Help out a clueless Texan moving to MS/AL (Montgomery: home, best school districts)

[kcemommy]

Hi ya'll!
My husband is about to be moved to the Chevron Pascagoula refinery and we came to visit this weekend! We currently live in Katy, Tx (a suburb of Houston) and are trying to figure out where in the world to live. Initially some people told us Ocean Springs, MS and we visited the town and loved it. But being from such a big city, the idea of a town that small is really different for us. Next we moved to looking in Mobile but our biggest hang up there is that we have a 6, 4 and 3 year old and we are just not sure that paying for private school for 3 kids is something we can swing. If we can it will definitely be TIGHT! So we drove through the Eastern Shore and it reminded us of home (but prettier). Our obvious problem with that area is the commute length.

So we are left unsure of what to do.... We live in Houston which is huge and has horrible traffic so I'm thinking maybe we can put up with the commute from the Eastern Shore. Schools are very important to us and we live in one of the best school districts in the state of Texas, does that mean we should try to make private school happen? Almost all of my husband's coworkers live in Mobile and we are told that most of Chevron Upper Management does too. So will we be ostracizing ourselves by living in Ocean Springs?

Any insight is greatly appreciated! I thought I would have some answers after this weekend but only have more questions!

[bhammaster]

Originally Posted by kcemommy

Hi ya'll!
My husband is about to be moved to the Chevron Pascagoula refinery and we came to visit this weekend! We currently live in Katy, Tx (a suburb of Houston) and are trying to figure out where in the world to live. Initially some people told us Ocean Springs, MS and we visited the town and loved it. But being from such a big city, the idea of a town that small is really different for us. Next we moved to looking in Mobile but our biggest hang up there is that we have a 6, 4 and 3 year old and we are just not sure that paying for private school for 3 kids is something we can swing. If we can it will definitely be TIGHT! So we drove through the Eastern Shore and it reminded us of home (but prettier). Our obvious problem with that area is the commute length.

So we are left unsure of what to do.... We live in Houston which is huge and has horrible traffic so I'm thinking maybe we can put up with the commute from the Eastern Shore. Schools are very important to us and we live in one of the best school districts in the state of Texas, does that mean we should try to make private school happen? Almost all of my husband's coworkers live in Mobile and we are told that most of Chevron Upper Management does too. So will we be ostracizing ourselves by living in Ocean Springs?

Any insight is greatly appreciated! I thought I would have some answers after this weekend but only have more questions!

West Mobile has fine public schools. Don't let the amount minorities fool you.

[wemocpa]

Look north of Grand Bay in West Mobile in the Hutchens/Dawes school district. Little further to drive to the interstate but the best schools in the county so no need for private school.

[PortCity]

Mobile has good public schools.

[Mobilemom52]

Originally Posted by kcemommy

Hi ya'll!
My husband is about to be moved to the Chevron Pascagoula refinery and we came to visit this weekend! We currently live in Katy, Tx (a suburb of Houston) and are trying to figure out where in the world to live. Initially some people told us Ocean Springs, MS and we visited the town and loved it. But being from such a big city, the idea of a town that small is really different for us. Next we moved to looking in Mobile but our biggest hang up there is that we have a 6, 4 and 3 year old and we are just not sure that paying for private school for 3 kids is something we can swing. If we can it will definitely be TIGHT! So we drove through the Eastern Shore and it reminded us of home (but prettier). Our obvious problem with that area is the commute length.

So we are left unsure of what to do.... We live in Houston which is huge and has horrible traffic so I'm thinking maybe we can put up with the commute from the Eastern Shore. Schools are very important to us and we live in one of the best school districts in the state of Texas, does that mean we should try to make private school happen? Almost all of my husband's coworkers live in Mobile and we are told that most of Chevron Upper Management does too. So will we be ostracizing ourselves by living in Ocean Springs?

Any insight is greatly appreciated! I thought I would have some answers after this weekend but only have more questions!

Hi,

Here's a link or two that might be of help. I think that folks' opinions on the quality of schools are colored by their own experiences.

Mobile, AL Elementary Schools

Best Schools in Alabama - AL School Rankings

Mobile County Public Schools :: Latest News

Our girls went to Catholic elementary and high schools in Mobile, and we were very pleased. Looking in West Mobile with a relatively easy commute to MS, you may want to consider Elsie Collier Elementary, and Hutchens Elementary school districts; I've heard good things about both schools, though I have no firsthand knowledge. Dawes Intermediate School is rated highly on some lists I've seen, as well. Baker High and Mary G. Montgomery are the high schools in far West Mobile; I hear mixed reviews of each.

Good luck with your search; I know this is a big decision.

[Fernk]

Originally Posted by portcity

mobile has good public schools.

lol

[Southsky]

Originally Posted by Fernk

lol

By what metric do you laugh out loud?

[PortCity]

Yeah I want to know the same thing because even though there are some challenging school.Mobile also has many great schools as well depending on the district.So again what is your metric that Mobile DOES NOT have any ?

[brownbagg]

stay on the mississippi coast, biloxi, gautier, ocean springs.

[Bayourat15]

Stay in Ocean Springs