Martin HS vs Bell/Trinity (Fort Worth, Arlington: low crime, homes, neighborhoods)

[milwaukeegirl]

My husband will start a new job in August in downtown Ft. Worth. We have a rising 7th grader. We can only afford the older Ft. Worth suburbs and we are looking for a 30 minute or less commute for my husband.

Will our daughter be better served attending Martin HS in Arlington or Bell or Trinity in HEB? People at his new job are recommending both. We are coming from a magnet middle school and our daughter is strong academically, so we are looking for the best academic environment. What do you forum posters think?
Thanks,
Milwaukeegirl

[loves2read]

since I lived in HEB ISD for more than 20 years, taught there and had two children graduate from HEB--I favor it...
Trinity and Bell are not perfect schools (frankly I don't know that there are any perfect schools, period)...but you try for one that offers possibilities...Bell has a very strong IB program and excellent music program in band or choir--the art program at Bell is also very good--
Trinity and Bell both have a pre-med/nursing set up with classes in anatomy/physiology and strong chemistry/physics
each year the number of seniors who graduate and win scholarship money is one of the highest in the area---there are military academy appointees, plenty of students who choose state schools but also ones who are accepted at some prestigeous schools...
I imagine Martin also believes that it is a good school---
Bell's IB program has receive recognition as one of the best (especially since it is fairly young) in the US for number of IB grads...
I don't want to give the impression that all is harmony there--there are many ESL students and other students who really don't care that much about academics--their TAKS scores are improving but they do not have that many National Merit scholars/semi-finalists which is really the top measure of academic excellence---
but I don't think Martin has any more than Bell or Trinity--Paschall in Tarrant county is usually the top school for National Merit scholars...but Trinity Valley had a lot this year if I remember correctly

The HEB area that serves Bell and Trinity (especially north of 183) is really nice area for the most part--low crime, traffic is manageble especially on surface roads, NE Mall is pretty good mall and there are many other retail/restaurant/entertainment areas--hospitals in Grapevine, NRHills, Bedford and plenty of drs/dentists as well as churches if you are inclined that way...HEB has areas that are older/dated and some that are really NOT appealing--especially south of the Airport Frwy/183--but the cities are trying to encourage new development--Hurst has especially been successful in developing Precinct Line Rd and is starting on Hwy 10 area...
some parts of north Euless and Hurst are in Grapevine Colleyville ISD and parts of Hurst are in Birdville ISD--so there is overlap between cities and different ISDs...

after living in Bedford for so long, we moved recently to Hurst and now live in Birdville ISD but I think Bell or Trinity would still be preferrable--my husband works on edge of Sundance and it only takes him about 15 min in the morning and about 20-25 in evening to get home
I just like this area better than Arlington--think it has more potential for growth, better city management--Arlington has taken on a HUGH tax burden with new Cowboy stadium and Ranger stadium

most people usualy recommend where they live since that is what they know and sounds unpatriotic to recommend an ISD you don't live in as better than yours---
you don't mention your price range--but most of Hurst/Bedford/Euless is under 300K--with Euless probably having the least expensive avg housing--
will PM you an MLS site that is good for searching--

[5stones]

^
i agree I like the area of Hurst and Bedford better than Arlington. (just a personal observation)
And BELL has a great reputation.

[Aporkalypse]

I think all 3 would be pretty similar. Trinity always has a stellar football team, usually ranked nationally, and more of a sense of community. Martin is the gem of the AISD and is the largest HS under one roof in Texas. It has more to offer but I guess you could get lost in the shuffle there. That part of Arlington is the best part by far. Traffic and access to shopping are a plus in South Arlington compared to HEB. I don't see how people deal with freeway traffic up there.


ACT scores:
Martin 22
Bell 21
Trinity 21

[loves2read]

FYI--people up there have excellent surface roads and don't need to use the freeways...
and I have driven in South Arlington and the freeways are not anything to brag about since there is just 1--(I-20) and the surface roads leave a lot to be desired if you are driving south of I-20 between Burleson/Mansfield

to claim that Martin/Trinity/Bell are too close to choose between just shows that you don't know the schools involved...
there is big difference between Bell and Trinity and they are in the same district--so I know that Martin because of its size and student comp is also very different type of environment...

[Eric S]

Originally Posted by Aporkalypse

Traffic and access to shopping are a plus in South Arlington compared to HEB. I don't see how people deal with freeway traffic up there.

Funny, the traffic is was initially scared me away from the northern suburbs. I even tried taking 121 to 360 to get to work one day. What a disaster! Then I started driving on Industrial and Cheek Sparger/Mid Cities Blvd. What a difference that made. Now I am so glad that I didn't let my first impression of the north side stop me from exploring and looking at homes. Almost all of my friends and co-workers live in S. Arlington, Mansfield or Grand Prairie, but I haven't regretted my choice for one minute. I love the local roads and tremendous shopping (and food) of the north side (and I have one sweet daily commute to N. Arlington). I like Arlington, too. Lots of interesting places to eat down there. Look in both areas until you find a home/community that really speaks to you. Enjoy the whole process.

-Eric

[loves2read]

LD Bell is one of the top 5 high schools in the state for number of IB grads--and I think the top PUBLIC high school that is not a magnet or solely IB/AP--and it has been an IB school just since 02 when the program included smaller # of students--so I think that speaks to its quality
this is from an HEB newsletter
The International Baccalaureate program at Bell is another example of that which can be accomplished if people are willing to be passionate about student success. L.D. Bell High School was in the top five high schools in the state of Texas in number of IB diplomas awarded. Forty-eight students received this distinguished honor, and that number tops any other state comprehensive high school. The demographics of the IB program would surprise many in their diversity.
this link is to a video done with past graduates from Bell and Trinity--this is young woman who was an ESL student from Ghana--who came to Bell, was encouraged to join the IB program--and graduated to win acceptance at Baylor U Med's program
http://www.hebisd.edu/edge/ibcollegelist.asp

and those are just a few of the students who have graduated under the IB program...Judy Chapman at Bell is known for not turning down basically ANY student no matter past grades who wants to attempt the IB program...many schools are much more selective in screening their apps...but Bell is about drawing in students who want to TRY...

[topcat1377]

Education - Based stricktly on statistics for TAKS, SAT, ACT and other testing as well as the IB programs, Bell and Martin both equate favorably and comparably. Note - avoid evaluating statistics on entire school districts - this would be misleading in either case.
A close colleague of mine has children (honors students) at Bell. I have an ex-step-grandaughter (an honors student...with whom I stay in contact) at Trinity. I have two daughters (both honors students) and two nephews (both honors students) at Martin. I initially had reservation about Martin and it's size...those concerns have been dispelled...even my shy daughter doesn't get lost in the shuffle...and Martin actually has a slightly lower teacher to student ratio. Don't let size scare you.
Regarding education, either way your choices are a winning prospect.
Traffic - My job requires that I travel throughout Fort Worth and the "mid-cities". To me the surface roads are comparable in HEB and Arlington. I don't believe I would factor in the mention of roads between Mansfield and Burleson - that is a more rural environment and it's unlikely you would have much need to travel there regularly. I will say that having family in Burleson, it makes for a nice albeit short drive in the country that I find pleasant.
I would assume the commute to and from downtown Fort Worth will likely be done by freeway - I will simply say this...I, officing in downtown Fort Worth for four years as did the aforementioned colleague ... we used to leave the office at the same time. In eighteen minutes I would be in my front yard (rolling in laughter), listening to him on my cell phone. He would be cursing the stop-and-go traffic and people trying to get ahead on the shoulder of HWY 183. I have seen 20 times more stop-and-go traffic on HWY 183 as opposed to HWY 287 or IH-20....and I remember when IH-20 was built in Arlington.
Both communities have nice and affordable neighborhoods. I don't mind being corrected if I'm wrong, but it seems that home prices are higher in HEB attributed in part to the closer proximity to DFW airport. Personally, I haven't really noticed any financial impact due to the new stadium...and I have a nice home on a moderate income.
Best wishes to you, your husband, and daughter - wherever you choose to settle in !

[Synopsis]

Although traffic on the freeways in the Hurst area is horrible. I find the side streets to be much less congested than those in Arlington. WITH THE EXCEPTION of the stretch of Precinct Line Road from North of 183 to Highway 26. However, that part of the road is under major reconstruction and when finished will be excellent.

[loves2read]

I-30 is not that great and depending on if the Rangers are in town surface streets can be busy

287 is pretty fast--my husband works in downtown and has people in his office that use 287 for Mansfield and Dalworthington Gardens--one of them has gotten several speeding tickets since he moved to Mansfield

NE Mall is getting to be really bad bottleneck and then as you go along to the 121 ramp into Grapevine--that is also pretty slow in the afternoons...whic is why I never use it--my husband can even come up all the way on Belknap if he has too in bad weather...
I just don't see that in Arlington--streets are in bad shape and if it rains they are swamps..

but 20 can be bad depending on where you want to get on and off--the area around Parks Mall is congested...
you can't say that tax base in Arlington is not having to pay for Cowboy stadium--in one way or another...and once that starts traffic is going to be worse on Sundays--
demographic info about ARlington according to article in FTW paper couple of years ago spoke to the declining levels of education and income in Arlington city residents--meaning that higher educated/higher paid people were living elsewhere and not moving into Arlington...
and I guess you could say the same about HEB area probably since Keller, Northwest ISD area, Southlake and Grapevine Colleyville are probably the places they are moving...