Relocating to Lake Charles soon, HELP! School & Neighborhood Info (New Orleans: apartments, rental)

[movingagain14]

My husband just accepted a position with the new casino in LC. We have two 1/2 weeks to relocate from the northeast, find a school for our 5th grader and a rental (home or nice apartment).

I know it's last minute to probably get zoned in time for a good public school (ie Prien Lake), since schools start early Aug. We've been checking some privates out online, and they're all christian or catholic based, which isn't a deal breaker. Just want to find an enriching environment, academically challenging school with good extracurricular activities and a broad-minded community.

Also, any suggestions on good places to live where you can rent a 2 bed home or apt for around $1,200.

Suggestions appreciated. Don't know much about the area.

[thisismyname10]

You'll definitely want to stay in South Lake Charles.. South of I-210 and west of Lake St, this is mostly zip code 70605.
This is where the better schools are. For when your child goes into 6th grade, I would consider a private school over S. J. Welsh Middle School. Its not a terrible school, but its very overcrowded and can lead to trouble at times. Avoid Reynaud, Oak Park, LaGrange.. don't send your kids there.
There are some older, but nice homes in the University Neighborhood where Ryan St. becomes Country Club.. you may be able to find one to rent there. I've never rented around here so I'm not sure of the rates... Maybe check into Pecan Acres apartments, a friend of my lived there and I think they're affordable. They're not the fanciest, but they're in a good part of town.
You could also consider the town of Sulphur, its just over the bridge from the casino, alot of people make that commute.

If you have any specific areas in mind, you can direct message me and I'll let you know if they're good or not. We are currently moving to Texas, but I've lived in Lake Charles all my life.

[movingagain14]

Thanks for the info "thisismyname10". You raised a good point about the transition to 6th grade. Since my child would only be in in elementary for one year, I was concerned about the move to middle school there (where problems usually arrive in larger schools). A private school would give us more time to look around for housing also. It's just hard to figure out the credibility of some privates which don't have scores or numbers to review on online sites like great schools. I'll direct message you with further queries. Thanks so much!

[cBach]

ICCS is probably the best private (Catholic) school in the area. I went there and got into the best high school in the state and Carnegie Mellon University for college, so I'd say the education I got there went pretty far.

If you can't get into ICCS then Queen of Heaven would do. ICCS is right near the lake off Ryan St, Queen of Heaven is right off Lake Street south of I-210.

If your kid goes to ICCS then you don't have to worry about zoning and you could live around that area or in the Charpentier District where historic homes are. Otherwise, if you go to public schools then you must live south of I-210 and West of Lake Street, preferably west of Nelson Road as well.

Lake Charles is a great place in which to live, be sure to catch some McNeese football games this fall and don't miss the Mardi Gras parades and Contraband Days next year.

There is a nice park along the lake called Bord Du Lac park with an area great for kids called Millenium Park with a giant maze like jungle gym for kids to play in. There's also a water feature.

Since you're from the Northeast, check out Tony's Pizza on Prien Lake Road for great Italian. You probably don't know much about Cajun, but order some gumbo and ettouffee at Steamboat Bill's on Lakeshore drive and that will start to give you a taste for it.

Good luck at the Golden Nugget!

You will be getting in LC at what we call the "dog days of summer". Being from up north, you may not be used to it. Just make sure you keep hydrated and wear sunscreen when you go outside and you'll be fine.

[movingagain14]

Originally Posted by cBach

ICCS is probably the best private (Catholic) school in the area. I went there and got into the best high school in the state and Carnegie Mellon University for college, so I'd say the education I got there went pretty far.

If you can't get into ICCS then Queen of Heaven would do. ICCS is right near the lake off Ryan St, Queen of Heaven is right off Lake Street south of I-210.

If your kid goes to ICCS then you don't have to worry about zoning and you could live around that area or in the Charpentier District where historic homes are. Otherwise, if you go to public schools then you must live south of I-210 and West of Lake Street, preferably west of Nelson Road as well.

Lake Charles is a great place in which to live, be sure to catch some McNeese football games this fall and don't miss the Mardi Gras parades and Contraband Days next year.

There is a nice park along the lake called Bord Du Lac park with an area great for kids called Millenium Park with a giant maze like jungle gym for kids to play in. There's also a water feature.

Since you're from the Northeast, check out Tony's Pizza on Prien Lake Road for great Italian. You probably don't know much about Cajun, but order some gumbo and ettouffee at Steamboat Bill's on Lakeshore drive and that will start to give you a taste for it.

Good luck at the Golden Nugget!

You will be getting in LC at what we call the "dog days of summer". Being from up north, you may not be used to it. Just make sure you keep hydrated and wear sunscreen when you go outside and you'll be fine.

Thanks for all this info! Sounds like you had a great education. Someone else recommended ICCS. I called them, but they're full for 5th grade. The admissions lady was very helpful over the phone, and we'll look at it for 6th. Look forward to discovering all about Lake Charles. I was apprhensive at first, but have been hearing good things about the area. Plus, we have family in New Orleans and Houston.

[AD827]

I'm moving to LC too for a new job in the healthcare field but from Northeast Texas. S. Lake Charles seems to be the consensus of best part of town to land. What are some of the things to do for a young couple in their late twenties?

[cBach]

Originally Posted by AD827

I'm moving to LC too for a new job in the healthcare field but from Northeast Texas. S. Lake Charles seems to be the consensus of best part of town to land. What are some of the things to do for a young couple in their late twenties?

Well, if you like gambling then L'auberge du lac and Isle of Capri Casino can be fun.

OB's is the bar to see and be seen. Everyone in Lake Charles goes there.

Steamboat Bill's is great for Cajun food, Tony's for pizza.

Many people love to hunt and fish, there are thousands of lakes. I love to go crabbing in the marshes down near Hackberry.

McNeese has a lot of cultural programs and the MSU Cowboys are great games to watch in the fall.

Anything else you are seeking?

[AD827]

Originally Posted by cBach

Well, if you like gambling then L'auberge du lac and Isle of Capri Casino can be fun.

OB's is the bar to see and be seen. Everyone in Lake Charles goes there.

Steamboat Bill's is great for Cajun food, Tony's for pizza.

Many people love to hunt and fish, there are thousands of lakes. I love to go crabbing in the marshes down near Hackberry.

McNeese has a lot of cultural programs and the MSU Cowboys are great games to watch in the fall.

Anything else you are seeking?

Thanks cBach - we're not really into gambling but that could be because I always lose lol. I'm going house hunting next week and I'm looking south of 210, possibly at Graywood (though I've heard their HOA is strict and we may be the youngest couple there). I've started looking in Moss Bluff but the houses are really big and it doesn't seem like there are many amenities in the area.

What are your thoughts?

[kayanne]

Yes, Graywood's HOA restrictive covenants are ridiculous. Dozens of pages long, the most nit-picky I have ever seen. Home prices there are significantly higher than other nearby neighborhoods. I was told the HOA is having financial problems because not enough people have joined the golf and tennis clubs, so there was talk of raising HOA dues. Don't know all the details, but I'd check that out thoroughly.

We lived in Westridge, a small but nice neighborhood. (We moved to Texas a few months ago). Other nice ones are The Oaks of Heyd, Fernwood, Windsor Court. The Barbe High School district is considered the best by far of the public schools.

I truly loved Lake Charles, and it is going through a lot of growth---like $50 billion of industrial expansion, mostly oil and chemical. If the growth is handled well, LC has the potential to be a really great town with even more to offer.

There are a lot of free outdoor concerts, like the Downtown at Sundown series, and the Live at the Lakefront series. And the Banners cultural series has some phenomenal events! Be sure to google that! L'Auberge Casino is fun even if you don't like to gamble. (We don't). There are local bands there every weekend I think, there are concerts out by the pool in the summer, and some reasonable big name bands show up sometimes (I saw Barenaked Ladies thee).

Mardi Gras is so much fun! That was all new to me! You should find a Krewe with people your general age (google Lake Charles Mardi Gras Krewes). If you're a dog lover, you MUST go to Lafayette for their doggie parade (I think that's the one that is called Krewe de Chiens) And festivals!! SWLA is the festival capital of the world. LC, Lafayette, and many other nearby towns have good ones. The people of LA love to dance and have fun!

Enjoy your new adventure!!

[kayanne]

My post above was directed at AD827, not the OP.