McKinney, H.S. I attended Hardin-Simmons then ACU for something bigger but I didn't know it would be real strict, mostly mean & I'd get my *** handed to me for not being (R) or Church of Christ.

I grad. TX TECH for something kinder.

Later,
fallguy

[JamesAbilene]

Originally Posted by uktexn

My husband and I are moving to Abilene this summer. I have read the post, but want to know if they are outdated. We have been told that we want Wylie schools over Abilene schools for our kids. Does anyone have any opinions on schools? My husband is also a rider,but of sport bikes. He was told there might be a track for him to race near by. Doe anyone know about those? I will also be job hunting, but in the education field. I currently teaching at the junior college on base here,but want to get back to elementary grades. We are currently living in England so we are trying to prepare our children for the culture shock. Thank you for anyones help or opinions about Abilene.

Now is the time to strike if you are looking for a teaching job. Abilene is in the Region 14 Education Service Center. All schools in that area except for Abilene post job openings on this web site. The URL is:
Region 14 Education Service Center
Click on the job opportunity link on the left side. There are not too many jobs listed right now, but teachers have to turn in their signed contracts or reject them in most districts by April 1. As a result, lots of jobs will be listed in the next month or so. Check it every few days.

Wylie, Jim Ned (located in the Tuscola and Buffalo Gap area), Abilene, Clyde, Baird, Hawley, Hamby, Tye, and Merkel are just some of the school districts within an easy drive of the Abilene area.

Abilene ISD has lost population the last few years, and it is tough to get a job there. However, there are jobs on their web site also. The URL is
http://www.abileneisd.org. Click on employment opportunities on the left. Again, jobs will begin to be posted in the next month or so.

If you have taught college, there are several in the city. McMurry University, Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University, Embry-Riddle University (at Dyess AFB), Cisco Junior College, Texas State Technical College, Texas Tech School of Engineering and School of Pharmacy are all in the city.

My wife has taught in the Abilene ISD for 29 years. She thinks it is a good school district. It is quite diverse. Read the web site for more information.

Jim Ned ISD and Wylie ISD are the growing school districts. Neither is as diverse as Abilene. I think they are both good school districts. I know that some people think that they are better than the Abilene district, but the Abilene district has a number of excellent schools within its boundaries.

I would get applications to the school districts right away. Good luck.

[butterflybird]

I know someone who lives in the area and thinks Abilene sucks, sorry to say it, but the opinion of the place is not high. The housing stock particularly looks very run down, the people in town don't seem to have much pride in their homes (peeling paint, weeds,), lots of junky areas with abandoned storefronts. But there are some nicer areas, but nothing special, and overpriced for what you get. There's the universities, Hardin Simmons and ACU but I don't know much about them. Pretty dull if you like a variety of places to go and things to do. You can apparently go up and down street after street and see homes that just look unkempt.
Avoid areas near creeks that flood with heavy rains. Don't overpay for stuff that's not worth it considering the lack of things to do in the area. Roads in poor condition in several areas (potholes galore), and most houses have dusty alleyways behind them that are unpaved, which means lots of dust coating everything. Not much competition or choices for cable t.v., so it's kind of a monopoly as you expect in smaller towns like this. The real problem is lack of asthetic values which means tourists really don't want to stay here long except just passing thru, and businesses aren't really thrilled to move in when they see the locals don't put much into the way things look. i guess the people are nice, but need to put more effort into making the neighborhoods cleaner and more pleasant. I have heard the town is growing more toward wylie, newer homes, better school system, older parts of Abilene are going through transition so do your homework before buying, get a realtor who knows what's really happening in various areas and is straight with you about it.