Sitting near the southern tip of California, Orange County is a picturesque area of the state, and the fifth most populous community in the country. A unique feature of the county is that it has no major urban center; essentially, the entire county is a suburban zone. There are a huge number of cities in the county: Anaheim, Fountain Valley, Irvine, Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Laguna Beach, and so on. The area is also one of the best vacation spots in the country, if not the world. You can visit Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, and miles of beautiful sandy beaches. The area is also known for its beautiful climate – mild winters, warm spring and fall, and hot summers.

So, if you love the outdoors, Orange County is the place to go. You can swim in the Pacific Ocean, surf, sail, and enjoy all manner of water sports. Plus, the county has parks that cater to golf, tennis, hiking, bicycling, kayaking, and all kinds of great outdoor recreation; they even have skateboard parks. Of course, the area is also known as the hub of political and business power for a good portion of the state, if not the nation! Orange County is the center of the Tech Coast region of Southern California. There are many “movers and shakers” who call the area home; and the film and television industry are located throughout the region. If that is where you hope to work, then Orange County is a great place to live and work.

As Orange County is a fairly affluent area, rentals tend to be rather expensive. So, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,200 to $2,200 a month for something as simple as a studio apartment. Yet, depending on the area you want to live in, you can also find a big three bedroom two bath for between $1,395 and $2,340 a month. These are the sort of rates you can expect to pay in Mission Viejo. Now, down in Laguna Beach, a two bedroom place can cost you around $2,000 a month. When it comes to amenities, the apartment complexes in Orange County have some of the best. Many of them are handicap accessible, which is a good feature for many renters. If you want to stay healthy, a fitness center can be just the thing. Of course, this being Southern California, outdoor sports are very popular. So, lots of places have basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, and even racquetball courts. If you do not care for saltwater swimming, take a dip in the complex’s pool, or relax in their hot tub. If you have children, most apartment places have playgrounds and activity centers.

Tags : Apartments, Orange County, Real Estate

Orange County Schools in California released state tests scores with the announcement that scores had risen for the fifth straight year in a row. That means that 52% of students tested for English in grades 2-11 passed with a grade of proficient or above. 51% in math. Did you read that correctly? 52% and 51% passing means progress to the OrangeCounty Schools. If you’re a parent with children in the Orange County Public Schools this should concern your greatly! The scary thing is that statewide percentages are at 43% and 41%. California Schools are currently failing ourchildren.

So what’s a parent to do? Funding is an issue. Teaching the state’s huge immigrant population is an issue. The needs of special needs students are an issue. And no one has a really great answer. But as a parent, there is something that you can do. It’s a drastic measure that could impact the entire population of the OrangeCounty Schools. But it’s not an easy fix. In fact, a lot of the Orange County Schools’ families will have serious pains from making this move. But it’s that important. Parents of Orange County Schools- I challenge you to turn off your television during the school week.

Withdrawal Pains in the Orange County Schools. or the small percentage of you who are still reading, don’t throw the remote at your screen quite yet. Television drains energy. It doesn’t matter if your Orange County Schools students are seniors or kindergarteners. When they’re watching television they’re not: interacting with friends and family, getting exercise, fully attending to homework, or using their brains. When children watch television they: get inappropriate messages from shows and commercials, get into a habit of inactivity, eat more junk food, and tend to become grumpier and fussier. All of these factors are seen in poor test scores and behavior in the OrangeCounty Schools.

Most Orange County Schools parents feel overwhelmed and exhausted at the end of the day. Television can be a relaxing escape. But think for a moment about how busy your family is already with homework, dinner, and activities at the end of the day. What if TV was no longer a factor? How would your family spend that time? Would OrangeCounty Schools’ children get to bed earlier and get more sleep if they weren’t up so late watching television? Would you have to time to read to them more? Take a walk together? Play a card game?

Tags : Education, Orange County, Schools