Moving from Jackson, MS to Dallas (Houston, Fort Worth: low crime, preschools, university)

[LeslieGlaze]

We are relocating from Madison, MS (outside Jackson) to Dallas as soon as the school year ends. I have 3 children: one will be in sixth grade, a four year old and three year old. I am looking for any advice on where to live for the schools/preschools. Thanks a bunch because there are many more options in Dallas than we are used to.

[portyhead24]

You're right on that there are definitely an insane amount of choices. Try to be a little more specific on what you're looking for in a school. Also, type of environment and proximity to other things such as recreation, work, airports will help a lot of posters on this board conjure up some suggestions. I could tell you easily 25 great towns and cities right off the top of my head where to live, all spread out VERY far from Dallas to Fort Worth and back again.

[grindin]

Originally Posted by LeslieGlaze

We are relocating from Madison, MS (outside Jackson) to Dallas as soon as the school year ends. I have 3 children: one will be in sixth grade, a four year old and three year old. I am looking for any advice on where to live for the schools/preschools. Thanks a bunch because there are many more options in Dallas than we are used to.

Hmmm, Madison is a pretty upscale suburb of Jackson. I'm thinking that the closest equivalents Madison in D/FW would be Plano or Southlake. Both areas have great schools.

I grew up in North Jackson, I know a LOT of people I went to school with who moved to Dallas, so you won't be hurting to find Mississippi folks. I have some friends in the Lewisville area and they LOVE the area.

[Phil75230]

Agreed Grindin,

I lived in Jackson for 13 months AND grew up 90 miles from Jackson in NE Louisiana. PLUS, I 've lived in Dallas for 5 years. Plano and Southlake are definitely the more upscale areas of the DFW metroplex (barring the REALLY upscale areas like Highland Park,University Park, plus areas in North Dallas inside 635 like Preston Hollow.

But, if you're willing to take on a lifestyle more akin to North Rankin county, then I'd say ANY suburban area in Collin, Denton, and Rockwall counties will fill your bill. The most upscale place in this regard would be Frisco and West Plano (in Collin County, west of U.S. 75).

If you're willing to live closer to downtown, then Richardson schools aren't too shabby from what I hear (Richardson is on US 75 in northern Dallas Co., between Dallas proper and Plano)

ETA: BUT, if you want good access to downtown WITHOUT using your car (definitely advisable, trust me), then you want to be near the DART Line (means Dallas Area Rapid Transit - the city's light rail system). It's about $2.50 or $3 per day for all day access to any point in Dallas County -- including DFW International Airport.

Currently, the only real suburban presence DART has in hte areas I mentioned is along US 75 in Collin County (Plano).

[grindin]

Agreed Phil75230,

Yep! It seems like a lot of people I went to HS and college with moved to either D/FW, Atlanta (where I live), Houston, Memphis, or Nashville.

Come to think of it, North Rankin County (the Reservoir Area) is like a mini Collin County.

Madison is a nice suburb, but I know some people that like to call it "wannabe Alpharetta/Wannabe Plano." Eh, whatever, it's a nice area with great schools and low crime (which is very important there, cause Jackson's crime rate is insane). To the OP, you shouldn't have any problems finding similar communities in the Metroplex.

[Nick Good]

Depending on your price range and where your jobs will be located I agree with the above posts about Southlake. My wife grew up there and the schools are phenomenal. I would also recommend Richardson (great community feel and good schools), and if you do look into Plano I would suggest the far west side of Plano. I grew up in Plano and the schools have gone downhill since I was there (graduated in 99').

You definitely can't go wrong with Southlake though.

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