Education falling (For seemingly no reason)

[blaster395 0]

So in my current city, my education graph slowly rose to a peak of 170, after reaching it, declining somewhat rapidly and is now at 140 and still getting worse. Mayor rating for education is maxed. Education buildings have full coverage of the map. Junior Sports and Pro-Reading ordinances on. All schools have about a 10-20% surplus in funding. Libraries and Museums have been built to try and counter the downward spiral.

Its causing large amounts of that building wealth decreases (Including some $$$ buildings declining all the way to $). A good indication of the effect this has is the Average Income, which peaked at 65K and has now declined to 55K. I have tried everything I can and now, there simply isn't enough budget left (Starting with a surplus of 4k a month in a city of 150,000). What is the cause of the random education decline?

In case it helps, here is an image of the graph for education. Deluxe edition of the game. Only mods are NAM and a terrain texture mod.

  Edited March 27, 2012 by blaster395  

[Sovereignty 0]

It is possible that you are misreading this situation.

The downgrading of buildings from higher to lower wealth levels means the wealthy occupants abandoned the building. When new sims move in, their education level starts at zero.

So it's possible that the abandonment is what is causing the falling education level, rather than the other way around.

What kind of employment is available in the city? Are there not enough jobs for the wealthy sims? Are/were you seeing any no job briefcase symbols above residences, especially of the wealthy?

What do your tax rates and demand levels look like?

[blaster395 0]

It is possible that you are misreading this situation.

The downgrading of buildings from higher to lower wealth levels means the wealthy occupants abandoned the building. When new sims move in, their education level starts at zero.

So it's possible that the abandonment is what is causing the falling education level, rather than the other way around.

What kind of employment is available in the city? Are there not enough jobs for the wealthy sims? Are/were you seeing any no job briefcase symbols above residences, especially of the wealthy?

What do your tax rates and demand levels look like?

No job briefcases do pop up, but are not particularly common, and usually go away by the end of the month with no effect.

Demand for all residential is max or near-max. Commercial is negative demand except for CS$ (As this is not a commercial city, that would be the neighboring city). Industrial is low except for high tech.

All taxes are at 9%, except dirty and manufacturing industrial, which are set to 20%. A neighboring city contains all the dirty and manufacturing anyway.

[Sovereignty 0]

Is this an all residential city?

Is there much High Tech, either in this city or in neighboring cities? There's a bug that prevents that R$$$ sims from working in HT buildings. This could be the cause of your problems. HT creates demand for R$$$ but does not employ them, leading to much R$$$ development, but rapid abandonment. Then the city's overall education falls as new, lower-wealth, uneducated sims move in.

It's also possible, especially if it is an all residential city, that people are just too far away from available jobs. Do you have any mass transit, a bus system or anything?

[blaster395 0]

Is this an all residential city?

Is there much High Tech, either in this city or in neighboring cities? There's a bug that prevents that R$$$ sims from working in HT buildings. This could be the cause of your problems. HT creates demand for R$$$ but does not employ them, leading to much R$$$ development, but rapid abandonment. Then the city's overall education falls as new, lower-wealth, uneducated sims move in.

It's also possible, especially if it is an all residential city, that people are just too far away from available jobs. Do you have any mass transit, a bus system or anything?

Extensive subway systems connect dense residential areas to the commercial city.

Also, should I bulldoze the HT development if it is creating "Fake" demand?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

If your city is more than about 60 Sim-years old, consider that some of your Sims are aging and dying. It is part of the Sim-cycle. These guys retire at 65, so you'd better have a steady influx of young Sims, including some procreated ones. With an all residential city this is a risk.

As for the HT problem, there is a fix on the STEX, I don't remember where, and HT does employ other Sims. In any case, with a balanced situation, you should try an keep the overall regional average number of $$$ Sims down to about 15%.

Take a look at your population by age graph. If it is skewed to the right you have too many pensioners. The cure is to attract young Sims, and this will dilute your education levels.

You have to look at this problem from several angles.

[blaster395 0]

I managed to solve the problem by removing HT industries. It was hard on the budget, but I managed to bring education into a slightly increasing state, and average wealth is also rising again.

[His Divine Hand 244]

Also, by any chance does your city have an Opera House in it? If so, you may want to look at the Opera House fix. It is a commonly overlooked and unknown problem.

[blaster395 0]

Also, by any chance does your city have an Opera House in it? If so, you may want to look at the Opera House fix. It is a commonly overlooked and unknown problem.

I don't have an opera house, but I noticed a similar thing was happening with my Private Schools. I relocated them to the suburb before I began this thread.

[memedoug85 36]

This is a really good post which explains education in a easy, simple way... Something I came across a couple of weeks ago was that one of my water pumps failed and I didn't realize it had happened for quite some time... Firstly, the lack of water affected the high tech industry. Then residential was affected. Then education dropped... It's amazing how everything is connected... Keep those schools coming