Moving to Austin, need advise on middle schools

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by austinnative69

I too work for Dell and choose to live in Central Austin. The Commute from my house (very Close to Mccallum) to RR Dell is about 30 minutes. I dont know anything about Eanes or RR schools.

I have daughters at both Kealing Magnet and McCallum Fine Arts Academy.

Houses in my Neighborhood will be small 3/2 1400-1700 sqft -- probably not updated for that money.

Since you are looking at Middle School:

Lamar Fine Arts Academy has a fantastic Arts program that gets you ready for the VERY competitive McCallum Fine Arts Academy. Like most schools in Austin, you get out what you put in. Lamar has a range of Pre-AP Math, Science and Language. You should also be able to place out of the Freshman Art classes.

Kealing Magnet is a very rigorous academic program. I have seen many kids taking HS Algebra in the 6th grade. Kealing Magnet is also very competitive for entry. We have heard of small issues with the non-magnet kids, but haven't had any problems personally.

McCallum High School has been such a great place for my little artist. So many opportunities and EVERYONE can find a place there. The Fine Arts program is, in my opinion, as difficult if not more for entrance -- than the Kealing Magnet program. They only accept a small number, and the waiting list is long.

You can live anywhere in the AISD boundaries and get into either of those schools, if accepted.

Excellent info from Austinnative 69. With hubby working at Dell, I would dig in & compare:

- The Lamar MS/McCallum option.
- Canyon Vista MS/Westwood option.
- Canyon Creek ES/GrishamMS/Westwood option. (Because of your price point, and i know the Grisham Fine Arts program is highly regarded. fwiw..my kid went there.)
- Cedar Valley/McNeil HS option. (I hear really good things about McNeil Fine Arts...maybe someone can chime in).

Also, if anyone can offer an opinion on Anderson HS (& it's feeder pattern) Fine Arts. I suspect it's very good, but I don't know.

All of the above MSs and HSs are VERY GOOD & offer TAG (or AP or IB, or Gifted or whatever) programs if your kid is a VERY VERY good student.

[ashiana]

This is all great info. Thank u all.
Can anyone recommend a good feefer pattern in Leander . i have heard good about quest. Do they have a good arts prog? I like Camacho stem prog fr my 5 yr old. They have IB program as well. What would be a good feeder pattern in Leander?

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by ashiana

This is all great info. Thank u all.
Can anyone recommend a good feefer pattern in Leander . i have heard good about quest. Do they have a good arts prog? I like Camacho stem prog fr my 5 yr old. They have IB program as well. What would be a good feeder pattern in Leander?

Vandegrift, Cedar Park & Vista Ridge are the 3 best high schools in LISD. I don't know the "best" feeder patterns or how they stack with fine arts.

I'm sure others will chime in.

(Vandy would give your husband a more challenging commute than all the others mentioned in this thread...but it is a very good school. But not any better than the others listed in my post up above.)

[janineg]

In Leander ISD, maybe Rutledge, Stiles, Vista Ridge. Or Reagan, Henry/Stiles, Vista Ridge. I know quite a few families in the area with a parent who works at Dell. The Vandegrift feeder pattern is wealthier and more competitive. They always have the highest number of National Merit Scholars compared to the other LISD high schools.
My daughter was in the quest program at Henry. It's a class, every day (non-quest kids take Avid or a class on study habits in its place). The did multiple projects in quest, and of course, it's filled with quirky/geeky kids, so it's a comfortable place for kids. In 8th grade she decided to replace quest with a tech class called Gateway. It seems interesting so far.
My elementary kids love the quest teachers at Reagan. It's a class that meets 4 days a week for 30 minutes. They work on creative projects. For academic acceleration, there's PACE math, which is a year ahead of regular math.

[ashiana]

[quote=hound 109;47355353]Excellent info from Austinnative 69. With hubby working at Dell, I would dig in & compare:

- The Lamar MS/McCallum option.
- Canyon Vista MS/Westwood option.
- Canyon Creek ES/GrishamMS/Westwood option. (Because of your price point, and i know the Grisham Fine Arts program is highly regarded. fwiw..my kid went there.)
- Cedar Valley/McNeil HS option. (I hear really good things about McNeil Fine Arts...maybe someone can chime in).

Also, if anyone can offer an opinion on Anderson HS (& it's feeder pattern) Fine Arts. I suspect it's very good, but I don't know.

All of the above MSs and HSs are VERY GOOD & offer TAG (or AP or IB, or Gifted or whatever) programs if your kid is a VERY VERY good student.[



Thanks for the great info. I am wondering if I can put my daughter into another school yet get extra private classes on art similar to those offered at Mc Callum or Lamar.
Can anyone please refer me to a good arts program (extra curricular) for middle school as well as high school.
Also, want to know where do kids go to take up Arts Major, I mean what colleges.

[ashiana]

We are stuck between choices.

I liked the Spicewood-canyon Vista- Westwood combination but there are no good homes available for rent. We are planning to rent for atleast one year and then purchase the home.
Do you know any good places to look for? any new constructions in the area? Good websites to look for rentals?

We like homes in Avery Ranch and the combo there is Rutledge- Stiles- Vista Ridge. Please give opinions.

We need to take a decision soon.

[austinnerd]

Originally Posted by ashiana

We are stuck between choices.

I liked the Spicewood-canyon Vista- Westwood combination but there are no good homes available for rent. We are planning to rent for atleast one year and then purchase the home.
Do you know any good places to look for? any new constructions in the area? Good websites to look for rentals?

We like homes in Avery Ranch and the combo there is Rutledge- Stiles- Vista Ridge. Please give opinions.

We need to take a decision soon.

What is your definition of a "good home"? If you look on Zillow, it looks like there are several houses for rent that are available in the Spicewood/CV/Westwood zone (just remember that you can't go north of Anderson Mill Road despite Spicewood Elem. being right on Anderson Mill). And when you say "... rent for at least one year and then purchase the home." When you say "the home", do you mean to say "a home" or are you really looking for some type of rent->own property?

Avery Ranch is a nice area, we know a couple of families who live there and like it a lot. Biggest difference is that the area that feeds into the Spicewood/CV/Westwood is generally older more established neighborhoods (with a few cool patches of no sidewalk/curbs rural feeling areas) whereas Avery Ranch is a more contemporary master planned community with parks, pools, etc. Basically they generally feel quite different, not that one is better or worse, it's just different. If you are contemplating both areas and are not planning on buying right away anyway (and you don't mind possibly plucking your kid from one elementary to another), I'd go for the one that is easiest logistically for now and once you get here, spend some time in the other area and see which one matches your style the best.