Thank you BJ Widow for your very detailed and helpful response.
I was most surprised about the schools. I really thought there was progression. I wasted a lot of Simoleans on that.
I had two different games going as a learning process. Got rid of them and have started over trying to be more careful around all of the pointers you gave. Before I got your info I already plopped a grade school. I'll go straight for a community college next.
Thank you again.
LB