Moving to Dallas from ATL (Plano, Carrollton: rent, houses, buying)

[atl_icebird]

Hello,
My family and I are moving to the Dallas area in a few months. We have two children (elem and middle schooler) and schools are our primary concern. We will probably rent a home for a while before buying, but would like to stay in the same general area so that we don't have to change schools once we purchase. A newer home with rent at $1500 or less would be perfect.

Can anyone give me insider tips on great multi-cultural areas to look in with great schools? My job will be in the 75234 area and I would love a short commute.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[theloneranger]

What do you mean by multi-cultural?

Most areas of Dallas with "good schools" are generally largely white. There are few schools, outside the magnet schools, which are considered to be "good" and multicultural.

75234 is Farmers Branch. I'd suggest living in North Dallas for that job. Most homeowners in the area send their kids to private schools, which can range in price from $5000 for small Christian schools and Catholic parochial schools to $25,000 for the elite private schools (think Westminster in Atlanta). These schools are usually around 20% non-white. There a lot of 50s era ranches, usually very well kept, in the area. Most newer houses are McMansion-style housing and I doubt you could rent one of those for $1500 a month.

[WillysB]

Great work location. For your criteria I'd suggest anything north, northwest or west to Grapevine. That said, I have no idea about schools in that area so will leave to other commentary.

[LAnative10]

Originally Posted by atl_icebird

Hello,
My family and I are moving to the Dallas area in a few months. We have two children (elem and middle schooler) and schools are our primary concern. We will probably rent a home for a while before buying, but would like to stay in the same general area so that we don't have to change schools once we purchase. A newer home with rent at $1500 or less would be perfect.

Can anyone give me insider tips on great multi-cultural areas to look in with great schools? My job will be in the 75234 area and I would love a short commute.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

If you want good schools with in a very multicultural area, Id look in Richardson.

[kdogg817]

The southern suburbs have good schools and they also are very diverse. Bishop t.d. Jakes has a pretty good private school in the southern sector of dallas.

[atl_icebird]

Thanks for the info...we are trying to avoid private schools by moving strategically in a great public school zone. Can you give me specific schools that we should strive for (elementary and middle)? They don't have to be too diverse...I just don't want my kids to be the only African Americans in their classes. :-) Also, I'd be willing to pay more in rent (and future mortgage) for the best schools...no McMansions though. :-) Thanks again! This site is great!

[compSciGuy]

You have some conflicting requests for the area. Newest homes are not going to be near Dallas, and they are also most likely going to be McMansions. For good schools with an African American presence, I second the suggestion for Richardson (either school district or area of Richardson in Plano district). You can also drill down on the individual schools with GreatSchools to see how the different races perform at each school.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by atl_icebird

Hello,
My family and I are moving to the Dallas area in a few months. We have two children (elem and middle schooler) and schools are our primary concern. We will probably rent a home for a while before buying, but would like to stay in the same general area so that we don't have to change schools once we purchase. A newer home with rent at $1500 or less would be perfect.

Can anyone give me insider tips on great multi-cultural areas to look in with great schools? My job will be in the 75234 area and I would love a short commute.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

If you can get something in your price range, because schools are so important and you probably do not want the expense of private schools I would sugges Lewisville, Grapevine or Flower Mound as starters. Coppell has great schools, but will, most likely be out of your price range. As for multi cultural, as mentioned, many of the better schools districts will be primarily caucation, but all have some mixtures and your kids will be accepted. Richardson might work, but will be a longer commute and you will have trouble finding newer homes. It is a nice area, much of it was built in the 60, 70 and 80s. Oh, now I see you are referring to your family as being African American, I thought you meant mixed. Either way you should have no problems, but you will find African Americans in any of the areas. As for particular schools, all the schools in Flower Mound are good, so you should have no problems. Most of those in Grapeview are as well, Lewisville is great, but some of the schools are better than others and No Carrollton would be a great commute for you. Much of the area is Lewisville schools. You would pbobably want to stay away from the Carrollton, Farmers Branch district.

[the_assistant]

How do you PM in this forum ... can give some helpful advice but some of my info is confidential

[theloneranger]

Originally Posted by kdogg817

The southern suburbs have good schools and they also are very diverse. Bishop t.d. Jakes has a pretty good private school in the southern sector of dallas.

Clay Academy is brand new and doesn't have any reputation at all really outside of Potter's House attendees. It likely is the best school in southern Dallas County but that doesn't mean much.

It will take them years to compete with the established North Dallas prep schools.