Academy has excellent schools and is growing. They will be in a tough 2a district so expect some ass kickings in football for awhile. The development along south 5th street in temple is academy school district, but transfer to temple is free if you want. So you get your choice of small or big school, and you're in temple so there's quick access to shopping, grocery stores, mall, etc. There's a nice new waterpark and disc golf course out there too. Rogers is a rural district that is good academically. It is country livin and the scenery out there isn't as nice as west of 35. Don't know much about Florence. Oh, the new developments in academy district off 5th street are very moderately priced homes. There are some high dollar ones off Taylor valley.

[This message has been edited by Captain Pablo (edited 2/6/2010 11:37a).]

My opinion is probably a little dated...but hey...

Rogers: very agriculture-centric (not saying that's a bad thing)

Florence: very agriculture-centric

Holland: very agriculture-centric

Little River/Academy: always seemed like a suburb of Temple...

Jarrell: very blue collar

which leads me to my home town...

Salado: what a weird little town. A good mix of ag, old money, retirees, artists, military, docs, techies/lawyers driving to Austin, and typical small town folks. The "prettiest" of all mentioned due to the creek and associated bottom-land. Odd assortment of folks leads to odd politics. Growing quickly, but nothing like the explosion of say Hutto.

My $0.02 opinion...you want a small town in Bell County without going "very agriculture-centric"? Salado is your best option.

Academy is the only one of the districts that is currently rated Exemplary, although I do believe that you really can't go wrong with any of those school districts.

Thanks guys. Still looking at districts and houses in areas. All comments are appreciated!

What's your price range?

Echo Village is off S. 5th Street and is primarily CenTex and possibly DR Horton houses.
http://www.newhomesource.com/communitydetail/builder-152/community-33998

Wyndham Hill is also off 5th Street right next to the new water park, and is a little more upscale, but still what I would call moderately priced new houses - about $150K to $225K or so. Omega and possibly others are out there.
http://www.omegabuilders.com/neighborhood/show/15

These are in Academy ISD (barely), but are in in Temple proper - near the mall, WalMart, Sams, Temple college, Scott & White, etc.

There is one subdivision in Little River-Academy near the school, but I dont know the name of it. It has some moderately priced homes, but there are some bigger, more expensive homes going up.

As for Rogers, it's mainly country living - not a lot in the way of new developments. Farm houses, build your own, etc.

Jarrell has a new development - Sonterra. It's Centex & DR Horton I believe. Moderately priced.

You've gotten about all the info the Texags posters can give. You just have to hit the ground, look at houses, visit schools, and make a decision.















[This message has been edited by Captain Pablo (edited 2/18/2010 2:45p).]

Can't believe I missed this Salado v. the rest of the free world discussion. I'm usually all over these!

Salado, born and bred. Loved it so much, the wife and I moved back.

Salado academics are sooooo great. Ask Ol Jock 99 how his senior year Health class helped him once he entered the corps. Coach Wasik let him run the track instead of learn about venereal diseases and the food pyramid like the rest of us. I don't know about his sexual health or cholesterol level, but that boy should could run by the time he showed up as a fish.

Also, ask BTHOThatGuy how those Salado academics helped him accumulate a grand total of 45 hours of academic credit in 4 years at A&M (had to throw that in there as a nice jab to my boy).

The "Salado is better than everyone else" idea is tossed around because it's true! O'Doyle (and Salado) rules!

BTW, if you don't want to live in Mill Creek, buy my house in the country so I can.

Coach Wasik! What a great guy.....said some of the wisest things I have ever heard a man say....such as....boys, never live west of your job.....you'll drive into the sun both ways....and another personal favorite....i like those middle aged women....the ones that are about the middle of my age.....classics....and he had that stance that was just awesomeness....

Finally retired from coaching after leading the defense at Rosebud-Lott when they won the state championship in 2002. Great coach and Great Guy....Dottie Joe is the best as well....good people through and through....