Cedar Ridge HS in Round Rock (Austin, Plano: for sale, apartments, house)

[LanceD]

Hi,
We recently moved from Plano to Austin. We found a nice house in Lake Forest community. The elementary and middle schools are good (or good enough). However, I'm a bit concerned and not sure about the Cedar Ridge HS. It's brand-new (2010) with 9th grade only for 2010, 9-10th for 2011, and now with 9-11th. For 2010 & 2011, they ranked "Unacceptable" by TEA as less than 60% of African-American passed the TAKS test.
Student scores don't always correlate with the teacher's skill. However, I have no other data to evaluate. My oldest will be in HS in 3 year and I have to decide soon.

Do you have any comment/info on this particular high school?

Thanks,

[Mrs.JT]

Are you looking at a house in Village III, by any chance?...the one off of Collingwood or maybe the one off of Timber Creek?

My son is currently a senior at Cedar Ridge. And actually, the school started with 9th and 10th in 2010. My son started there as a sophomore, so he's a part of the first graduating class. A lot of parents are concerned about the statistics, but I assure you that the teachers have been great, thus far. I have a few personal issues with the school, but it's nothing I can't deal with.

[LanceD]

Originally Posted by Mrs.JT

Are you looking at a house in Village III, by any chance?...the one off of Collingwood or maybe the one off of Timber Creek?

My son is currently a senior at Cedar Ridge. And actually, the school started with 9th and 10th in 2010. My son started there as a sophomore, so he's a part of the first graduating class. A lot of parents are concerned about the statistics, but I assure you that the teachers have been great, thus far. I have a few personal issues with the school, but it's nothing I can't deal with.

Thanks Mrs.JT. Thanks for the insight info. After all, teacher quality is what I care most about.

The house I'm looking at is on River Creek.

[Mrs.JT]

You're welcome. I know I didn't give you much information to work with, and although I've generally been happy with my son's teachers, I'm still trying to get a feel for the school. We also have a 4 year old, and to be quite frank, we will be watching the school as it establishes itself and determine whether it will be a good fit 10 years from now.

There are so many streets named "river ....", but I'm not sure if I've ever seen River Creek. I know there are homes for sale on River Forest, Deep River and Cool River. The house for sale in River Forest is actually my new neighbor's previous home. They needed a bigger home, so they moved to the other side of Lake Forest. Good luck with your decision!

[LanceD]

Originally Posted by Mrs.JT

You're welcome. I know I didn't give you much information to work with, and although I've generally been happy with my son's teachers, I'm still trying to get a feel for the school. We also have a 4 year old, and to be quite frank, we will be watching the school as it establishes itself and determine whether it will be a good fit 10 years from now.

There are so many streets named "river ....", but I'm not sure if I've ever seen River Creek. I know there are homes for sale on River Forest, Deep River and Cool River. The house for sale in River Forest is actually my new neighbor's previous home. They needed a bigger home, so they moved to the other side of Lake Forest. Good luck with your decision!

Actually, it's River Forest. I saw so many homes and mixed up the street. How is the principal at Cedar Ridge HS?

[Mrs.JT]

I just realized there are three homes for sale on River Forest, so the one you're looking at might not belong to my neighbor, afterall.

The principal, Dr. Presley, seems okay. I had an issue I needed addressed the first year, and he responded to my email promptly. The following year, I contacted him again about another concern, and I received no response. I thought he may have disseminated my email to the proper personnel to be addressed, and if that was the case, I at least expected an acknowledgement of my email, but nope...nothing. I understand that he's busy, but I was hoping to eventually receive a response.

I'm not sure if this is how it works at all high schools with a large student body, but the students are assigned specific principals based on grade and last name. The grade level principals we'd been assigned have been great. Anytime I had any issues or questions, they always addressed them.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by LanceD

Hi,
We recently moved from Plano to Austin. We found a nice house in Lake Forest community.

Lance, I'm not pickin' on you; but I'm surprised none of our Austin faithful have jumped on this and reminded you that Round Rock is NOT Austin. 'They' can get a bit riled up when people outside a 3 square block area around 6th Street say they live in Austin.

Welcome to the 'area'. DW and I have done some pet-sitting at the Mansions Apartments, driving right by Cedar Ridge HS. That area has really grown and is maturing nicely from what I can see. Good luck settling in !

[LanceD]

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

Lance, I'm not pickin' on you; but I'm surprised none of our Austin faithful have jumped on this and reminded you that Round Rock is NOT Austin. 'They' can get a bit riled up when people outside a 3 square block area around 6th Street say they live in Austin.

Welcome to the 'area'. DW and I have done some pet-sitting at the Mansions Apartments, driving right by Cedar Ridge HS. That area has really grown and is maturing nicely from what I can see. Good luck settling in !

I saw that on some threads :-). Just convenient to say Austin I guess :-)
My apartment is in the Austin zip code but my kids go to RRISD.

I have decided to skip the east side of 35. I'm now focusing on the west side and Cedar Park area.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by LanceD

I saw that on some threads :-). Just convenient to say Austin I guess :-)
My apartment is in the Austin zip code but my kids go to RRISD.

I have decided to skip the east side of 35. I'm now focusing on the west side and Cedar Park area.

We're in Avery Ranch, on the dividing line between RRISD(McNeil) and LISD(Vista Ridge HS). Avery Ranch is as far 'north' as you can go and stay in the city of Austin(along here, of course). Cedar Park is north, on the other side of Brushy Creek. Between Avery and Round Rock proper is the area commonly referred to as Brushy Creek(part of the RR ETJ).

All sorts of homes around here. Your workplace/commute could be a big factor in choosing a home within the school boundaries you seek. Good luck!