Good Private schools in Texas (Houston, Dallas: environment, transplants, maintenance)

[Lanie32]

Hi we're considering a move to a warmer climate. We live in Michigan now. Our kids attend a Private school and we are happy with it. We aren't filthy rich by any means, but have enough that we can afford a nice neighborhood plus send our kids to a Private school as well. We were wondering where the good Private schools are in Texas that have at least 300 kids in them, go up through high school and that also have good athletic programs as well as the academics? We want to move to a warmer climate that's not terribly humid. We are looking into California, Arizona, New Mexico as well as Colorado. Texas stands out because it seems to have the most Private Schools of any of these states. We have conservative values but we aren't old fashioned in any sense of the word. We enjoy a glass of wine now and then and aren't afraid to dance (in other words, fundamental Baptist schools with kids in uniforms are probably out of the picture for us).

[Trainwreck20]

Well, there are a huge number of private schools across the state that are excellent. Most that are 300+ students will be found in the big city areas (Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin). I do not have any kids in the private schools, but, as I understand it, Houston and Dallas are the most econmoical private schools. In Austin, St. Stephens and St. Michaels are the two that jump to mind, but tuition is pretty high...I think around ~20k/year, but not sure. There are also entrance requirements and waiting lists, etc., etc.

As for athletics, private schools are somewhat 'behind' in overall athletics, probably. There are some public schools that excel are training serious athletes, but very few private ones that do. The public school athletics (actually, all competition) are goverened by the University Interscholastic League (UIL), but private schools are not. There are a couple of organizations that organize private school competitions, but I am not very familiar with them.....

[Mr. Football]

From what I recall from my UT days:

St. Johns (Houston)
St. Marks (Dallas)
Kinkaid (Houston)
Ursuline Academy (Dallas)
Hockaday School (Dallas)
John Cooper School (The Woodlands)

Generally considered top private schools in Texas

Also...

Second Baptist (Houston)
Strake Jesuit (Houston)
Episcopal (Houston)
Jesuit (Dallas)
St. Stephens (Austin)
St. Agnes (Houston)
St. Thomas (Houston)

Many many other good schools. These are just the ones I oft heard about .

[Lanie32]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Well, there are a huge number of private schools across the state that are excellent. Most that are 300+ students will be found in the big city areas (Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin). I do not have any kids in the private schools, but, as I understand it, Houston and Dallas are the most econmoical private schools. In Austin, St. Stephens and St. Michaels are the two that jump to mind, but tuition is pretty high...I think around ~20k/year, but not sure. There are also entrance requirements and waiting lists, etc., etc.

As for athletics, private schools are somewhat 'behind' in overall athletics, probably. There are some public schools that excel are training serious athletes, but very few private ones that do. The public school athletics (actually, all competition) are goverened by the University Interscholastic League (UIL), but private schools are not. There are a couple of organizations that organize private school competitions, but I am not very familiar with them.....

Thanks for the information. Yes, it does seem that Private Schools are "behind" somewhat in athletics, at least that's what my research has panned out with most of the states. Our son is on a traveling baseball team right now here in Michigan and would like to continue on with his talents. I'm not totally opposed to sending him to a Public school (actually, he is at the moment attending one here). I heard The Woodlands has a good team. Another thing that I am concerned about and maybe this starts a new thread: is that I've heard that people are focused on looks in Texas. Like, the women are "dressed to the nines" with make-up on, hair foo-fooed up and nail polish on at 8:00 a.m. just to run to the grocery store for milk. Now, I'm not sure if that's true, cuz' I've never even visited Texas, but heard this from some tranfers here. I'm a very casual and laidback kind of gal so-to-speak. However, I do shave my pits and take a shower and like to wear makeup most of the time, but don't want to feel pressured to be "perfect", nor do I want my daughter to ever feel like she has to look like Barbie to succeed in life!

[Trainwreck20]

Another thing that I am concerned about and maybe this starts a new thread: is that I've heard that people are focused on looks in Texas. Like, the women are "dressed to the nines" with make-up on, hair foo-fooed up and nail polish on at 8:00 a.m. just to run to the grocery store for milk. Now, I'm not sure if that's true, cuz' I've never even visited Texas, but heard this from some tranfers here. I'm a very casual and laidback kind of gal so-to-speak. However, I do shave my pits and take a shower and like to wear makeup most of the time, but don't want to feel pressured to be "perfect", nor do I want my daughter to ever feel like she has to look like Barbie to succeed in life!

This is probably more descriptive of Dallas than anywhere else in Texas. Dallas definitely has a very tangible, aggressive business climate that permeates the day to day aspect of living there. This can be a very fun environment for the up-and-coming crowd and those that like the competitive nature of business. Note that there has probably been some exageration to what it is like there, but it is definitely more of a dress-up-to-shop place.

Austin is probably on the other extreme, where you can where jeans to the symphony. Some people find this a little excessive, at times, but Austin has definitely started dressing up a little more over the last decade

Houston and San Antonio are somewhere in between, with SA a little closer to Austin and Houston a little more like Dallas.

[stargazer]

Don't worry we have all kinds. Most people where jeans, ladies where 2 piece jog suits with tennies here. I do where skirts quite a bit along with pants and nice mules but it imore for modesty and not feeling good enough to be in shorts or jeans. You will find people with mainly middle class values here. There is a bubble here but that exist mainly in Highland Park. As a friend who told me who was an assistant to a bank president over there, they don't live like most do in dfw. They come from old money and they don't know what wal mart or target is and they stay over in the bubble over that way. My mom's best friend was part of the bubble in Houston and came to our small town to live because she was dying of cancer. My mom use to take her into Houston to Neimans to shop. She actually helped her pick out Frank and Barbara Sintras wedding gift and had it mailed to them back in the 70's. The tales she told my mom were amazing. There is old money here but as I said, you know usually where to find them. They don't too bother me, I just don't run in that circle and most don't see them around too often. Just like most cities and states, you have people like that. Texas is no exception.

[skyblu]

North Dallas and the Highland/University Park area of Dallas is where you'll find alot of well-to-do, high maintenance Moms in North Texas. I think Jesuit (Dallas) has both above average academics and athletic programs. But Dallas/Fort Worth has lots and lots of transplants so you'll see many different "Mom" looks around here.

[austincat4]

I know you posted this a long time ago, but I just wanted to let you know about a great public school in Austin in case you hadn't decided where to move yet. I grew up in Austin and went to Westlake High School.

Austin is such a wonderful city...very laid back, fun and beautiful! It was a great city to grow up in and whenever I tell someone that I grew up there, they are shocked that I ever left (I now live in Dallas).

Westlake (Eanes ISD) is one of the best public school systems in the nation. The academics are outstanding (I remember hearing last year that Westlake had the highest scores on the Physics AP test in the country), and the athletics are really great as well. In fact, when I was there, Drew Brees was our quarterback and we won the state championship (he is now the QB for the Saints). The baseball team was always really good as well.

Like Highland Park in Dallas, Westlake seems to have a bad reputation for being "snobby" from outsiders....but having gone to Westlake myself and living in Dallas now, I can tell you that it is nothing like that.

Anyway, I hope that helps....you should definitely check it out!!

[tstone]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Houston and San Antonio are somewhere in between, with SA a little closer to Austin and Houston a little more like Dallas.

If you're going to rank them in order, Dallas is above and beyond Houston when it comes to this.

[neddy]

There are plenty of good private schools in SA also, Keystone, St. George, San Antonio Academy just to name a few. All different price points.