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Old 01-09-2019, 04:46 PM
 
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There's a possibility of moving to New Bethlehem in the near future. My understanding is that it's a pretty rural environment/culture. I've been a city/suburbs guy my whole life, so what can I expect if this move happens? Is there another town nearby that I should consider, too? Also, I've got 2 boys and was wondering what the schools are like. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.
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Old 01-10-2019, 09:32 AM
 
Location: Marshall-Shadeland, Pittsburgh, PA
32,616 posts, read 77,579,178 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tatman777 View Post
There's a possibility of moving to New Bethlehem in the near future. My understanding is that it's a pretty rural environment/culture. I've been a city/suburbs guy my whole life, so what can I expect if this move happens? Is there another town nearby that I should consider, too? Also, I've got 2 boys and was wondering what the schools are like. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.
I've driven through New Bethlehem countless times to access I-80 from Pittsburgh. It seems like a quiet small town. It is the "hub" community for the surrounding villages of Distant, South Bethlehem, Redbank Township, and Hawthorn, as it is home to the local post office, high school, liquor store, Burger King, Goodwill Store, library, Dollar General, Rite-Aid, gas stations, bars, and banks.

Larger communities include Clarion (20-25 minutes away); Brookville (25-30 minutes away); and Kittanning (30 minutes away). I'm not sure why you're focused in on New Bethlehem specifically (job opportunity? inheriting a house?), but I'd consider maybe moving midway between New Bethlehem and one of those three larger communities I listed that have more amenities. Clarion and Kittanning each have a Walmart. Brookville does not. Most people in Brookville travel east along I-80 to DuBois for their shopping needs. Kittanning has the added bonus of being an easy drive (~40 minutes) to Pittsburgh.
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Old 01-10-2019, 07:44 PM
 
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Great answer - thanks for the info! Do you happen to know anything about the quality of the schools in the area?
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Old 01-11-2019, 01:20 PM
 
Location: On the Chesapeake
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Schools. Are you from PA? If so, then you'll know how school systems are set up.

For RVSD there's one high school, Redbank (they just hired a new football coach), one middle school and it looks like one elementary. They just closed a couple of the last due to declining enrollment.

Home

If you are not from a rural area, or have no experience in one, be prepared for some significant culture shock. You are entering an area of State Game Lands comprising thousands of acres, hunting and fishing as a way of life, farms in all directions.
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Old 01-11-2019, 02:34 PM
 
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No, sorry, I'm not from PA. I'm reading into your comment that the schools are not very good? As for the rural thing, you're right - I'm trying to think through and see if the major culture shift is going to be best for me and my family.
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Old 01-11-2019, 02:51 PM
 
Location: On the Chesapeake
45,323 posts, read 60,500,026 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tatman777 View Post
No, sorry, I'm not from PA. I'm reading into your comment that the schools are not very good? As for the rural thing, you're right - I'm trying to think through and see if the major culture shift is going to be best for me and my family.
No, not that they're bad necessarily. If you're from an area where school systems are based on a County system then PA will be vastly confusing. In PA they're typically based on a town like New Bethlehem/Clarion/Brookville, etc. Property tax rates are all over the map, you might pay double in one school district compared to the one next door for the exact same house. Many times that's not based on the relative success of either district but just because.

You can also literally live one block from a school and be in an entirely different school system. Clarion is the example I'm thinking of there. In fact, Clarion's elementary school is partially built in the Clarion-Limestone School District, half in each district although only kids from Clarion attend there.

School rankings based on actual PA Department of Education measurements.

https://futurereadypa.org/#

Pennsylvania Public School Rankings

I have no idea where Redbank, which is the name of the New Bethlehem district, falls. It has had some management/administrator issues the last few years. Lawsuits were filed, penalties were assessed, people resigned.
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Old 01-14-2019, 11:52 AM
 
Location: Just East of the Southern Portion of the Western Part of PA
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Do not move to New Bethlehem. Clarion would be a better choice. Kittaning even better. Curious also as to why someone would move to New Bethlehem. ..
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Old 01-15-2019, 02:53 PM
 
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It's a work-related move, Johnny C. May I ask what your reasoning/thoughts for not moving to New Bethlehem? Always good to hear different perspectives.
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Old 01-15-2019, 06:06 PM
 
Location: Just East of the Southern Portion of the Western Part of PA
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It is a small town in Pennsylvania, so you will get all of the usual small town stuff. New Bethlehem has always been a bit more cursed than surrounding towns because it lacks an interstate. You end up with a depressing little town with dive bars, a VFW, a gas station, a grocery store, and a couple local greasy spoons. It feels like 1985 there every day. If that's your gig, then enjoy! I'm just warning you that it will be culture shock coming from a major suburban area.
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Old 01-15-2019, 06:13 PM
 
Location: On the Chesapeake
45,323 posts, read 60,500,026 times
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https://redbankchamber.com
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