East Frisco vs West McKinney, a difference? (Dallas, Arlington: rental homes, crime rate)

[busterkeaton]

I've always found that folks who so vehemently argue back and forth over petty issues that are mostly found on this site...that they have way more in common than they'd ever likely would be to admit.

[mikeh19468]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Your top 20% example is bunk because the top 20% of any school generally go on to be successful. If you think managing a Target is a crappy, low paying job- you're wrong. A good store manager will make $100-200k per year in a Target or Wal-Mart. The other example you gave is an extreme- and clearly he beat many odds to find success. Most people in his situation wouldn't have found the path to success. And that is my point about culture of success and wanting kids to be with a successful, motivated peer group in high school. So they get on a good path then- not f around for years and then pull it together.


I know affluence doesn't mean parental involvement. But it's a sincere question that no one on this forum has ever been able to answer- why do the Frisco kids lag so far behind Plano ISD on the metrics that count for the collegiate level (SAT, AP pass rate, National Merit)? It's a more affluent population with generally successful parents. Why is the difference that great?!

Simple question for you. Define success please.

[Ramona72]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

I know affluence doesn't mean parental involvement. But it's a sincere question that no one on this forum has ever been able to answer- why do the Frisco kids lag so far behind Plano ISD on the metrics that count for the collegiate level (SAT, AP pass rate, National Merit)? It's a more affluent population with generally successful parents. Why is the difference that great?!

Is Frisco really that much more affluent? In my highly unscientific experience it is more middle-class than Plano. No ghettoes, but no real upper levels of affluence either. Isn't that the whole point of Frisco? That a nice middle-class family can get a nicely sized new house, albeit one halfway to Oklahoma? The people i know from Frisco are perfectly nice, but it's not a hypercompetitive, intellectual, academic, sophisticated vibe.

[hominid4]

Originally Posted by CREW747

For a rental in that price range Frisco & west Mc Kinney are great choices. When you are ready to buy a house both cities have many neighborhoods that start as low as the 140's.....

Thanks, that's good info to know.

[dunkky]

I am just curious to know, if it can be breakdown based on the ethnical background of those top 20 and bottom 20 in plano, highland, coppell, etc.. area. Maybe parents' success and education system aren't the biggest factors here for their children's academic success. I am in no position to argue as i don't know as much as turtlecreek or others here, but i do know i've seen a load of asian living in plano and indians in coppell. And i also do know they put great emphasis on education and spent a ton of money for their children on private education/activities after school. I just feel that I am very convinced with Turtlecreek's analysis, but at the same time, I think more elements need to be thrown into that analysis.

Hello Mckinney folks! I live in Mckinney as well(craig's ranch). I went to a ****ty HS in NY, but ended up graducating from a decent private school. And many of my friends from that same HS went to Princeton, Harvard with a full scholarship. Top 10% graduates consisted of more than 70% indians and asians whose parents wealthiness are not what you would considered as "success". One thing i noticed from them was that they were very disciplined, had great family value and well taught by their parents. And they certainly didn't get that from a ****ty public education or wealthy parents.

So, don't get discouraged people, public schools(HS) in DFW are heaven compare to ones in NY in general. In my opinion it's more about how you raise your kids that will determined their intellectual capabilities when time comes. Just my opinion.

[Saintmarks]

Will jump in and try to steer back toward the OP's question...

I will join Plano Girl And TX Golfer and state that Western McKinney has MUCH more character and charm than Eastern Frisco. You could drop me in several different corners in Frisco and I wouldn't have a clue to where I was without street signs. The excellence with which Stonebridge Ranch was laid out in Western McKinney set the tone for the whole community, lushly landscaped common grounds, medians, lakes, trails, parks.... not the cookie cutter look that much of Frisco has.

If you are in far eastern Frisco, you are no closer to shopping and dining in the Stonebriar Mall area than if you are in parts of McKinney. Plus, McKinney is closer to the burgeoning retail areas in Fairview and Allen, so in McKinney your are equidistant to the two best retail/restaurant areas in Collin Co. Dont' forget the charm of the McKinney Square either, nothing like that to compare in Frisco.

My two oldest have graduated from McKinney Boyd, my son got a full four year scholarship to a Christian School in Tennessee, my daughter got a scholarship (not full, sad to say) to the University of Arkansas. But, according to some here, I have failed, they are such mediocre schools.

Sorry to digress, but a vote for McKinney!

[FalconheadWest]

Originally Posted by txgolfer130

Your "OPINION" of McKinney doesn't hold water either, as you don't live in N. Texas and don't know the area either. And as far as your clearly uninformed position on McKinney not having a "better" reputation:

I don't know the area? I lived in the Dallas area for 25 years. Grew up in Richardson, lived several other areas including North Dallas, Addison, Arlington, Lewisville, Valley Ranch, Lower Greenville, and moved back to Richardson when I got married. Recently moved to Austin, so YES, I know the area very well and worked in real estate for almost 9 years up in Dallas. Thanks, but I do know what I'm talking about.

And just because I have a "personal" opinion doesn't mean you have the right to attack it. I "personally" would never live there, but that doesn't mean I didn't help other people buy there.

[txgolfer130]

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

I don't know the area? I lived in the Dallas area for 25 years. Grew up in Richardson, lived several other areas including North Dallas, Addison, Arlington, Lewisville, Valley Ranch, Lower Greenville, and moved back to Richardson when I got married. Recently moved to Austin, so YES, I know the area very well and worked in real estate for almost 9 years up in Dallas. Thanks, but I do know what I'm talking about.

And just because I have a "personal" opinion doesn't mean you have the right to attack it. I "personally" would never live there, but that doesn't mean I didn't help other people buy there.

You said yourself you didn't know the area. Saying that same area of E. Frisco and W. McKinney would have a $100k difference! It's okay to admit you don't know the area. The area is separated by Custer. That's E. Frisco & W. McKinney diving line. Come on, get serious.

Funny, now you're complaining your being attacked? That's rich. I personally would never live in Richardson, Addison, or Arlington...but doesn't mean I have not recommended it to someone.

Too funny.

[hominid4]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

Will jump in and try to steer back toward the OP's question...

Great post! Thanks for the info, type of info I was looking for. Frisco initially attracted us because of all the "new" but the more I read and researched the more W McKinney is drawing us back in. Our thoughts that if we lived in the Boyd HS zone maybe close to Hwy121 then we have all things East and West of us easily accessible.

Also, over the last 18 years we have lived in neighborhoods with tons of little kids running around, along with our kids. Our house was the house where all the kids would come hang out, we love kids and urged it. Now however our son is 17 and our daughter is 15, therefore we thought it would now be a nice change to not necessarily have a lot of 1-10 year old toddlers/kids running through the neighborhood, and with many of our neighbors not being able to go out with us because they can't find a sitter, for example. Like right now I look outside in our cul-de-sac and there's 12 little kids out there chasing each other with water guns. We love that and love kids but I think we're ready for a little break. And back to neighbors having grown kids so that they can come over to play boards games late, or head to the local bar, which we love to do. Our feeling is that Frisco may have more neighborhoods that will have young parents with young kids? We're not looking for a neighborhood where there are no kids, just a nice balance. We're in our mid-40s.

Regarding the schools, our kids by far aren't at the top of their class but they are very solid students, really good with homework, work hard at school, get along well with teachers, always ask us for help when needed, so although we of course would like a great school we know they will do good at a school that is say a few points rank lower than a neighboring school. Both of our kids will eventually be going to Texas A&M - after getting a couple years in at a community college or such.

Thanks a lot everyone, I'm glad I started this thread, it has really been helping us!,
Wesley

[CREW747]

Mc Kinney buses kids to balance socio economic status past Elementary school.
I think this is a negative that affects home values. McKinney has the highest crime rate compared to Allen,Prosper,Frisco,Plano & Fairview....