Another reloc thread-Need Sugar Land info from residents (Houston, San Antonio: to rent, house)

[boomgirl79]

Hi! The hubby was just offered a job in Sugar Land and we're seriously considering it. What I am begging for is info from people who actually live in, or have lived in, Sugar Land.

We are looking to rent a home (prob. 4 br) at the first of the year and have a kindergartener. I'm curious if there's anyone here who has elementary school info...both good and bad...first-hand experience. Same with neighborhoods.

Yes-we can read statistics and have combed this board as well as the Texas state education site for school ratings, but we want to know more-like house proximoties to stores and restaurants, good elementary schools with good teachers and principals, etc. Would LOVE to hear personal opinions/experiences.

The hubby's office would be located right at 90 and SW Freeway. He currently loves being able to come home for lunch...looking at that as well.

THANK YOU!!

[Topaz]

My family lives in Sugar Land and we love it. We are in New Territory. My son attended kindergarten at Walker Station and is now at Brazos Bend for first grade. Both schools are exemplary. They feed into Sartartia, which is also exemplary.

Sugar Land has a lot going for it...very, very family-oriented. Tons of stuff for children to do. Lifetime Fitness, lots of sports leagues, Stomping Grounds Playland, Whole Foods Market with Sweet Peas Clubhouse for ages 3-7, parks and trails, etc. If there is something specific you want to know, feel free to ask...lots of Sugar Land residents on this Forum.

[ElectricClouds]

You should look at the Sugar Mill area of Sugar Land it's right by your hubby's work and has a exemplary elementary school, Sugar Mill Elem.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by boomgirl79

Yes-we can read statistics and have combed this board as well as the Texas state education site for school ratings, but we want to know more-like house proximoties to stores and restaurants, good elementary schools with good teachers and principals, etc. Would LOVE to hear personal opinions/experiences.

The hubby's office would be located right at 90 and SW Freeway. He currently loves being able to come home for lunch...looking at that as well.

Sugar Land is a great place to live and work!

First Colony should be high on your list as far as great schools and proximity to shopping, restaurants, etc. You really can't go wrong with it.

A little further out is New Territory, also a great choice.

Then there are several other smaller subdivisions that are great as well.

I know that work location... I have a high school friend who is a plastic surgeon in that office complex (we're not even from here but realized later we both lived here now!) It's a good central location of Sugar Land that is easy to get to from most neighborhoods.

Renting first is probably a good idea as well.

Good luck, hope that helps!

[boomgirl79]

Fantastic! Thank you for the info! A few housing searches I'm coming up with have Austin Pkwy and Colony Bend as home schools. Both are listed as exempl. Currently, in San Antonio, our home school is listed as exempl, but the principal totally sucks. Personal stories really make it easier to find the right place!

What grocery stores are there to shop at? We have only HEB here, and I loathe that place...we just came from Colorado and had King Soopers, Albertsons and Safeway. Crossing fingers for more options.

Does anyone belong to a MOPS group...or similar mom's group? I had trouble connected here in SA, but I didn't get involved and need to.

Thanks again!!

[boomgirl79]

Oh-and I read somewhere that north of 90 and inside 6 was not ideal. Correct? Should we be staying south of 90?

[crbcrbrgv]

Originally Posted by boomgirl79

Oh-and I read somewhere that north of 90 and inside 6 was not ideal. Correct? Should we be staying south of 90?

The main difference between north and south of 90 are the following: It's more blue collar and more minorities live north of 90. South of 90 is almost lily-white and Asian. The only subdivision I would steer clear of in Sugar Land is Barrington Place. This has nothing to do with the subdivision itself as it is nice and it feeds into Kempner high. Barrington Place borders Houston. Some of the issues from Alief are seeping south of Bellfort. This could be bad for resale.

[ElectricClouds]

Originally Posted by crbcrbrgv

The main difference between north and south of 90 are the following: It's more blue collar and more minorities live north of 90. South of 90 is almost lily-white and Asian. The only subdivision I would steer clear of in Sugar Land is Barrington Place. This has nothing to do with the subdivision itself as it is nice and it feeds into Kempner high. Barrington Place borders Houston. Some of the issues from Alief are seeping south of Bellfort. This could be bad for resale.

Agreed, except for the area south of West Airport and north of 90 has similar demographics as its southern neighbors. So just stay south of West Airport and you'll be fine.

[crbcrbrgv]

Originally Posted by ElectricClouds

Agreed, except for the area south of West Airport and north of 90 has similar demographics as its southern neighbors. So just stay south of West Airport and you'll be fine.

I'd say the only exception to this is any area zoned to Drabek. In my opinion, that may be the best elementary in FBISD. Also, it should be mentioned there are a lot of areas along Airport that are NOT Sugar Land. Woodbridge is not a part of Sugar Land. Blue collar, run down but quiet Towne West often advertises itself as Sugar Land. It is not. If you want to live in Sugar Land, make sure you are in proper as opposed to M.U.D.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by boomgirl79

Fantastic! Thank you for the info! A few housing searches I'm coming up with have Austin Pkwy and Colony Bend as home schools. Both are listed as exempl. Currently, in San Antonio, our home school is listed as exempl, but the principal totally sucks. Personal stories really make it easier to find the right place!

What grocery stores are there to shop at? We have only HEB here, and I loathe that place...we just came from Colorado and had King Soopers, Albertsons and Safeway. Crossing fingers for more options.

Does anyone belong to a MOPS group...or similar mom's group? I had trouble connected here in SA, but I didn't get involved and need to.

Thanks again!!

My personal experience is that Brazos Bend has a much friendlier vibe than Walker Station. Walker Station parents can be a bit snooty.

The principals don't affect the day-to-day quality of your student's school life that much here, but the teachers *totally* do. If you get a good teacher, your year is golden.

I hate HEB, too. I shop at Whole Foods Market (great one in Sugar Land) and a big new Kroger just opened at Waterside Place.

There are plenty of moms groups in Sugar Land...you can definitely find one that works for you. The magazines that they put in the grocery stores and other businesses have listings.