Moving to Dallas in June, working at UTSW, 3 kids

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

True, and two main streets to the east is one of the wealthiest areas in all of Dallas, counting a half dozen billionaires, former President Bush (W), and several pro athletes as residents.

Dallas- and most major- cities are similar in that wealthy, middle class and poverty-level neighborhoods mash up against each other. I lived in Manhattan on the Upper East Side, 2 blocks from the Harlem "border." There was a rough housing project 4 blocks north and I often heard gunshot at night....however my neighborhood was full of Starbucks, multi-million dollar brownstones, and women toting Yorkies in their $3,000 Fendi bags. Streets away, but worlds apart.

But nice for OP to know if he settles in there and wants to take a 5 mike jog, head north or east, not south or west.


You and Lakewooder will be good friends on the forum- he always says it's been 22 years since he got on a freeway in Dallas...just kidding, but a good point that natives rarely hop on the Tollroad or 635 when Inwood or Royal will get you there quicker with nary a traffic snarl.

1). I should have offered better/more context. I think the OP and his family should strongly consider that home or another right there. That home seems to solve all of his problems on budget. What could be better?

2). For the record and maybe to Lakewooder's consternation I use the Tollway, 635, 35, 114, 181, 161, 75 all the time. I'm lucky to avoid them during rush hours most of the time.

It's really cool of you to pull up all that info. the OP BTW.

[Squirl]

LOVE the 75229 area!!! Been targeting that area for an investment property; have one next to it in 75220 and what a great location!! Great suggestion, posters.

That said, suggest you at least take a look at homes in your price range in Coppell, albeit expect limited selection...but who knows, you might luck out. Coppell is a community that has held up well in terms of resale and our market (I feel) has pretty much bottomed out. Coppell also offers a great community center and lush waterpark/pool that kids can safely ride bikes to. I would just feel more comfortable as a parent letting my kids more off leash in Coppell. JMHO.

[Squirl]

This house is now up for auction w/REDC; starting bid $149K. I predict it will sell for $260K.

806 Greenway Dr Coppell TX - Listing of a Home for Sale - Real Estate - MLS #11436074 - Realtor.com®

This house actually has 2.5 baths per another RE listing site:

Real estate listing for 867 Mullrany Dr Coppell TX - Home for Sale - MLS #11536034 - Realtor.com®


This house is in Coppell Schools, great VR neighborhood:

Real estate at 9412 Abbey Rd Irving TX - Property Details - MLS #11478047 - Realtor.com®

Another VR hours in Coppell Schools:
Real estate listing for 8513 Wellington Point Dr Irving TX - Home for Sale - MLS #11521172 - Realtor.com®

[Lakewooder]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

You and Lakewooder will be good friends on the forum- he always says it's been 22 years since he got on a freeway in Dallas...just kidding, but a good point that natives rarely hop on the Tollroad or 635 when Inwood or Royal will get you there quicker with nary a traffic snarl.

I resisted for many years but I had to capitulate and get the 'badge of shame', a tolltag.

[Lakewooder]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

20% limited English is on the very low end for DISD- many public elementary schools are over 60%. Degolyer is an excellent public elementary school- one of the best in DISD. Many neighborhood kids attend the schools, which indicated a strong school (vs other areas of DISD where most are private).

Here is more info about WT White HS, which DeGolyer ultimately feeds into (I know your kids are younger but a strong high school program trickles down to the middle & high school)-->
•Ranks #289 on the Newsweek 2010 Best High Schools in the United States. This score is based on the strength of AP program. For comparison, Richarsdso HS is #288 (hs of listings I posted yesterday), Plano West is #353,
Coppell is #456, and two DISD magnet high schools rank in the top 5 (#1 and #4).
•20 AP classes offered, including some of the more rare ones like Psychology & Computer Science & Studio Art. Only 1 of the elite private schools (ESD) offers AP Art History, which is offered at White. Only 1 of the elite private schools (St marks) offers AP German, which is also at White....
•Only non-magnet high school in DISD to be rated "Recognized" by the TEA (2nd highest rating behind Exemplary) based on graduation rates and state test scores in core subjects. For comparison, the 3 Plano Senior Highs are also Recognized. Richardson HS, Coppell HS, and Highland Park HS are 3 of the larger high schools to earn an Exemplary rating- very rare for high schools.
•Software & engineering program for students led by Perot Systems and UTSW
•One of 75 high schools in the US with a technology program funded by the
Gates (Bill) Foundation.
•75% of teachers have Master's degrees with an average tenure of 15 years
•Recent grads have gone on to college at Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Boston College, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Claremont McKennna, Georgetown, Northwestern, NYU, Vanderbilt, Yale, Middlebury, USC, UVA, Princeton, etc.

It is a very impressive large city district college prep (ie, non magnet) high school. The middle schools are very well regarded and all but 1 of the feeder elementary schools are Exemplary. This is the very best DISD offers and is on par - or above- many suburban districts.

Dallas high schools are being redesigned one-by-one so that each offers academies/pathways. Some only offer one or two and some offer more. Some initiate and implement the process themselves and some are forced into this. WTW is offering:

Academy of Engineering
Academy of Visual and Performing Arts

Business Administration and Finance Pathway
IT Pathway

Neighboring Thomas Jefferson High is offering an Asian Studies Pathway with Japanese or Chinese - I don't know which yet (maybe both) but I do know that other DISD high schools are going to send students over just for that particular language class - TJ is the only school so far which will offer this pathway.

The high schools are going to a choice model so that if there is something not offered at your home school you may apply to another school which does have the class/program.

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by dbloom3

We are most likely going to buy even though we won't be there that long, mainly for stability. The area that EDS and Turtlecreek posted looks promising. I like the home in Sparkman Club Estates. Its the right size, in our price range, has been updated, has a community pool and I would not have to take interstates to get to work. The elementary school is fairly well rated, but it says that 20% have limited English proficiency. This seems a bit high. I worry that it would slow down the rest of the class. Does anyone have experience with Degolyer?

Thanks for all the input.

Someone asked about my specialty, Rad Onc. I matched in the 2010 match and am currently doing my internship in Florida.

Degolyer is EXCELLENT. I've have friends who transferred their kids into Degolyer from other North Dallas, and pretty highly regarded, schools.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by dbloom3

I like the home in Sparkman Club Estates. Its the right size, in our price range, has been updated, has a community pool and I would not have to take interstates to get to work.

Found more Sparkman Club Estates listings for you. -->

10623 Royal Club Ln Dallas TX Home for Sale - Real Estate - MLS #11422110 - Realtor.com®

3563 Merrell Rd Dallas TX Home for Sale - Real Estate Listings - MLS #11489230 - Realtor.com®

Home for Sale at 3320 Regent Dr Dallas TX - Real Estate Listings and Details - MLS #11529903 - Realtor.com®

3312 Camelot Dr Dallas TX Home for Sale - Real Estate - MLS #11503154 - Realtor.com®

And here is the neighborhood's website-->
Sparkman Club Estates (http://sparkmanclubestates.com/ - broken link)