My dilemma....what would you do? (Dallas, Plano: for sale, rental, house)

[desibear]

Dear all, I had asked this board for some recommendations earlier and had pretty much narrowed down to the State/Thomas area in Uptown. However, reality is setting in b/c I have 2 kids, one of whom will need pre-K school right away. Good private schools from State/Thomas in Uptown are at least 10 minutes away by car and there is no guarantee we will get in this year.

Also, I find the Uptown, non-highrise, rental stock available on Craigslist and intowndallas.com to be very limited. 3 bedrooms are rare and 3 bedrooms with 2.5+ baths are even rarer. They exist, don't get me wrong but as exceptions rather than rule from what I can gather electronically. I cannot wait to actually land in Dallas and start to scout things out but, alas, all things in due time!

And, so the question becomes whether I spend $2000-2200 on a 3/2.5 per month in a "happening" part of Uptown and then spend $10K annually to send my kid to a private pre-K **OR** do I spend $2800-$3000 per month on a 3/3 in, say, Highland Park (check out 4513 Fairway AVE Highland Park, TX 75219-1606 for $2750 for eg.) and send him to some HP elementary school. I pick HP b/c of proxmity to downtown for wife's work, proxmity to the "happening" neighborhoods, my commute to EDS in Plano, and hopefully good schools for the kids.

So, What would you do? If you say, HP, then is it correct to assume that if I rent anywhere in the HP district, my kids have access to the elementary schools? If so, what is the tuition for a public elementary school? I intend on calling HP ISD next week but thought to throw it out to the knowledgable and helpful community here as well.

For what its worth, ours is an asian Indian family but both wife and I are 2nd generation and fully "assimilated". Don't know whether being non-white is an issue in HP, in terms of fitting in. Didn't get the feeling that that will be an issue in Uptown at all, but feel free to correct that perception as well, if need be.

Thanks!

[momof2dfw]

Public schools are tuition free. You pay for it via your property taxes (that is why our property taxes are high compared to other states). In renting the property taxes are paid by the owner and it will be included in your rent. Your kids can attend the public schools in the district in which you live be it rent or own. If you rent a house in the HP ISD then your kids can attend those schools. If you rent a house in the Richardson ISD, your kids attend those schools but can not attend another districts, except for Dallas ISD and pay tuition to attend one of their magnets (this happens for older kids to attend something like Booker T. Washington in the DISD). I'd also extend the search to the Lake Highlands area which is part of the Richardson ISD. Still close proximity to Downtown Dallas and do not need a highway to get there and easy to jump on the highway to head to EDS. Schools are good and the area is full of professionals that work in the area and downtown w/ families. VERY GOOD FAMILY AREA! The Richardson ISD would give you more diversity than the HP ISD. The HP ISD is around 97% non hispanic white. Your kids could very well be the only Asian Indian students in their entire grade level and school. Which wouldn't be a problem if you don't mind it.

[theloneranger]

I remember when HP had the Thug Day/Fiesta Day controversy DMN said that had around 60 Asians, 30 Hispanics, and 6 African-Americans out of a student body of around 1950 kids.

[Spree]

>>4513 Fairway AVE Highland Park, TX 75219-1606<<

You might want to check the boundaries, I believe that this is just barely out of district. The valedictorian this year was Asian. She did not know any English when she moved to HPISD when she was in 4th/5th grade. The Salutatorian was Russian. The 3rd highest GPA was an Indian boy.

Announcements

The thug day I'm sure Lakewooder or loneranger have links handy for that. It is my understanding that it represented about a dozen kids and not the school body as a whole.

Either way you choose, private or public, you'll be fine. Just be aware that the fall's pre-k classes might be filled already.

[TurtleCreek80]

I am a HP graduate & believe that address should fall within HPISD boundaries. You should be able to find a duplex in the 4500 blocks of Westway or Fairway or in the neighborhoods around the middle & high school in your budget.

Yes, there are few minority kids at HP, but those that are there tend to do just fine, both academically and socially.

There is no public pre-k however. HPISD starts at Kindergarten, so you will still need to put your kid in some private school for 1 year.

HPISD is the finest district in the state. Your kids will receive 13 years of the best teachers, athletics, and arts programs around. All 6 schools are outstanding, whereas in other area districts, you are good until 6th or 9th grade and then you have to reevaluate or pray the middle and high school improves by the time your kids get there.

If you can afford HPISD, do!!

[nsumner]

I think your scenario of renting in HP school district is the best one. As TurtleCreek80 explained, HP school district doesn't offer pre-K program. You can check out St. Alcuin Montessory School St. Alcuin Montessori School.

I also don't think that your country of origin would have any bearing and I feel sure that you would enjoy living in HP.

Also, the duplex on Fairfield is indeed in HP ISD. However, keep in mind that it's for sale as well, so you never know what may happen when the new owner purchases it. You don't want to end up having to move again. There are about 3 dozen homes in HP ISD with at least 3 2.5 baths for less than 3K.

Naima

[pepper131]

Originally Posted by Spree

>>4513 Fairway AVE Highland Park, TX 75219-1606<<

You might want to check the boundaries, I believe that this is just barely out of district.

DEFINATELY check on the boundary before you commit. I believe there was a time when the boundary was Lomo Alto. But, according to the map on the HPISD site, the elem is Bradfield.

http://www.hpisd.org/LinkClick.aspx?...Io%3d&tabid=57

[desibear]

Thanks everyone. The fact that there is no pre-K throws a monkey wrench into the situation. That means that our 3.5 years old, who needs to be in pre-K right away, has 2 years to go before entering Kindergarten (assuming Kindergarten does not start till age 5). So, being in HP right away doesn't help out our school situation like I thought it would. Does anyone know whether being in Lakewood as part of Richardson ISD, as suggested by momof2dfw, work out better for us in that they have a public pre-K program?

If we had no kids, I think our decision would be extremely straight forward (read: Uptown). If we had kids ready for Kindergarten (age 5+), I think our decision would be extremely straight forward (read: HP or similar). But with 1 kid in Pre-K and the other an infant, I feel like I'm in a gray area away from the easy decisions. Short of spending the moola on expensive private pre-Ks that may or may not be close to where we live, I struggle to see what other options there might be. I can spend the money either on really good public school location (eg. HP) OR on private schools (& possibly for both, but that's the last resort). Thoughts?

Thanks everyone for your replies. I have tried to rep each of you though need to spread the love around in some cases.

[jpdallas]

So many people wrestle with your decision. HP/UP also offers an amazing community - walking to neighborhood shops, family block parties where the whole street is blocked off by city permit and kids play and have races, etc. Renting may be transitional, but the area as a whole has very active public preschool association, so for example, my child starting kindergarten already knows dozens of kids and is in a Y guide group before kindergarten has even started. its such an easy place to make friends. so, the preschool thing - there are a half dozen private schools that are very close by that are much more affordable - such as wilshire baptist in lakewood, northway christian in UP and the Park Cities YMCA has an excellent, reasonable preschool. Check out the YMCA prices and see if that is in your budget. A very dear friend of mine who lives one street over is Asian. you might find more diversity in UP as opposed to HP. i would put my money in my home, start assimilating and take advantage of the incredible public school system Dallas has to offer.

[Spree]

Pepper's map shows that the address is just barely within the boundaries. I don't think Dallas ISD offers pre-k either? I think you only have the choice of going private for Pre-K. In addition to the ones already suggested, you might want to call St Christopher's montessori on Lover's Lane and Central Expressway.

>>Does anyone know whether being in Lakewood as part of Richardson ISD, as suggested by momof2dfw, work out better for us in that they have a public pre-K program?<<

I think Lake Highlands is part of Richardson ISD, Lakewood is Dallas ISD and no I don't think so about public pre-k. Also, you might not find pre-k is going to cost as much as you think. Certainly some schools are going to be more than others.