Warning re: Roan Forest Elementary (San Antonio, Austin: sales, home, buy)

[MDtoDS]

For anyone moving into Cibolo Canyons, you should know that Roan Forest Elementary is now capped and, therefore, the overflow school is Bulverde Creek. If you have a child going into kindergarten and another into 2nd grade (like we do), they'll be forced to go to two different schools.

The new elementary behind the community is not scheduled to be completed until 2012.

This caused us to revert to "Plan B" and build in a community closer to Austin. We wanted to give San Antonio a go, but the NEISD (despite its accolades) really screwed us in this particular case. Scary enough, none of the builder salespeople seem to know about this.

[Bo]

Caps have been in effect at several Stone Oak area schools for more than 5 years. They were a big reason my family didn't locate there when we moved to SA in 2002. IIRC, Roan Forest has been capped since then, so the fact that you weren't advised of those caps is quite inexcusable. This page on the NEISD site lists the current capped schools.

North East Independent School District School Boundaries, San Antonio, Texas (http://www.neisd.net/boundaries.htm - broken link)

Did your builder tell you about 281 being converted to a toll road north of 1604? You may want to figure that into where you build because the road construction to convert it will add several years of pain for commuters up that way.

[pobre]

Originally Posted by MDtoDS

For anyone moving into Cibolo Canyons, you should know that Roan Forest Elementary is now capped and, therefore, the overflow school is Bulverde Creek. If you have a child going into kindergarten and another into 2nd grade (like we do), they'll be forced to go to two different schools.

The new elementary behind the community is not scheduled to be completed until 2012.

Actually, it's my understanding that the new school will be open in 2010. Roan Forest is not capped at every grade level, however, and that changes from day to day. At the beginning of the year, they got the go-ahead to lift the cap that was in effect from last year, and added one classroom per grade level. The max enrollment is 1200-currently, they are at about 1150.

But, every builder KNOWS what is going on-whether they choose to share info is another story.

[smuboy86]

Perhaps if people were looking at a more established area, worrying about school wouldn't be an issue. There are plenty of NEISD elementary schools that are just as good as roan forest or better that are not capped.

[kevcrawford]

It's not fair a lot of times, but you have to remember, when you're working directly with a builder, the sales person is looking out for the builder and won't share things with you that could possibly hurt a sale.

[jules07]

Yep, what kev said. The sales person's responsibility is to his/her builder. They are not there for your benefit and do not have your best interests at hand. They can't lie, so if you ask them a specific question, they gotta answer it with as much truthfulness as they know to be the case. But if you don't bring it up, they sure won't!

Still, I wish you the best of luck in your move.

[MDtoDS]

Originally Posted by smuboy86

Perhaps if people were looking at a more established area, worrying about school wouldn't be an issue. There are plenty of NEISD elementary schools that are just as good as roan forest or better that are not capped.

Good point, but we really liked Cibolo Canyons and thought it was our best combination of master-planned community (with great amenities) with an attractive Hill Country setting. Also, the lots are much larger than all of the other developments we looked at.

[ALQNsMommy]

We currently live in Cibolo Canyons - have a child starting Kindergarten this fall at Roan Forest. Contacted the school directly and were told that K was not capped - but to arrive at K-registration on March 31 an dto hand in paperwork right away - the whole process lasts about a week and by week's end they said K might be full (capped) but not initially. Also, if anyone is interested in moving into Cibolo Canyons be VERY aware when you choose a builder. We've had SERIOUS problems with our Meritage home.

[Turtle_Mom]

Couldn't you chose to have both children attend Bulverde Creek if one of the grades is capped? Bulverde Creek is a very good school comparable to Roan Forest, it is just newer. I have personally preferred it to Roan Forest (having had children go to both.) I also heard that the Indian Springs school will be done in 2010, had that date changed?

[CiboloCanyonmom]

Bulverde Green (the new NEISD elementary in Indian Srpings) will open fall 2010. Most of my neighbors who were put on a waiting list for Roan got into the school quickly although either elementary is excellent. Yes, the construction stinks but you're going to deal with that in any growing area. Finally, Meritage does have a horrible rep for costumer satisfaction. Buy an Imagine home - we LOVE our home.