Looking for schools and home in Katy, TX (Houston, Spring: crime rate, houses)

[Sharonhaniya]

Hi all!

I would really appreciate your input! I'm looking to buy something in Katy below $450,000 and was wondering which schools to look at (elementary, middle, high)? I have a son going into elementary school. Thanks so much! I really appreciate your help.

[Rip808]

Look for schools that feed into the following high schools:

-Cinco Ranch HS
-Tompkins HS
-Seven Lakes HS

For that budget, stay on the south side of I-10.

[TexasCatherine]

I recommend checking out homes in Seven Meadows -- great neighborhood that has terrific schools (Bonnie Holland Elementary, Seven Lakes Jr. High or Beckendorff Jr. High, and Seven Lakes High School).

[katydogs1]

If your son plays football. You may want to look at Katy High School and most of the area that feeds into it is in Katy City Limits. You get city services Police, Fire, Ect and won't have to worry about possible future City of Houston annexation.

[Kiovo]

You have a lot of options within your price range. Living inside City of Katy has it perks, also will cost you more. Woodcreek Reserve is a great neighborhood within the city limits, they're also building The a Reserve at Katy and The Avalon at Spring Green, I believe they will both be inside the city of Katy. Grand Lakes, Seven Meadows, Grayson Lakes, Cinco Ranch, Firethorne are also some great options, somewhat more established neighborhoods. All these neighborhoods are zoned to great schools. Drive thru them, all of them have great amenities, and just see which one you fall in love with.

We're currently zoned to Katy High School, but my kids are nowhere near high school age and there will be a good chance we will get rezoned by then. It doesn't bother me because whatever high school we "might" get rezoned to will still be a great school. I do like the idea of them going to KHS because of the name recognition and established history of the school. And I don't mean just the football team , but when you say Katy High people in this state know exactly where you're from.

[gsmj]

Cinco Ranch, Grand Lakes, Seven Meadows, and Falcon Point/Ranch are all already built out and feed into Cinco Ranch, Seven Lakes, and Tompkins High.

Firethorne and Woodcreek Reserve are the only two south of I-10 that are currently zoned to Katy High - I think.

[LocalPlanner]

What about Taylor High? When I was younger it was the premier high school but now seems forgotten - it's all about Cinco Ranch, Seven Lakes, and Tompkins, which only just opened.

[Weili]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

What about Taylor High? When I was younger it was the premier high school but now seems forgotten - it's all about Cinco Ranch, Seven Lakes, and Tompkins, which only just opened.

The same trend for neighborhoods also apply to school. With very few exceptions, most schools tend to fade away after a few years as the houses in the neighborhood get old, original residents move out, new lower-income residents move in, crime rate increases, more higher-income residents move out... etc. and this negative cycle will obviously affect the students that go to the zoned schools, which in turn affect how parents choose where they live.

[LocalPlanner]

So do you think well-located areas with nice homes like Green Trails, etc. are going to suffer because Taylor is no longer at the top of the list? It's definitely a further commute to the Energy Corridor to get into one of the other three school zones.

[Weili]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

So do you think well-located areas with nice homes like Green Trails, etc. are going to suffer because Taylor is no longer at the top of the list? It's definitely a further commute to the Energy Corridor to get into one of the other three school zones.

How fast a neighborhood declines depend on several factors. But having lived in Houston for the last 20+ years, I have seen very few neighborhoods that are able to keep its value, especially those in the suburbs because there will always be newer, nicer homes being built just a few blocks further out with better schools.