We get a lot of questions about schools in Charleston, SC – especially from home buyers relocating to Charleston.  When clients tell us they want to be in a good public school district, we give them some of the resources we’ve collected over the years.  Most of these are school district websites along with various sites devoted to school rankings for the Charleston area and for the state.

The cities of Mt. Pleasant and Summerville have the highest ranked public schools in Charleston.  Summerville is divided into several districts.  But, if you look at the rankings, you’ll see that Dorchester District 2 receives the highest marks.   

When people find out they have two options for places to live in Charleston with such good public schools, they usually want to narrow their search even more.  So, the main differences between these two areas are price and location.  Mt. Pleasant is more expensive than Summerville, since most areas in Mt. Pleasant are about 10 minutes from the beaches and about 15-20 minutes from downtown Charleston.  So, Mt. Pleasant has a much better location than Summerville.  Also, Mt. Pleasant has more of an upscale feel to it.  There is plenty to do in Mt. Pleasant – it has a nice outdoor shopping mall (Towne Center), along with a lot of restaurants and a movie theater.

If you’re looking to spend less than $250K for a single family home, I would recommend looking in Summerville.  The homes in Summerville are more affordable compared to some of the other Charleston areas.  Summerville is about 40 to 45 minutes from downtown Charleston and a good hour's drive from the closest beach.  Summerville has a small-town feel to it, but there are still quite a few restaurants and stores in the area.  So, Summerville residents don’t have to leave town for entertainment.  But, if they want to go downtown Charleston or to the beach, it’s just a short drive away.

James Island also has good schools – from their elementary schools up to their Charter high school.  Also, Academic Magnet High School in North Charleston was ranked 7th in the country for public schools.  Students have to apply to get into Academic Magnet, and it is quite competitive.  But, the good news is that home buyers have plenty of options for good public schools in Charleston.

Charleston also has excellent private schools.  Bishop England High School, Ashley Hall, and Porter-Gaud are just a handful of options for private schools in Charleston.

Home buyers will find a lot of good information available on schools, so it’s important for buyers to not just rely on what we say – but to also look for themselves.  If schools are a deciding factor in your home purchase, be sure to confirm any information that you get.  Most buyers are pleased to see for themselves the many options available for schools in Charleston.



About the Author: You’ll find some of our resources on the Schools page of our website.  Buyers can also view all Charleston homes for sale on the MLS using our website!  Whether you’re looking for Mt. Pleasant, SC homes or Summerville real estate, you’ll find all the listings on our site!

Author: Ezra Drissman

One of the most important parts of actually moving into the future means that green jobs are going to become more popular. These jobs will focus on using renewable energy and resources, helping to promote a sustainable lifestyle that can keep the planet active and healthy long into the future. Unfortunately, this means that training for green jobs is going to become a very important part of these jobs becoming more popular. This alone makes people feel that they are not suitable for one of these new careers because they are not prepared for training for green jobs.This is not the right attitude to have, however, for training for green jobs does not need to be difficult. The actual jobs which are being expanded into green jobs mean that you will be using some of the skills which you already have and use on a daily basis. These skills simply need to be adapted into the new format for performing the task in an environmentally friendly fashion. Training for green jobs will typically mean that you are taking what you already know and applying it in a new way, which is something that everyone should be able to manage.In some cases, training for green jobs will be self-taught. If you are taking your own skills or products and starting your own business, you will want to implement your own green practices into the way that your operation runs. When this is the case, you will often have to perform your own training for green jobs. You may have to be creative about the ways that you are going to adapt your practices to a more green manner, although with enough patience and dedication, this should not be difficult.For other types of careers, training for green jobs will be provided directly on the spot. If you have the desire to get hired as a part of a green job and you have skills which are applicable to the particular job itself, you will be given all necessary training for green jobs directly as a part of the hiring process. You will have the tools which you need delivered to you, so it will not be difficult to make sure that you are going to be fully prepared for the new career you are embarking on. Training for green jobs will be no obstacle to actually starting out on a new career.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/what-kind-of-training-is-needed-for-green-jobs-1828902.html

About the AuthorEco20/20 is a cutting edge informational site. The primary focus of the site is clean energy. For almost two year Eco20/20 has been a leader in forward thinking articles.
http://www.eco20-20.com

One summer while staying on Jacksonville Beach we decided to take a drive up the coastline along Florida A1A. At one point of our journey we had to board a ferry called Saint Johns River Ferry to continue our trek. The scenery was beautiful and the beaches great. There was a stretch of beach in Little Talbot Island State Park where we drove our four wheel drive Montero Sport onto. It was an exilerating experience driving along the surf. We continued northward from there on Florida A1A and crossed a bridge that took us to Amelia Island. Up till then I didn't know Amelia Island existed.

Amelia Island is the southernmost of the barrier islands stretching along the coast from South Carolina to Florida called the Sea Islands. It is south of Cumberland Island, Georgia. It is called the only community in the United States to have experienced life under eight different flags. The island has a long and illustrious history that goes back 4,000 years. Amelia Island has a natural deep harbor on the north end of the island, which provided easy access for smugglers, pirates, and assorted sea captains.

Today, Amelia Island attracts a wide variety of recreational and commercial activity. For the vacationer, it features activities from golf and tennis at world-class resorts, to kayaking, sunset sails and horseback riding on the beach. It has river cruises and charters, fishing, a museum, a community theatre, and walking tours of Historic Fernandina Beach, or maybe you just want to take a quiet walk to enjoy the unique variety of birds and wildlife. Then there are the 13 miles of beautiful sandy beaches to take in the warm Florida sun either to lay out on, walk on, or collect seashells.

Amelia Island offers a 1350 acre beach resort called Amelia Island Plantation. The resort offers four Audubon International certified sanctuary golf courses, 23 Har-Tru tennis courts, holistic spa, shopping village, year around youth programs, Nature Center, and Segway tours. Plenty of other resorts and hotels to choose from.-Vacation Rick Travel

Article by Rick Dunbar first published on travel blog Vacation Rick

(ARA) - A slow economy and dwindling resources for financial aid may have you worrying more than ever about funding your child's college education. But there are still scholarships available for those who pursue them and take the all-important step of applying long before the school year starts.

Applying for scholarships should be one of the first steps in your search. However, scholarship myths continue to flourish and need to be dispelled.

Myth 1: Billions of scholarship dollars go unclaimed.
In reality, the number of unused scholarships is minuscule. You'll need to do your research and apply early to have a chance at getting your share of available funding.

Myth 2: Scholarships go only to the best students.
Many scholarships are awarded based on elements other than academic achievement. Some scholarships are based on the student's major field of study, involvement in extracurricular and community activities, ethnicity and geographic origin, or other factors.

Myth 3: Scholarship searches are worth paying for.
This myth eventually will die as people discover the many free resources available on the Internet or in the print media.

So how do students and their parents sort through the myths and get to the facts? Start the process early - January is perfect for the next school year - and utilize the resources around you. To find scholarship opportunities, start with your high school guidance counselor and local library for a list of possible resources. Next, check with your college financial aid office. Most states and many colleges offer scholarships, so students should also inquire about them. Finally, the Internet and organizational Web sites are excellent places to search. Remember, this information should always be free.

Don't count yourself out just because you are not the valedictorian, class president or star athlete. There are scholarships available for many interests, backgrounds and abilities. The bottom line is apply now, and the more scholarships for which you apply, especially local and regional opportunities, the better your odds are to be selected.

Though the scholarship application process can be time consuming, most scholarships require similar information. Once you complete your first application, you can easily re-use the same information for additional scholarships.

Scholarships come from many sources, but the student may have to do some detective work to uncover them. For example, at www.usbank.com/studentloans, you can apply to be one of 40 high school seniors or college undergraduates to receive a $1,000 U.S. Bank Internet Scholarship. Over the past 13 years, U.S. Bank has awarded more than $350,000 in scholarship funding for this program. Scholarship award recipients are selected through a random drawing process. There are no essays to complete or minimum grade point average requirements.  The U.S. Bank Web site also features a powerful scholarship search engine.

Scholarship search tips

* Start early - Experts recommend college-bound students and their parents start looking as early as their freshman year in high school. By identifying potential awards, students can choose classes and activities that will increase their chance at winning a specific award in the future.

* Use the Internet - But be wary of scams posing as scholarships. If a scholarship is reputable, you should be able to find information about it through multiple sources. Try to use two sources and make sure the profile submitted is accurate; paying fees does not increase your chances of winning.

* Think small - Competition can be tough for large awards. Smaller awards ($1,000 and less) typically have less competition and are easier to obtain.

Additional free scholarship Web sites you may want to visit include:

* www.collegeboard.com/scholarships
* www.collegeplan.org
* www.collegescholarships.com
* www.collegenet.com
* www.scholarships.com

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) -  In a competitive job market, earning a degree can be the biggest single step one can take to enhance career value and earning potential. As many bask in the glow of making plans to increase their career potential, the prospect of paying for college is a sobering reality.

Few of us have funds set aside for this endeavor. In addition, the College Board's annual "Trends in College Pricing" reports a rise in tuition costs at public and private institutions for the 2009-2010 school year. According to the report, annual tuition and fees at private four-year colleges rose 4.4 percent to $26,273, and public university costs rose 6.5 percent to $7,020.

Prospective students often don't know where to start. But take heart; Darlene Violet, director of Financial Aid at Brown Mackie College - Akron, Ohio,  offers advice on funding your education. "The U.S. Department of Education distributes $96 billion a year in grants, work-study assistance, and low-interest loans," Violet says. "Every student begins the process of seeking financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, known as the 'FAFSA.'" Information submitted on the FAFSA form determines the amount a student may receive through a federal Pell Grant, which is based on financial need. The recent economic stimulus program increased Pell Grant funds by $500 per student. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Beyond completing the FAFSA, many turn next to student loans. "An education is always a good investment," says Violet, "but many people don't realize the loans must be paid back starting six months after leaving school. I advise students to seek out and apply for scholarships." Wide varieties of organizations offer scholarships, from fraternities and sororities to community groups, foundations, and corporations. Winning candidates receive funds based on a vast spectrum of criteria, including ethnicity and cultural heritage. "Students just don't take the time to find them," Violet continued. "It can be a lot of work."

The Scholarship Committee at Brown Mackie College - Akron hired a group of honor students to help others navigate through the many scholarships available, complete the application forms, and provide feedback on essays written for submission. "This allows students the security to delve deeper into the scholarship world. It's well worth it," Violet says.

Scholarship awards can be as important to the educational institution as they are to the student. Federal guidelines, known as the 90-10 rule, mandate that no more than 90 percent of the funds received by a college can come from Federal loans and grants. A minimum of 10 percent must come from outside sources, including scholarships, private loans, and the students' own financial contributions.

Violet recommends checking additional resources as well. "Many employers will pay or reimburse tuition expenses, sometimes even for immediate family members. And the Veteran's Administration offers benefits to those who have served our country," she says. The Workforce Investment Act offers grants to those who qualify, and many churches offer scholarship opportunities. In addition, the Orphan Foundation of America offers scholarships to students who are wards of the state.

Further savings can come in the form of a temporary tax credit. The American Opportunity Tax Credit, included in the economic stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama, can be worth as much as $2,500. People who earn $80,000 or less a year (or $160,000 or less for joint filers) can claim this credit on money paid for tuition, certain fees and course materials for higher education in 2009 and 2010. For complete details, visit www.irs.gov.

Once a student enters college, Violet advises making other financial considerations:

Ride public transportation. In addition to saving on fuel and parking fees, public transportation provides time for students to get a head start on assigned reading and homework.

Avoid credit card offers. However tempting the offer seems, credit cards charge interest on purchases and impose fees for late payments.

Work while attending classes. Many students work full- or part-time while earning their degrees. The federal work-study program helps eligible students find employment on campus.

"Taking the time to apply for scholarship funds is a step that can help now while they're in school, and in the future when no bill comes due," Violet says.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

MIT OCW is a large-scale, Web-based electronic publishing initiative funded jointly by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and MIT.

MIT OCW's goals are to:

Provide free, searchable, access to MIT's course materials for educators, students, and self-learners around the world. Extend the reach and impact of MIT OCW and the "opencourseware" concept.

MIT OCW would not be possible without the support and generosity of the MIT faculty who choose to share their research, pedagogy, and knowledge to benefit others. We expect MIT OCW to reach a steady - though never static - state by 2007. Between now and then, we will publish the materials from virtually all of MIT's undergraduate and graduate courses.

We will be continually evaluating the Access, Use, and Impact of MIT OCW over the course of the next five years. With 1,100 courses published as of June 1, 2005, we are still in a learning stage of this MIT initiative and we will benefit enormously from your feedback, as we strive to make MIT OCW as rich and useful as possible for our users.

 

 

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Yes it’s that time of your wedding planning to find a DJ for your special day, and for most brides this can be an adventure in itself. Contacting different DJs, getting prices, choosing prices, consultations, and the list goes on and on. In this article we share 10 Big Mistakes that are made by Brides and Grooms when choosing a DJ for the big day, hopefully after this, you can find the DJ that is most suited to handle your Wedding Reception. Here’s a little quote that my partner always tells the brides she works with, “Your wedding day is like Broadway, you only get one take, and you only get one chance to get it right”

Not taking “First Impressions” into consideration More than likely your first with a DJ will be either on the telephone or through E-mail. If the first contact is by telephone, listen to how the DJ talks on the telephone, can you understand him or her, or the MC which will do the announcements during your wedding? When you meet the DJ (and sometimes MC also) are they dressed professionally? If a DJ carries themselves professionally during your consultation, more than likely they will be professional on your big day.

Thinking that all Djs are the same This couldn’t be further from the truth, every DJ has there own style, different skill level, different rates, and vary a lot in their “arsenal” which is this musical library which is the heart of their versatility. If a DJ only has Rock music, but no R&B, a DJ which has both types of music and much more is more “versatile”. Remember your favorite DJ that spins Alternative music all night may be perfect for the club, but more than likely your grandmother doesn’t want hear Good Charlotte all night during your reception.

 
Hiring the cheapest DJ you can find. The phrase “You get what you pay for” holds a lot of water in the case of hiring a DJ…especially for a wedding. Let’s use the Washington DC metro as an example to better explain what I mean. There are Djs which can cost as little as $300, or as much as $2,500 for a five hour wedding. Is the DJ that is only charging $300 no good at all? Who knows he might do a decent job, but there is one thing that is certain, either the DJ doesn’t have the experience, or just has bad business skills altogether to charge only $300. Any DJ that has done a ton of weddings (100 or more) knows that they put too much into a wedding to only charge peanuts. On the other side, remember that just because a DJ is the most expensive in town, doesn’t mean they’re the best for you, sometimes they are, sometimes they’re not. The entertainment for your reception is what you, your family and friends will remember; it’s worth more than the cost of invitations. Your DJ is an investment that you your guests will enjoy the entire “time frame” of your reception, not half of it. Believe me, if half of your guests leave after dinner because loud rap music was playing during the main course, the venue isn’t going to give you a refund…

 
Not communicating with your DJ Besides hiring the wrong DJ altogether, this is probably the biggest mistake some brides do when dealing with Djs, not COMMUNICATING. There is nothing worse for a DJ (and for you also) than a “rush job” especially a wedding. A seasoned professional can get through the event without “noticeable incidents” but I believe I speak for all wedding Djs when I say it is “nerve-racking” even if we don’t show it. Keep your DJ informed of your plans, your special songs, any changes, your timeline, or anything else he may need to know, don’t wait until the week, or even a month before the big day to start communicating. This is the only way your DJ will know exactly what you want, and don’t want.

Not having a written contract Simply put…no contract, you very well may have NO DJ! Every year I get a few phone calls from a bride (or her mother) saying that they hired a DJ and they didn’t show up. The first thing that I ask is did they have a contract…80% of the time it’s “no”. If a DJ doesn’t have a contract, run out front door, and don’t look back.
Not making sure the DJ has liability insurance. More and more venues and hotels across the U.S. are requiring that DJs have liability insurance, and most are asking to see “papers”. A true professional is going to have insurance for his business, and you should ask to at least see a copy of the policy. Insurance for DJs is generally not expensive, and there are a few major DJ organizations which offer a nice discount on insurance for joining. There’s really no excuse for your DJ not to have it.

Taking complete control of the music selection from your DJ You want to hear what you want to hear…That’s fine, but remember you’re not alone on your special day, you, your family (and your new family); your friends all have different tastes. Some brides want to choose every song that gets played for the entire night, and I can honestly say that I have only seen 2 song lists created by brides out of hundreds upon hundreds that actually worked for the majority of the night. JUST TWO. Let the DJ do his job, which primarily making sure that right songs get played at the right time. Also remember giving your DJ 200 songs to play for the night isn’t going to work either…unless your reception is over 10 hours long. And last but not least make sure you clarify which artist you want to hear for certain songs…Take the song “Three times a Lady”, the Commodores, Kenny Rogers, Conway Twitty (and probably other artists) all sing this song, if you want the Commodores version for your first dance, make sure you don’t end up Conway Twitty instead.

Not making sure the DJ you want is “guaranteed” to be your DJ This is probably the biggest complaint from brides all over the country about Djs. You went to a DJ company that has more than one DJ, you requested a specific DJ, and another DJ shows up in his/her place. Any time you deal with a big DJ company, make sure you get in writing that the DJ you want is the one that will show up.
Not going over back-up plans with your DJ In life “things happen” which you or nobody else has control over, even on your wedding day! Find out from your DJ about his plans for back-up transportation, equipment, and personnel. If one of these three areas is “out of commission” so will the music for your reception. If they don’t have any plans, start running.

Not hiring a DJ quickly Finding the DJ you want is hard enough work, as long as you don’t believe they’re all the same. Don’t go through all the work of finding the DJ you want and then procrastinate on booking with that DJ. Most wedding DJs that have good reputations in the business will get booked at least a year in advance, especially for the Saturdays in the busy months. If you’ve found a DJ who you like and are comfortable with, don’t wait hire him. Remember if you wait a month or two before the big day, you choices are limited and you might end up with no one.

Courtesy of BridalLinks.com

 

(ARA) - Once the excitement of the proposal settles, most couples get started planning their wedding.

While the to-do checklist can be huge - depending on how large the wedding is - there are some list items you'll want to take care of early in the planning process:

1. Set your date. The sooner you get this organized, the sooner you will have an answer to the first question anyone offering their congratulations is going to ask. Setting the date also allows you to schedule and organize all other aspects of your wedding.

2. Create a tentative guest list. How many people do you want to invite? The answer to this question will determine the location of the wedding and reception, and give you direction in the catering category as well.

3. Location. Location might be determined by the time of year, month or even day of the week you are planning your wedding. Destination weddings, backyard weddings or reception hall weddings all require you to plan ahead. The earlier you plan this, the better your chances of being able to book the locations on the day you want, especially if you are getting married during the popular summer and fall months.

4. Invitations. People are busy these days, and you need to help them remember your big event with save the date cards or magnets. If you have a wedding theme and colors picked, you can nicely tie in your wedding invitations with the theme to give your guests a heads up on what to expect. To help save time, order your save the date cards and invitations online and have them arrive in the mail in less than a week at www.123print.com/wedding. More than 120 styles - sorted by themes, colors and designers - give you plenty of designs to choose.

5. Schedule the music and photography. After the reception halls, DJs and photographers get booked quickly, so make sure you get scheduled with your favorites early. If you aren't familiar with any DJs or photographers in your area, look for a wedding exhibition often held in the winter and spring months. Many wedding-related businesses visit these events, giving you plenty of exposure to the specialists.

Once you get these items organized and off your to-do list, you can sit back and tackle the smaller, more detailed items. Visit www.123print.com/wedding for more helpful hints.

Courtesy of ARAcontent