Alamo Heights Jr. High vs. Garner Middle (Houston, San Antonio: low income, new home)

[burneym]

Hi everyone. This is a spinoff from my other thread I began. Now that we've narrowed our search for a new home in San Antonio (thanks to those who helped with that one!) to the Alamo Heights/Terrell Hills/Northwood area, I thought I would try to milk y'all for some additional info. Both of my boys will attend middle school while we're stationed in S.A. I've done some research on Garner and A.H.J.H.S. and they both seem strong academically. I know Garner requires uniforms and tends to be more diverse (more like what my boys are used to here in a magnet school in Louisiana), but Alamo Heights also seems to have a lot to offer. I've gotten the impression that AH might struggle a bit more with social pressures/etc. Can anyone help me with your thoughts on this. Obviously, I plan on visiting both schools before deciding, but there's only so much scoop you can get on a tour with the principal! Thanks in advance! This forum is so helpful...

[Turtle_Mom]

I would also compare the differences between the High Schools as well if you are planning on staying for a while. (EDIT - Re-read this and you mentioned they will be in Middle school while you are stationed... oops!)

All I do know about the area is that Northwood's Elem is a great school! That much I do know. I don't know a lot about the other schools.

[smuboy86]

Both schools are very, very similar. The only major differences between the two are uniforms and Garner is much more diverse, actually has some kids that may come from a low income home. The other big difference is Alamo Heights has only two elementary schools both feed in to AHJS. The kids at AHJS have known each other forever, the only difference is between the cambridge and woodridge kids. Cambridge is the more monied area and much older, Woodridge is newer and more middle class. That difference goes on to high school too. Garner on the other hand doesn't have too much of that going on, several elementary schools feed into it. Northwood kids tend to stick together a little better than others but it's not on the level of Woodridge/ Cambridge.

[burneym]

So, might it be easier for a military brat to find a niche at Garner than AHJHS? I know they're a little closer to Ft. Sam Houston and might have more new kids in and out (military or otherwise). Hearing that kiddos at AH oftentimes have known each other forever isn't terribly encouraging either. I might be totally over thinking this, but don't we have have traumatic memories of those years we'd like to spare our kids? Just trying hard to keep the therapy bills down! Thanks again for any and all comments....

[wCat]

Originally Posted by burneym

So, might it be easier for a military brat to find a niche at Garner than AHJHS? I know they're a little closer to Ft. Sam Houston and might have more new kids in and out (military or otherwise). Hearing that kiddos at AH oftentimes have known each other forever isn't terribly encouraging either. I might be totally over thinking this, but don't we have have traumatic memories of those years we'd like to spare our kids? Just trying hard to keep the therapy bills down! Thanks again for any and all comments....

I think this is a good point. But I do know that there are some fairly "rough" kids that attend Garner. Check out Garner's district boundaries and check out the areas it covers. That being said, have your kids been in public school or been attending school on the Post? We found making a transition from the school on "Base" was equivalent to going from "private school" to public school....IE, small and closely knit to big and more impersonal.

One other point is how long you expect to be here. You might get more for your money for a house now in NEISD (ie Garner) part of Northwood, but AHISD will definitely hold it's value more than other school districts when it's time to sell. In Northwoods, VanDiver is pretty much the dividing line between the two school districts. I know it's hard to explain, but be sure your realtor KNOWS this information or refers you to the school district to get you the proper info. The price point can vary quite a bit just across the street between school districts.

BTW - NEISD is an excellent school district....not implying here that it's not.

DM me if you'd like more specifics. It's a bit detailed to explain.

[ged_782]

In the Northwood neighborhood, the school district boundary actually runs roughly along Kenilworth Blvd. The boundary runs along Vandiver Rd. in the neighborhoods south of Eisenhauer Rd.

[cjw]

I don't know why people say things like "Garner is much more diverse, actually has some kids that may come from a low income home". Do you have any statistics to back that up? I'm pretty sure there is a large number of students from low income homes in Alamo Heights. I don't have any statistics but I've seen them. My kids have been friends with them. I've given extra money to teachers for field trips so all the kids in the class could go. I've seen the parents that can't speak English. There are plenty of low income families in the AH district. It would be interesting to see the numbers if anyone knows where to find them.

[wCat]

Originally Posted by cjw

I don't know why people say things like "Garner is much more diverse, actually has some kids that may come from a low income home". Do you have any statistics to back that up? I'm pretty sure there is a large number of students from low income homes in Alamo Heights. I don't have any statistics but I've seen them. My kids have been friends with them. I've given extra money to teachers for field trips so all the kids in the class could go. I've seen the parents that can't speak English. There are plenty of low income families in the AH district. It would be interesting to see the numbers if anyone knows where to find them.

Actually you are absolutely correct. I think the spectrum is on the other end....ie AH has a much higher income student body....but definitely not exclusively.

[smuboy86]

The statistics are really very easy to find. According to the TEA Garner's racial breakdown is 16% Black, 47% Hispanic and 35% White. 56% of the school is considered economically disadvantaged and 4% is limited English proficient. Alamo Heights is 2% Black, 32% Hispanic, 64% White. 20% of the campus is considered economically disadvantaged and 3 % is limited english proficient. So there are the numbers, they are easy to find on the TEA website under the AEIS reports.
Also it stands pointing out that Garner was rated recognized, above AHJS' rating of academically acceptable.

[streetscenes]

Kind of funny to stumble upon this thread. Back in 1977 (damn that was 30 years ago and now I feel old) my family moved from Colorado Springs to Alamo Heights. I was in 7th grade and my recollection is "culture shock". Coming from a very middle class and military town like Colorado Springs I was not prepared for middle school life in AH. I distinctly remember showing up with what I thought were pretty cool threads (think "That 70s Show") and feeling out of place with the boys wearing jeans, untucked polo shirts, etc. My Mom wouldn't spring for the regular Polo shirts so we ended up with "solo polos" from Solo Serve. I can't remember the name of the preppy clothes shop on Broadway where it seemed "everybody" bought their clothes.

That was 30 years ago and I know things change (i.e. no friends from cement ville) but the one thing about AH that is constant is that lots of people grow up there, go to college, come back and raise another generation of kids there. All that being said, my advice is to move to Alamo Heights if you can afford it. Much better for your kids to be in an environment where going to a good school and then going to college is considered normal and there are far fewer chances for them to get caught up in something you don't like.