Job in Grand Prairie, need good schools within 45 min commute (Dallas: foreclosures, rent)

[cincylifer]

Just landed a job on Jefferson Pkwy in Grand Prairie. Looking for a good school district that has some diversity, no longer than 45 min commute, will do an hour if necessary..any suggestions? Will probably rent for year, so not worried about housing, since I think prices will fall more by next year. Currently we are in a top ranked district in ohio, much parental involvment, safe, desirable neighborhood, I would like something very similar. Right now the stats of our current school are 70% white//30% other, and I would like something along those lines. We are an AA family, and it is important that there is some diversity.

Thanks!

[loves2read]

price will separate areas
GP is not ranked very highly in the ed dept usually nor is Arlington which is really closest second city

that is off 360
HEB ISD/Grapevine Colleyville ISD/Southlake Carroll ISD/maybe Coppell would work--Flower Mound/Lewisville is to hard to get out of

depending on pricing
HEB is most diverse--with higher housing in low 300K--but it is older area--few developments less than 10 yrs old and the anglo count is probably more 50-60-%==depends on school
Grapevine/Colleyville has some diversity but mainly Hispanic I think--low housing in nicer neighborhoods around 300
Southlake has fewer AA--most ethnicity from Asian (Indian) and low housing is going to be 320K
Coppell has excellent ISD--smaller town but not lot of diversity and more difficult commute

check out the demographics on city data for the towns...
HEB has good IB program at Bell HS, nationally ranked band--Trinity HS has IB but just not as many participants--better football team, not such a good band--Trinity has the district pool----elementary level has suzuki strings (very competitive) in several schools which acts as magnet program to pull in students better than the avg for those schools/has core knowledge programs/district's offering Mandarin and Hindi classes as elective but in only one school I think

[humbled by life]

You should really look along the southern edge of Grand Prairie that feeds the Mansfield School District. Eastern Mansfield is another great area. The Mansfield school district is a good district and the schools our kids are at have good parental involvement. Plus excellent recreation areas, Joe pool lake, A brand new waterpark last year, Six flags 25 minutes away. Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboy Stadiums less than 1/2 hour away. Plus if you live in the area south west of Joe Pool Lake you feel like you are leaving the city behind when you cross over the lake.

[loves2read]

check out the number of national merit scholars in the mansfield isd

there have been problems with home construction in that area--foreclosures and foundation problems--would check out any house/neighborhood very closely

Cabot Estates is not very viable subdivision--water problems since developer is in charge of the water supply--that is unincorporated area--not city limits of mansfield or grand prairie and to east of joe pool

[tab]

My kids go to The Oakridge school in Arlington. It's a good college prep independent school. When we moved here to Colleyville almost two years ago, we were also looking for schools with a mix of diversity and a excellent academics. Oakridge was the best fit for us.

[loves2read]

Oakridge is not a public school FYI if OP is still looking

[tab]

Yes, Oakridge is a college prep "independent" school.

[cincylifer]

yes, I am still looking, thanks for the info