Woodlands, Creekside, Tomball (Spring, Canyon, Heath: house, new construction, elementary school)

[citizen_jane]

Addressing your concerns:

1) I think it's difficult for high schools to earn ratings over "Acceptable" but that does not mean they are bad schools. If you look at all the ratings of the High schools in Cy-Fair ISD, Klein ISD, Conroe ISD and Tomball ISD (with Klein and Cy-fair having excellent reputations) you will find that NONE have a rating higher than "Acceptable". I have friends attending Eanes school district in Austin and it's ratings are outrageous. Every school in the district is "Exemplary" except the 1 high school and it's rated "Recongnized". It's hard to get. So don't discount the HS in the Woodlands or Tomball because of that. The great school ratings are helpful and so are the reviews and getting people's opinions. At the end of the day, both schools will do the job but your child's experience and education will be determined by things other than the entire school's TAKS score. Who they hang out with, their extracurriculars, individual teachers, your family values, their learning style things like that will be more important.

2) I will admit my children attended Lakewood EL and I didn't pay much attention to the other elementary schools in TISD so I was surprised at Tomball El's low rating. I would be concerned too if it were my child. But you are right she would only attend that school 1 year and then be in the new school.

Good luck with your decision. Trust your instincts. Which ever school you choose, be involved. Volunteer, go to the events, reach out to the teachers and administration. Get to know all your teen's friends! Problems will arise regardless of the school but with a good relationship with your kids and the school you should be able to handle any bumps in the road.

Wanted to add, the school in Creekside has been named.... Creekside Forest Elementary

[sgroldan]

HI Citizen_Jane, many thanks for your reply, it sure helps!

I feel much better now about both ISD's and will certainly look at both creekside and sterling when I am next in town, you are right about other factors influencing the quality of education my children will get.

Thanks!

[txedghill]

Well let me throw in my two cents. I grew up near the area you are looking at. If you go a little further south on Kuykendahl from the Creekside area, you will find a couple of subdivisions called Traditions and Londonderry. There might even be a few newer ones around there. I'm only 28 and haven't lived there since I was 21, so while my information is recent, it's not all that fresh considering all of the development. I mean, I'll be blown away the next time I come to Houston and see this Creekside development where there used to be only woods. Regardless, I grew up in the Traditions subdivision and that area is/was zoned to Klein ISD. I graduated from Klein Oak High School and I think the feeders are Hildebrandt Intermediate and Schultz Elementary. So if you would like another option, you can look in that area. In all honesty, I am considering moving back to that area so that my kids can attend those schools (and live near some of their family). As far as I am concerned, they were very good schools. And as far as location goes, 10 minutes (if that) north to the Woodlands, 10 minutes to Tomball, and 10 minutes (if that) to 2920 @Kuykendahl (add another 10 minutes to get to I-45). Hope that helps and doesn't just confuse you more.

[stargazer]

I grew up in Tomball and graduated there over 20 years ago, have lots of family still there.

Don't discount Rose Hill area, they have some really nice neighborhoods over that direction that are clearly TISD.

Also, my brother lives off of Highway 6 in Cy Fair ISD and works in Tomball. It takes my brother about 20 minutes to get to work. He goes by way of Telge which is not stressful imo. I wish it was that easy for my husband. My brother is very pleased too with the education that his child has gotten at Cy Fair.

Good luck with finding an area to live

[Indianspringsguy]

Originally Posted by sgroldan

Txs for the help. 2 comments and questions:

1) I have checked the ratings for both HS and it seems both Tomball HS and woodlands HS are rated only as 'Acceptable', is this not quite low?, I thought that after hearing and reading all the great things from woodlands HS (especially) it would be higher ranked?, if not 'exemplary' at least recognized... what seems to be affecting these ratings , for both schools?? What other stats/ratings/etc.. should I be looking at to help me decide amongst the two?

2) Also, of greater concern now seems to be the elementary, I checked the Tomball elem which I believe is what my child would attend if living in Creekside, and although it ranked 'Acceptable' in 07 and 'recognized' in 06 it is ranked only with a 3 out of 10 by GreatSchools.net!!, this seems to be a serious cause of concern, in the other hand Tough elementary (if living in Sterling) is ranked as 'Exemplary' for both yeas in mention and Great schools gives it a 10/10. I am also thinking that the new Creekside school should take kids living there in 09 school year, so I am assuming my child would only go 1 year to Tomball and then move to the new school, which I am assuming would be very good given the area it will serve?

Again, Thanks for the help!!

Like I said in my blog, the ratings results are more driven by parents than by schools. In fact, the entire system of testing will change in 2011 due to the poor way schools are rated today. CISD is a stronger system as a whole, mostly due to The Woodlands. If you and your husband fits the profile of being involved with the education of your children, you will contribute to the success of the school. The impact of The Woodlands families will not be seen until next year at the earliest, when their statistics being to affect the school ratings. By then the new school will be open. My advice has and continues to be to trust in the demographics of the school. The school system is fine. It is the parents that make the real difference. They are the ones most responsible for the individual's progress. I can guide you to a state educational board member who will support this concept. Tomball was selected as an appropriate district for The Woodlands based on this concept. The families here have worked with the teachers with a focus on success for their children. In general, the concept of selecting a place to live based on the school's performance is appropriate for a well established area, but not for a rapid developing area. I would select where I want to live. The rest will come to you and your children naturally if you do your job with your children's education.

www.WoodlandsCommentary.com (broken link)

[Indianspringsguy]

Originally Posted by sgroldan

I am also searching for a Home in the woodlands now. I really like what I have read and heard from creekside and think I incline towards this area from a home perspective, however I also have heard that conroe ISD is better than tomball in general. I have an 7 yr old that will start 2nd grade and a 14 yr old that starts 9th grade and I am prepared to purchase a home in some of the older villages (Sterling ridge) to be able to attend one of the conroe elementary schools (i.e Tough elem) and The Woodlands Highschool as opposed to Tomball Highschool if this is really better or if there is a serious reason to be concerned about Tomball isd.

I really appreciate your comments, I have read the article by Indianspring guy and it looks promising, however there is no mention of the Highschool here.

The high school was renovated just recently (maybe last year). It is a fine school from what I hear but I do not have any direct data to lean on there. I understand that a new high school is likely but in the southern area. The Tomball high school is plenty close enough to Creekside village, will have plenty of growth potential when the new high school is built, so there is no reason to build another one there. That will move the southern high performance feeder systems away from Tomball High and put them in the new high school. That has the potential to be a negative in a few years but by that time, hopefully the northern end has its share of high preforming feeders.

[sgroldan]

Again, thanks to all for your contributions!. This forum is great!!

[citizen_jane]

I understand that a new high school is likely but in the southern area.

The second high school is a done deal. It is being funded by the same bond that it building the elementary in Creekside. It will be build west of 249 and north of Northpointe Blvd. The building design is being finalized and is available on the TISD web site. The attendance boundaries are not set yet but it will almost certainly pull all of Lakewood, Willow Creek and the new elementary in Northpointe that is opening this fall. This high school will open Fall of 2011 with 9th and 10th grade (current 5th and 6th graders). Common belief in Tomball is we will never have a third. In the future we will look at building an Intermediate school (5th and 6th) in Creekside once the 2 elementaries are full. They will be converted to k-4 like the rest of the district. There are no plans to build a Junior High (7th and 8th) there.

[opmango]

Hi Citizen Jane,
Thanks for your replies to this thread. Would you be so kind as to name a few subdivisions in the southern area of Tomball that would attend better schools that you mention? I've mostly been concentrating on the woodlands, but you've piqued my interest. Thanks a bunch!...and thanks to all you folks who have replied.

[opmango]

Hi again,
I was told that Wedgemere within the woodlands is a great place to look, but have been unable to locate it. Anyone know?
Thanks for your help.