Interested in Lakewood...but what about middle school? (Dallas, Plano: for sale, real estate)

[andalusian]

We are a family of 5 (3 kids 8 and under) who are interested in relocating to Dallas. I've been reading this board for months and have gotten great info on several neighborhoods which interest us, specifically Lakewood and Prestonwood further north (I do realize they are pretty different from each other). I hear a lot about Lakewood Elem. and Woodrow Wilson, but what about the middle school? When I look at greatschools.org, the reviews are pretty poor, to put it mildly. So what do neighborhood kids do for middle school? Do they just suffer through?

Prestonwood, on the other hand, though possibly not as leafy or as walkable, has great schools throughout, and seems cheaper to boot. The RISD schools are causing us to lean toward Prestonwood/Canyon Creek. Bad schools are a major motivator in our desire to relocate now, and I am wary of risking a poorly rated middle school.

We do want to be as close to the city as possible, but are keeping an open mind. I see Lake Highlands recommended often, but am having a hard time finding an area that will string together highly rated schools from elementary to high school.

Budget is definitely a consideration. We would love to stay under 300k; this seems much more possible in Prestonwood than it does in Lakewood.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

[GripeWater]

I recommend Richardson's 75082 area for $300k budget, it's really nice and majority of homes feeds to Plano schools. Stinson Elem & Otto Middle are really good schools.

Here is current inventory between $250k-350k.

75082 Real Estate - Richardson, TX 75082 Homes for Sale - realtor.com®

[Considering Coming Back]

With your budget you will be better off in RISD. You need at least a 3 bedroom house and you will be hard pressed to find an updated one in the Lakewood or Stonewall areas.

But generally school "ratings" are little more than a measure for the number of white/asian students enrolled. If you were to live on Lakewood Blvd your elementary school would be 76% white (85% in K) your middle school would be 22% white and your high school 21% white (there are almost no Asians in central Dallas). That is what those school ratings are measuring. (To my detractors, yes I know they are meassuring other data points, but find me a zoned comprehensive secondary school somewhere in the nation that is <25% white/Asian and scores well.)

That scares most people who didn't grow up here. The reality is that starting at middle school kids are grouped by ability in all core subjects, which makes the classrooms at Long and Woodrow more than 20% white assuming your kid is a native English speaker who does homework.

These same points basically all apply to Lake Highlands as well, though they have two middle schools and LHJH is much more regarded. You can probably find a house that fits your needs in the Wallace Elementary attendance zone, but depending on your job location, Prestonwood is likely your best choice.

[abbybaby]

Everyone that I know in Lakewood send their kids to private schools. Only option really after elementary. With a budget of 300k you are going to get a tiny home in Lakewood.

[Lakewooder]

The Friends of J. L. Long is having a meeting this Thursday, December 12 from 6:15 to 8:15 pm at The Lot, 7530 E Grand Ave, Dallas, TX 75214. Principal Petters will be updating the group on what is happening at Long.

Long is nearing completion of the three-year accreditation process for International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. It has been offering the curriculum for the past two years as candidate school. In that time approximately 85% of the faculty has been IB-trained. About 35% of the faculty was new and had been recruited for this as of last year. Last time I checked, less than 30 public schools in Texas are IB MYP accredited.

I checked out the reviews and it seems there may be one person with an axe to grind making several. The others seem balanced. I personally know many parents and students who love Long. Its particular strengths are languages, math, science and performing arts. It does very well in state math and science competitions and science fair. Athletic teams dominate the district and often win the city championships.

The new TEA rankings are the top possible with distinction in top 25% progress.

[Lakewooder]

Originally Posted by abbybaby

Everyone that I know in Lakewood send their kids to private schools. Only option really after elementary. With a budget of 300k you are going to get a tiny home in Lakewood.

According to city data, in 75214 about 2/3 send their children to public schools for grades 1-8 and 3/4 send their kids to public school in 9-12. http://www.city-data.com/zips/75214.html

[GripeWater]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

The Friends of J. L. Long is having a meeting this Thursday, December 12 from 6:15 to 8:15 pm at The Lot, 7530 E Grand Ave, Dallas, TX 75214. Principal Petters will be updating the group on what is happening at Long.

Long is nearing completion of the three-year accreditation process for International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. It has been offering the curriculum for the past two years as candidate school. In that time approximately 85% of the faculty has been IB-trained. About 35% of the faculty was new and had been recruited for this as of last year.

I checked out the reviews and it seems there may be one person with an axe to grind making several. The others seem balanced. I personally know many parents and students who love Long. Its particular strengths are languages, math, science and performing arts. It does very well in state math and science competitions and science fair. Athletic teams dominate the district and often win the city championships.

The new TEA rankings are the top possible with distinction in top 25% progress.

I've heard complaints that people love their Lakewood homes and the area but move to tiny cottages and duplexes of HPISD for schooling because schools aren't good. However, no personal experience with those schools. Anyways, you'll not like the housing stock of Lakewood that meets your budget.

[Lakewooder]

I don't know of anyone who has done that except a lady who works at Times Ten Winery. And I do have personal experiences with these schools, not hearsay. We actually have two transfers at Woodrow in from HPISD that I know and I know parents who grew up in HPISD who now have children at Woodrow/Long.

[Considering Coming Back]

Originally Posted by GripeWater

I've heard complaints that people love their homes and the area but move to tiny cottages and duplexes of HPISD for schooling. However, no personal experience with those schools.

That's an anecdote. The data is that more than half of white Lakewood 5th graders enroll in 6th grade at Long. Another percentage choose to go to a (public) magnet school like Travis. There are people who move away or chose private schools, but they are a distinct minority.

ETA: 82% of the white 5th graders in the Woodrow feeder class of 2020 enrolled at Long. Even if every one of the students who enrolled at another school was from Lakewood, 66% of the Lakewood crew still matriculated to Long.

[GripeWater]

Are you saying that more than 44% students leave for other options? This data is for white students only?