NISD or NEISD? (Spring, Alamo, Alamo Heights: estate, motel, travel)

[Dayton Bill]

If I had to make a choice, which school district should I choose? I plan to live outside 1604.

[majormadmax]

We only have firsthand experience with NISD, which has been nothing but great. I have heard NEISD is supposively even better, but it would be hard to top NISD in our opinion. Either way, you are getting a great school district...

Cheers! M2

[kevcrawford]

Six of one, half a dozen of another. They're both very comparable.

[bornandraisedSA]

agreed - they are both good districts. I think what you need to narrow down is what SCHOOLS within each district are the most desirable and then look at neighborhoods that feed into those schools.

I currently work for NISD and was raised in NEISD schools Obviously I can speak to NISD's quality as of current, and overall it is a great district, but there are a few particular schools I would prefer over others (staff more cohesive, administration strong, lots of parental involvement). I am sure NEISD is the same way, some are much better than others.

As far as a neighborhood outside of 1604 for NISD - Helotes ES and Beard ES come to mind immediately. Also Leon Springs ES, Krueger ES and Aue ES (new) Scarborough will be open next year and will be outside of 1604 off FM 471. Galm is an older school, but has a great principal and the staff seems good (I have a friend that works there) and is outside 1604, but on the west side of town (not sure what side of town you prefer)

[traficdogn]

Yup, you have to look at AEIS reports. I don't think one district is better than the other, but schools are different.

If your talking football, north east is more competitive.

[Dayton Bill]

Thanks for the insight folks. Couple more questions as I research:

Can you give me the zips for Aue, Scarborough and Beard?

What about the neighborhoods that feed into the Braun Station elementary school(s)?

[bornandraisedSA]

What price range are you looking in?

Braun Station ES is a very good school - 78254 is the zip. The main neighborhood is Braun Station. This school has a solid base of parental involvement. It is not outside 1604 though. Some friends just sold their home there for about $120K, so it is not a high end area. It is a very desirable area, especially for that price range. You get well established homes with a solid neighborhood look and feel (there are trees!!!!!!) Houses don't stay on the market long there and if it's in great condition, you don't even have to list it with a realtor! It can sell by word-of-mouth! (the way my friends did!)

Scarborough - I know some of it is also 78254 - not sure if there are others (my mapsco does not cover that area!) Most of what will feed into that school is being built right now. Anything in Kallison Ranch (mix of builders), Cobblestone (KB homes) Stillwater Ranch (Imagine? homes) and the new neighborhoods off of Galm (some Centex homes and another builder that is new to the area but has cute little houses - can't think of the name) will be Scarborough - for now - more schools are planned in the next couple of years b/c Kallison Ranch will be so big. Most of those homes are under 200K I believe. If you travel up Hwy 471 towards the Lake, there is part of a subdivision called Bear Springs that has acreage sites and half the subdivision is in NISD (other half Medina Valley ISD). Even further up you will find a few roads and a subdivision (Dancing Bear) off FM 1283 that are all or partly in NISD. All of these areas will have a mix of high end ($350K plus) and "country"/rural homesites. Those will all be Scarborough at least until the Kallison Ranch schools are built.

NISD's boundaries are a little whacky in that we live at Medina Lake and still have NISD schools (although both Bandera ISD and Castroville/Medina Valley ISD are equally as close if not closer) In fact in order to get to our house you drive out of NISD, through Medina Valley ISD area and back into NISD. And we are a half mile from the Bandera ISD boundary on one side. Our zip is 78056 and we will be Scarborough. There may be some 78066 in there too.

Beard - I know a lot of "Helotes" goes there - 78023. Anything in Fossil Springs Ranch, Fossil Springs, French Creek or Sonoma Ranch will be Beard.

Aue - 78255

BTW, it's great to look at TAKS scores, but please do not let that be the deciding factor on a school/area you choose. Talk to people who live there, visit the schools if you can - there is so much more to a great school than great test scores

Sorry that got a little long! Hope it helped

[Dayton Bill]

That helped thank you. We live in an established neighborhood here in Ohio. Love the trees and our 55 year old home. Looking for same and realize we will probably have to move inside 1604. Need a good school with lost of teacher and parent interaction.

[bornandraisedSA]

yes, if you want anything remotely close to a 55 year old/well established home, you will have to move inside Loop 1604. For NISD, Braun Station has an excellent rep for parent involvement. Scobee ES used to (and may still) but the homes are "newer".

As far as NEISD - you still didn't say your price range - but Castle Hills and the area just North (Shavano Park and the subdivisions up Lockhill Selma) are good areas to look. I'm not sure what schools are there anymore (i know one is Castle Hills ES - I went there!) but that area is nice, solid and well established.

If you do venture outside 1604, I think Beard and Leon Springs are schools with good track records of parental involvement. There are more, I am sure, but those two come to mind immediately.

Good luck

[smuboy86]

Sounds like you want Northwood Estates and Northwood Elementary in NEISD. You really can't find a better, more convenient established neighborhood with out spending 500K for Alamo Heights. Northwood Elem. has a strong PTA, and a wonderful academic program with a very strong talent pool/ GT program.