Is Austin a good place to raise kids? We cant decide whether to accept a relo - help!
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We currently live in Dallas. We have two young boys in preschool and kindergarten. My husband has an opportunity to accept a transfer with his company to Austin. We both used to live in Austin when we were younger. We met when we were in our 20s in Austin. We love Austin and have very fond memories of it. We got married there. But we were at a different life stage then. We wonder if the city is too "college" oriented or even too "liberal" for our child rearing years. We are fairly socially liberal, but we are Catholic and would like a traditional upgringing for our two boys at early ages.
Things we like about Austin - the outdoors opportunities, parks, local owned businesses, proximity to coast, Houston, San Antonio (Sea World, etc.), pace/culture/soul, etc.
Things we are worried about in Austin - traffic/congestion, lack of seasons (even get these a bit more in Dallas), being rejected for being too conservative, i.e. not fitting in, focus on college students and singles, not married with children
We feel Dallas lacks the soul and character of Austin, but it is indeed very kid focused. Lots and lots of things to do here with kids --- Aquarium, two big zoos, state fair, Dallas Cowboys/Mavericks/TX Rangers, rodeo, trains, kid museums, great public and private schools, etc.
I think in our hearts we would like to be back in Austin. I think our heads are telling us that Dallas might be a better place to raise our boys. I am hoping that some Austin parents will chime in here and set me straight! Any opinions and insight appreciated. thanks you!
Don't make the mistake and move to Austin from Dallas. Your heads are telling you right. Austin is no longer the place you remember. The public schools are worse than Dallas. The traffic is a major problem, worst congestion of all mid to large size cities in the country. At least Dallas has tried to keep up with the growth by building roads. Austin won't even try. Austin is not kid-friendly. It's for young professionals who haven't given a thought about raising children. If you only want to focus on raising your pets, getting the latest tatoos, and hanging out in the bars listening to live music, Austin is your place. However, even the live music scene is overrated too.
Don't make the mistake and move to Austin from Dallas. Your heads are telling you right. Austin is no longer the place you remember. The public schools are worse than Dallas. The traffic is a major problem, worst congestion of all mid to large size cities in the country. At least Dallas has tried to keep up with the growth by building roads. Austin won't even try. Austin is not kid-friendly. It's for young professionals who haven't given a thought about raising children. If you only want to focus on raising your pets, getting the latest tatoos, and hanging out in the bars listening to live music, Austin is your place. However, even the live music scene is overrated too.
Please explain to us how Dallas public schools are better? Dallas ISD has 34 campuses rated Academically Unacceptable.
As many parents like me can say with conviction, Austin is a terrific area to raise a family. It is easy to live in an area with good to great schools, great outdoor recreation opportunities, low crime, and cleaner air.
As many parents like me can say with conviction, Austin is a terrific area to raise a family. It is easy to live in an area with good to great schools, great outdoor recreation opportunities, low crime, and cleaner air.
I think the issue is in the definitions of "Austin" and "Dallas". There are too many micro-environments to make blanket statements about either. When you say "Dallas", are you talking about living in NE Tarrant county, having your kids in one of the great school districts there, and commuting to Alliance, Las Colinas or the airport? Great shopping and water recreation in your back yard? Or are you talking about living in the Dallas ISD and commuting to downtown? Or Plano to downtown?
When you say "Austin", are you saying live in Cedar Park and commute to downtown? Good schools -- hellacious drive. Or live in RR and commute to Dell? Good schools -- almost no traffic. Or Lake Travis and work from home?
Blanket statements about either place and their relative excellence approach meaninglessness without context. I've raised kids in both, and found both excellent. But I can just as easily point to combinations of neighborhood, work, schools, commute, etc. that would have made either living hell.
I think the issue is in the definitions of "Austin" and "Dallas". There are too many micro-environments to make blanket statements about either. When you say "Dallas", are you talking about living in NE Tarrant county, having your kids in one of the great school districts there, and commuting to Alliance, Las Colinas or the airport? Great shopping and water recreation in your back yard? Or are you talking about living in the Dallas ISD and commuting to downtown? Or Plano to downtown?
When you say "Austin", are you saying live in Cedar Park and commute to downtown? Good schools -- hellacious drive. Or live in RR and commute to Dell? Good schools -- almost no traffic. Or Lake Travis and work from home?
Blanket statements about either place and their relative excellence approach meaninglessness without context. I've raised kids in both, and found both excellent. But I can just as easily point to combinations of neighborhood, work, schools, commute, etc. that would have made either living hell.
Of course you are correct. The post I quoted said Dallas. He generalized and so did I. He didn't say Frisco or Highland Park. But Dallas ISD is arguably the worse urban school district in Texas, riddled with fiscal mismanagement including criminal fraud for years.
Dallas is very different than Austin, for better or worse. Quality of life can be high in both areas, but the culture is noticeably different.
Dallas is very different than Austin, for better or worse. Quality of life can be high in both areas, but the culture is noticeably different.
The funny thing is, we moved from WLH to Southlake. Our lives revolved around our kids at that time. In our lives, where we were at that time, there wasn't a nickel's worth of difference between the two, in any way. Just another example of the micro-environment issue.
Hello, I am a mother of 4 teenagers. i was looking to move to Austin, TX soon. My question is I have three children that play basketball and what are the suggestion on what school to send them to that develop education and to have a good experience with basketball as well. I am coming from a Division 1 area and would like to stay in that division for my children. i am moving from Wisconsin and would like to get some feed back on this. How is the housing because i will be renting an apartment or duplex or home. What is a good area for me to rent. Is there a good area? I would need a 4 or 3 bedroom with a 1.5 bath. please help.
In texas we do not have Division 1, 2, 3, ect for sports we do it by As. 5A, 4A, 3A, ect. The largest schools are 5A. In Austin some great 5A that are big are Bowie (Austin ISD)- 2800 students, McNiel (Round Rock ISD)-2700 students, Westwood (Round Rock ISD)- 2600 Students, Westlake (Eanes ISD)- 2600 Students, Round Rock High School (Round Rock ISD)-2600 Students. All of these high schools are also very good high schools, especially Westlake and Westwood. Other good high schools that are large 5A are Anderson, Austin High, and Akins. Though none of those schools are known for their sports. Though Anderson's basketball team has got much better in the past years. Lake Travis is a HUGE sport schools and a 5A school but it is also a big smaller than the other schools mentioned (2200 students).
In texas we do not have Division 1, 2, 3, ect for sports we do it by As. 5A, 4A, 3A, ect. The largest schools are 5A. In Austin some great 5A that are big are Bowie (Austin ISD)- 2800 students, McNiel (Round Rock ISD)-2700 students, Westwood (Round Rock ISD)- 2600 Students, Westlake (Eanes ISD)- 2600 Students, Round Rock High School (Round Rock ISD)-2600 Students. All of these high schools are also very good high schools, especially Westlake and Westwood. Other good high schools that are large 5A are Anderson, Austin High, and Akins. Though none of those schools are known for their sports. Though Anderson's basketball team has got much better in the past years. Lake Travis is a HUGE sport schools and a 5A school but it is also a big smaller than the other schools mentioned (2200 students).
Lake Travis isn't a "HUGE sports school." We're just very good at athletics (and academics), and a very large part of that is due to the type of families that live here. The parents around here are well educated and have high expectations for their kids and want them to succeed. This encouragement and motivation then leads to success in all areas of high school in both athletics and academics.
Good responses on both sides of the coin. Though I haven't read through all the posts, those I have read through seem to miss probably the #1 most important variable here, and that's the family itself. For example, if you like to go to museums and zoos, partake in the arts, watch professional sports then you'll likely prefer the DFW area. I've never lived up in DFW but I do have relatives up there so am up there frequently and for me personally (and I have kids), I prefer Austin. No, I won't fall into the trap by saying anything is "better", just that for my lifestyle, my occupation, my preferences, etc Austin appeals to me more than the DFW area.
Good responses on both sides of the coin. Though I haven't read through all the posts, those I have read through seem to miss probably the #1 most important variable here, and that's the family itself. For example, if you like to go to museums and zoos, partake in the arts, watch professional sports then you'll likely prefer the DFW area. I've never lived up in DFW but I do have relatives up there so am up there frequently and for me personally (and I have kids), I prefer Austin. No, I won't fall into the trap by saying anything is "better", just that for my lifestyle, my occupation, my preferences, etc Austin appeals to me more than the DFW area.
Very true.
Because I am not willing to pay the $$ to go to pro sports events I am completely uninterested in my city having pro sports. I would like a zoo, but I know Houston and FW have good ones not far away. I even root against the burnt orange most of the time.
But I do like Blues on the Green. And ACL. Clean lakes in my backyard. Etc. That's why Austin works for me.
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Lake Travis is a HUGE sport schools and a 5A school but it is also a big smaller than the other schools mentioned (2200 students).
