I live in Seattle and have been looking for the right fligh school for a while, any recommendations?

Where do you live and/or how far are you willing to drive? There are flight schools all over except for the eastside from bellevue to everett

Yeah, stay there and train, or go to AZ and full-time it at an ‘academy’ environment?

If local, maybe within an hours drive.

Like an hour and a half drive at the most

If you got money to blow, Galvin flying at KBFI is really good. Otherwise, I'd recommend crossing the bridge over to KRNT and go visit Rainier Flight Service, also a very, very good school.