Why are Stonebridge home values falling? (Plano, Garland: neighborhood, middle school, pros and cons)

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by FarNorthDallas

How come you say McNeil's exemplary rating is false? It's TAKS scores look good. TAKS and attendance are the only two things considered when determined its rating. Chart - School Data - Texas - NCEA/Just for the Kids Too bad there isn't a way to rate strength of principal and teachers, parental involvement, atmosphere, morale, etc. Dallas ISD looks at these things. Too bad other districts don't.

I live in Dallas proper, Richardson ISD and I have talked to many folks who have moved to this area from McKinney. All moved because of the schools and some of them also had commute issues. Course, I am nosey and always ask for details, but I never get much info except for the schools just aren't that good and are overrated. And then on the other hand we have folks who leave this area to move to McKinney.

I don't know of anyone who moved to Ennis from these parts though. I have talked to one guy who was moving his family from Ennis to this area. He said he was in search of children's activities, better schools and to be closer to his job. I mean people are just searching....

Not towards you but everyone else that doubts:
My sister teaches IN the McKinney ISD so I do know for a fact that the things I mentioned are for real. I knew the day most of them happened as she would call me. Most people don't know about them if they are not at the schools 24/7 as there are the "privacy laws" and they won't know. Or their kid was not in the class where and when it happened and witnessed it AND spoke to their parent about it. So, no, most parents in the district will not know about them unless they are told or witnessed it. However, trust me, the things I've said DID happen. She taught at Evans MS the first year it opened and witnessed kids smoking pot in the bathroom and an administration that would not do anything about it as well as the other things I mentioned that occured there.

Sure, every district has problems but the thing is some districts like to hide it and brush it under the rug so that it doesn't show up so that everyone can continue to believe this fairytale of a "great life" when in fact there are problems.

As for the TAKS rating it is very easy for them to have it changed. I believe I mentioned it earlier??? Anyway, found out from my sister that McNeil did NOT "earn" the rating they got. They asked for an appeal from the State Board and got it. Their actual rating WAS lower. They did ask for this exemption for the last two year. So the ratings that can be seen online can be misleading and "false".

[FarNorthDallas]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Sure, every district has problems but the thing is some districts like to hide it and brush it under the rug so that it doesn't show up so that everyone can continue to believe this fairytale of a "great life" when in fact there are problems.

Oh, I saw that first hand in our local elementary school when we had that teacher who taped up a kid's mouth and locked him in the store room to get him to stop talking. The principal insisted everything was fine. Some of the parents denied it happened or thought it was no big deal. They just didn't want to believe something like this could happen in their beloved exemplary school. Other parents complained. It was very divisive. It would have really helped had the principal been more forthcoming and if the district would not have bribed the boy's mom into silence. Even then plenty of other kids have had great experiences at that school. I wouldn't toss out the whole school over this one thing. I think most schools have had some kind of issue or another.

On another note - is there a foreclosure problem in Stonebridge?

[Big G]

Plano ISD has the luxury of being large enough to justify separate "Special Programs" campuses for both elementary and secondary students. That's a polite way to describe "Juvie School". They can and do bounce severe behavior problems to that campus on a regular basis.

[sskkc]

I don't remember what first caught my eye about Ennis, honestly. I do know that they have lower teacher to student ratios than anywhere else we've looked (14:1), earned "Exemplary" school ratings, it's a small town (more accountability IMO), involved church congregations, music programs in the elementary schools, extra-cirricular activities (not just afterschool care) intermediate schools (5 & 6th graders separate), great sports programs and still close to everything.

They are a lot of what we thought McKinney was/had to offer- except smaller, further south and with less immediate shopping. But I'm not a "mall person", the shopping wasn't huge to us. We're self employed and I prefer bit of "country" to this rude, wanna be metro/ghetto feel we've encountered here in McKinney.

We've been househunting and another thing I've noticed - not ONE person has used the term, "because of the economy" while we've been there. Never heard it once. Hear it here everyday. Another interesting thing? Not one of the houses we've looked at is in the middle of short sale, foreclosure or is bank-owned. I'm sure they exist, but they sure aren't as common.

I am ALWAYS on the computer. I check all our email accounts several times throughout the day and I'm always on here doing research for one thing or another. You can BET I'll be posting as we move and after as well!

The better schools comment from the man you spoke to - wow. Shows someone didn't do their homework! (Kinda like us) But he'll learn.

[suggestions]

McKinney/Frisco/Allen or Plano ~ moving is a BIG decision. We have a 3 year old and 5 year old. We want a great Elementary School and kid friendly community with a community pool/club house......
Husband may relocate to Plano.....where to go is the question?

[HockeyDadof2]

Originally Posted by nsumner

The drug dealers stories are overrated. They are still talking about the drug scandal of Plano high school from the 90s. I don't see flocks of people moving from McKinney to Plano or anywhere else actually. Drugs are in every high school.

Those 3 schools are in McKinney ISD and are rated as follows: Also, Stonebriar and Starwood are zoned to Lewisville ISD BTW. If you want Frisco ISD I can recommend some really good neighborhoods too.

Bennett - Exemplary -
Dowell - Recognized
Boyd - Recognized

Since you are in one of the most desirable areas of the metroplex (West Plano) and a good school district, why do you want to move? More space? Newer home?

Check out this website for feedback from parents on individual schools: www.greatschools.org

Naima

Actually, I believe all of Starwood is zoned for Frisco, I know all 79 listings currently on MLS are zoned for Frisco. Parts of Stonebriar are zoned for Lewisville ISD and parts for Frisco ISD>

[Spree]

Perhaps this will help Stonebriar that goes to Lewisville schools:



For residents in southwestern Frisco, there's no question where their loyalties lie.
They love Frisco. They identify with the fast-growing city. But they say there's one obstacle preventing them from feeling fully integrated into their community: Their children don't attend Frisco ISD schools, but are part of the Lewisville school district.

Southwest Frisco residents' effort to leave Lewisville school district gains ground | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | News: Education

[Big G]

Originally Posted by suggestions

McKinney/Frisco/Allen or Plano ~ moving is a BIG decision. We have a 3 year old and 5 year old. We want a great Elementary School and kid friendly community with a community pool/club house......
Husband may relocate to Plano.....where to go is the question?

Twin Creeks in Allen.

[nsumner]

Originally Posted by HockeyDadof2

Actually, I believe all of Starwood is zoned for Frisco, I know all 79 listings currently on MLS are zoned for Frisco. Parts of Stonebriar are zoned for Lewisville ISD and parts for Frisco ISD>

You're absolutely right. I don't know what I was thinking. Lakes of Legacy & Heritage Lakes are zoned to Lewisville, I was thinking of that. I know better, I own a rental in Starwood. Stonebriar Creek which is east of Legacy is the only portion zoned to Frisco ISD. Homes in that little pocket range from 1 million to over 4 million.

Naima

[suggestions]

I too would like to know sskkc. I am looking at Elemetary Schools in and around Plano for a possible family relocation to TX. Thanks.