Sinclair Elementary v. Oak Forest Elementary (Howe: real estate, how much, buying a house)

[newlymarried]

Hi... I've posted a couple of times here about buying a house. I got some great advice here in the past, so I'm back.

We're currently two professionals, no kids, but we're looking to buy a house where our kids could go to the local elementary school. While we'd love to do Harvard or Travis Elementary, we know those are out of our budget.

Oak Forest is in our budget, although our real estate agent says it may be hard to find anything that meets all our criteria.

Our real estate agent is now pushing us to consider the Sinclair Elementary area. I've never really heard much about it. Does anyone have any firsthand experience with Sinclair? How do you feel about it?

Also... I've heard Garden Oaks Elementary is a Montessori school. Is that true? If so, what type of Montessori? How are kids' days structured? I know there is a lot of variation in Montessori, so is there a particular "brand" followed there?

We'd appreciate all advice regarding Oak Forest, Sinclair, and Garden Oaks Elementary.

Thanks.

[DejaBlue]

So you have NO kids right now? I'm a little confused. Are these kids being worked on as in making a debut this time next year or are you thinking kids in 3-5 years from now? Either way you have a long way to go.

The elementary schools are a piece of cake. Look at the high school because you'll either be making a move in 15 years or so or paying for private school.

Sinclair and Garden Oaks are both zoned to Waltrip. Living in the Heights I'm assuming you're a gentrified type of couple which is definitely a private school for high school indicator or trying to send them to a magnet school and not the regular one.

Of course that's a long way off too and most do make at least another move by high school.

All elementary schools are fine. It's middle and high school that are the ones to research if they're good or not.

[newlymarried]

No kids currently... but as you put it, they're being worked on. So we hope an appearance within a year or so.

As for your assumptions about us, you're right in some senses. We're both professionals that value education.

However, we're both public school graduates and would prefer to send kids to quality public schools K-12 rather than private schools.

Paying for private schools would seriously cramp our ability to save for college, which is what we'd prefer to do. We are not in the income bracket where the tradeoff wouldn't have to be made, so we're prioritizing.

As for the high schools... yes, we know that we're a long way off. If we stay in the neighborhood we buy in, we'd be looking for magnet/vanguard. Or we will move to where we need to be to get kids in a good public school.

At the moment, I work downtown and DH works on the energy corridor. We're trying to limit commutes, which is why we're looking where we're looking.

Right now, we're focusing on elementary schools, so we appreciate all advice on Garden Oaks, Sinclair, and Oak Forest.

[houston-nomad]

I disagree with the comments above. Not all elementary schools are fine. You are doing the right thing in targeting a good elementary school in looking for a home. I'm sorry I don't know those three schools well. I do encourage you, strongly, to call each school and schedule a tour. You can learn a lot about not just the programs, facilities, etc. but the culture and personality of a school on a tour. For example, I wasn't totally sold on the school my kids now go to before touring it... the numbers didn't quite add up to their competition in the area. But when I toured, I noticed things like the diversity in each classroom, the happy looking kids, the way every single teacher was friendly, and smiled hugely, as we toured around. They were all incredibly enthusiastic about the school. That helped sell me, and we are really happy at the school now. At another school I toured, I noticed an incredible number of parent volunteers all over the school. That really impressed me. You can't find those things on the HISD website.

[DejaBlue]

Okay, I'll be serious. All elementary schools are the same and fine...except in HISD.

That's just true fact. Depending on the demographics, the staff will care more and be more enthusiastic or not. That and how much they'll get for whatever test is the new one now if they're kids pass with high flying colors. Sad but really true.

[janicec]

I agree with moving to an area with good public elementary schools early on. I wish we had done the same in buying our first home soon after we got married. I have heard good things about Oak Forest and Garden Oaks, but have limited info. Definitely tour the schools, and talk to parents with kids enrolled.

[shchang118]

Oak Forest is the better school between the two schools. I know the feeling of not wanting to the inner city and thus faced with either HISD or private schools for our children. Sinclair is where my child attends (Kindergarten) and luckily he has a new teacher who is bringing fresh ideas to her class. Its really a hit and miss. Overall both are decent schools but with a huge mixture of students. I think with more and more young professionals moving into the heights the school systems here will get better in time- key word, in time. Now, Oak Forest is further from DT than Timbergrove...going around 610 makes me want to stab my eye with a pencil, so I try to avoid it at all cost.

End point- either school will be fine and if you're proactive with your child's studies and hopefully with the school...you'll do fine. Middle school I don't know which one is a decent one and we all know Lamar is the HS to get into.

Good luck- I hope this works well and remember with any HISD you do not need to be zoned to that school for your child to attend. You can apply and try the lottery system- so go buy your house that you and your family will enjoy living in!