Relocating....Again! Help me find the right spot...Please! (Dallas: fit in, to rent)

[craigco]

Looks like I am on my way to Dallas...after only 2 years in Southern California (can't say I'm sad to leave this hell-hole though).

I need help getting a jump start finding upscale suburbs of Dallas, good schools, nice homes, safe neighborhoods. I have one teenager living with me now who will need a good high school (he's smarter than me).

I want to live comfortably on an income in the neighborhood of $120-$140K annually...But I don't want to be house poor. Like to keep my rent under $2000/month.

I prefer to rent a house versus buying...I have a house under contract in Southern California...and look where that got me :-).

If you know a thing or two about the Dallas area...please help!!!

Thanks in advance!
Craig

[UTDGraduate]

I recommend Allen city that seems to fit your personal interest. Richardson or Garland is secondary. I think you should go visit Allen High School once to see the reality.

[novice1]

I recommend Plano area anywhere within the 75075, or 75093 zip codes.

[Metro Matt]

Allen or McKinney along with everyone else from California & out of state!

[AmishlandtoDFW]

Where do you work?

[nmnita]

the first thing that comes to my mind, where will you be working? Someone suggests areas that have a lot of X Cal living there, for many especially someone who is anxious to leave Ca this would not be the answer.

Yes, Richardson and Garland have pretty good schools, are affordable and would probably work. They are older, well established neighborhoods. Part of Plano would be great as would Grapevine and Flower Mound. Grapevine is probably a litlle less expensive, still with good schools.

Nita

[momof2dfw]

Is your teenager interested in doing the IB program in high school? If so then your limited to what areas that you could look at. I have a daugther in the IB program at Garland HS and LOOOOOOVE LOOOOOOOVE LOVE IT! Not everyone likes the IB program but for those kids that can easily do the work it has been a blessing for them. Very few districts offer the IB program and in your price range I'd stick w/ FAR East Plano (Plano East Sr High) and Garland (for Garland HS). Yes, there are NEW areas in both of these and the neighbors all fit into the demographics that your looking for. As far as the IB program (International Baccalaureate) they do NOT have to do "full" IB. They can do partial and the rest AP. I've found thru much investigation that even in good districts the schools w/ the IB program have the higher standards in the AP courses as well. Don't know why the AP courses are more advanced at the IB schools but for some reason they are. In either of these districts you can live anywhere and if the student qualifies they can get into that school under that program and the district will provide transportation. Now, I'd hate to live in far West Plano and my kids be at Plano East as it would be a haul. We are in far northeast Garland (Firewheel) and my daughter is at GHS and it is only 6 miles and we can be there in about 10 minutes.

If your child is gifted academically then I'd check out the schools first heavily and then figure out where to live.

[pepper131]

It's so hard to move a teenager. You should find a highschool that will fit your teenager academically. The enrollment process starts at the beginning of the year for the magnets.

[Lakewooder]

Allen has a gigantic high school, the schools in McKinney are smaller. Similarly Plano high schools are so large they have one high school for 9th and 10th grades and another for 11th and 12th. Frisco schools are smaller (and probabably mostly Californians!).

IB will also be offered at my alma mater, Woodrow Wilson, in the Lakewood area inside Dallas. We are still a candidate school but should have our final approval soon. Transfer applications will be taken in the spring. Our teachers have been in IB training for some time. Some of them also teach AP, maybe that's why the AP courses are better at IB World Schools.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

Allen has a gigantic high school, the schools in McKinney are smaller. Similarly Plano high schools are so large they have one high school for 9th and 10th grades and another for 11th and 12th. Frisco schools are smaller (and probabably mostly Californians!).

IB will also be offered at my alma mater, Woodrow Wilson, in the Lakewood area inside Dallas. We are still a candidate school but should have our final approval soon. Transfer applications will be taken in the spring. Our teachers have been in IB training for some time. Some of them also teach AP, maybe that's why the AP courses are better at IB World Schools.

The split 9th/10th and 11th/12th applies to some of the Lewisville/Flower Mound high schools as well.

Nita