Safe suburbs with good commute to the Texas Medical Center (Houston: crime, how much)

[chologringo]

My family and I will be moving to Houston in June. We will visit in March to look for a place to live. We are very interested in Sienna Plantation but I can't find anything regarding the commute from this community to the medical center. 45-60 minutes with traffic would be an ok drive for me. 20-30 minutes without traffic would be nice as well. Pearland comes up alot but it doesn't look as nice and I hear the roads flood quite a bit. I am also open to other areas but since I haven't visited I was hoping some of you locals/natives could give me some insight. Thank you.

[Vicman]

Sienna Plantation is zoned to Fort Bend ISD schools.

Sienna Crossing Elementary School serves some portions, while Scanlan Oaks Elementary School serves others.

All residents are zoned to Baines Middle School and Hightower High School.

The problem with Hightower is that many parents and faculty are not happy with the current principal, Patricia Paquin: http://www.houston-press.com/Issues/...s/feature.html

[chologringo]

Our little one is only 3 and we will likely live in Houston 4-5 years before another move so luckily the high school shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for the school info.

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by chologringo

Our little one is only 3 and we will likely live in Houston 4-5 years before another move so luckily the high school shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for the school info.

You are welcome

To check your Fort Bend ISD house's zoning, use this tool: http://zonemaps.fortbend.k12.tx.us/edulog/webquery/WebQuery.jsp (broken link)

[AK123]

Sienna Plantation is nice. The commute should be 30-40 minutes. You can use the Fort Bend Tollway to Hwy 90 on into the Medical Center.

[honeyinhouston]

Shadowcreek Ranch in Pearland is very nice and it's only a 20 minute commute to the Medical Center without traffic.

[Vicman]

The Brazoria County section of Shadow Creek Ranch is zoned to Alvin ISD schools:
* Marek ES
* Manvel JHS
* Manvel HS

The Fort Bend County portion of SCR is zoned to Fort Bend ISD schools:
* Goodman ES
* Baines MS
* Hightower HS

As of 2007, many Hightower parents and staff do not like Patricia Paquin, the current principal of Hightower: http://www.houston-press.com/Issues/...s/feature.html

Alvin ISD is allowing students from Fort Bend SCR to attend Marek ES until FBISD builds additional schools in the area: http://www.thefacts.com/story.lasso?ewcd=93cbae23a45c958b (broken link)

[iamnewtotexas]

Your commute would only be 30 min from Champion, Greenwood, or Ponderosa Pines

[chologringo]

Thank you for the leads. I look forward to my visit in March. How about the commute from Sugarland? The my drive time is second to the safety of my family as I will be spending nights away from home regularly. Is living within the loop even an option. I would like to spend in the low 200,000s for my home. Appreciating the help.

[chologringo]

The champions area looks very nice but all I hear is how much of a nightmare the commute in from the northwest is. I have been told to stay in the inner loop but any areas that I would want to live in are too expensive. I also keep seeing on these forums that crime seems to be a real problem in the suburbs, why is that? This trend is a little worrisome. Lastly, which areas are prone to flooding? The wife is leaning heavily towards Sienna Plantation but I am trying to remain objective until we get a chance to evaluate for ourselves.