Frisco to Lakehill / Lakewood - public schools? (Dallas, Austin: house, neighborhood)

[southrngrl5]

We're looking to move from Frisco to Lakehill / Lakewood to be closer to work, the city, "scenery" We love Austin, want an older house and find this area to most closely match the vibe down there. Problem - are there any public schools that measure up to the fantastic public school system we have in Frisco? We've got 2 girls in an exemplary elementary school now.

Question - Where should we focus our next house hunt in order to get in a really great public school? Would really like to stay near the Lake, but might consider other areas based on schools. Looking at $390-$450,000 depending on renovation needed.

Also interested in great middle schools, since our oldest is in 5th! THANKS!

[pepper131]

You'll want to focus on Lakewood Elem and Stonewall Jackson Elem. Maybe Hexter Elem and Sanger Elem. Possibly Lipscomb Elem.

[debtex]

In your price range you should look at University Terrace or Hollywood Heights in the Lakewood Elementary district or for something in the Hexter district across the lake. There might be some housing stock feeding into Stonewall that meets your criteria as well.

Get a local realtor to help you search down here, don't bring someone from the burbs, you won't get shown all the nooks and crannies of the neighborhood. At your price target, you'll need to look at a lot of homes to get the right one. Good thing is, there's a lot on offer right now, the market is softening considerably!

Deb

[Lakewooder]

Lakewood or Stonewall would probably be best - Lakewood is more 'social' - they feed into Long and Woodrow - Woodrow was ranked as one of top schools in the nation on the recent Newsweek list - about 600 places above the nearest Frisco high school.

[Big G]

Can you comment on how Long Middle School stacks up against the middle schools of the Frisco School District?

[mcl8991]

Lakewood Elementary is probably going to be best, your price range may be a little bit tough. You simply can't get as much home for the money close in as you can in the burbs, in that price range you are probably looking at an extensive remodel.

[billdfw]

The only good elementary schools in East Dallas are going to be Stonewall and Lakewood.

DISD schools are bad, with a few exceptions. I would not send my child to Long or Woodrow or any other DISD school with the exception of Stonewall or Lakewood. The schools in Dallas are not at all comaprable with Frisco. And the socio-economic class of most of these schools is very poor, compared with Frisco - something that most people overlook.

You might want to consider private school and buying a less expensive house. You can find a decent house in Lake Highlands or north of White Rock. For $400k, you can only get a smaller 3 BR house in Lakewood proper.

Good luck.

[theloneranger]

The schools are different. They serve two socioeconoimcaly different populations.

I would say that kids at the same socioeconomic level as Frisco kids get a similar if not better education at Long and Woodrow. However, Frisco does not have to deal with the same population that the East Dallas schools has and therefore they can't focus on those kids--they have to give everyone a good education.

[southrngrl5]

I think this is the direction that my research (just over the last day - 2) has lead me down. It sounds like everyone loves these 2 Elementary schools in the Lakewood area, but then opts to go to private schools from middle school on (or go private all the way). And yes, we are looking for that "diamond in the rough" that we can eventually expand, make our own! Thanks so much for all of the feedback.

[Big G]

Didn't you see? Woodrow is hundreds of schools ahead of Frisco high schools!

They can flunk AP exams better than Frisco students!