Edinburg Tx, what is it like? (McAllen, Allen: fit in, house, neighborhood)

[txtres]

My husband is being offered a job in Edinburg and I am looking for information about the schools and housing. We have two daughters one a junior in high school and the other in 4th grade. I am a native Texan but have never even been to the valley and know very little about the area. I have read a number of posts about McAllen, which I know isn't far away; but having grown up in a college town I am think I might feel more at home in Edinburg. Please help me out and I would love to hear positive information about the area.

Thank you all!

[crbcrbrgv]

As a former Valley resident I HIGHLY recommend you look into the IDEA/Quest charter school system. You are quite a distance from Med High/South Texas charter in Mercedes. Public schools in the Valley are not very good and Edinburg ISD is iffy at best. There is plenty of nice housing in Edinburg. If you like horses and a large lot, look north a bit. As for Edinburg being a college town, this is not the case at all. Pan-Am is a commuter school full of kids that were either too poor or didn't have the grades to go to UT. It also has a smattering of young wealthy Mexican nationals. If you have never been to the Valley, prepared to be shocked. Many on this forum criticize my opinions, however my opinions are consistent with the outsiders who post on here. One has to wonder why natives have to so vehemently defend their area from even the most minute criticism.

[Shade Tree Mechanic]

I sincerly agree with crbcbrgv. I have just moved from the lower RGV and have come back to my home town of Lufkin. If you are wanting a bit of country and space, a bit north of Edinburg is the place for it. Edinburg is not really a college town as most people would describe a college town. PanAm is a good college, but it is not a "major" college such as Ut or A&M. McAllen is only a couple of miles to the south. The fact is, you can hardly tell when you leave Edinburg and get into McAllen. The area in the lower RGV is growing so fast that all the towns and cities along U.S. 83 seem to connect. In my honest opinion, I think you would be wise in checking out either private schools or schools with christian influence and not the public schools. Like I said.....my opinion. I lived in the RGV for almost 6 years and the plublic schools did not impress me a bit.

I know I will get some "not-so-friendly" feedback from what I am saying---but I am saying what I feel and think.

[recrossler]

I just moved to the valley from Virginia to take a job in Edinburg. My wife homeschools so I can't say much about the schools. We live in McAllen and it takes me 15 minutes to get to work. I read this bored and feared the culture shock, but it hasn't been bad. Get plugged in with a group of people (church, community group, etc.) and you will fit in quickly. As far as housing, it is affordable, but find a good realtor to help you avoid places you don't want to be. We purchased an 1800 sq ft home in McAllen in a nice neighborhood that had been remodeled and had a pool for under 140. I liked that

Good luck.

[tareq126]

I live in South East Edinburg, 1 block to McAllen. The school, Canterburry is a good elementary school, that has GT program. Try to find a home at the intersection of Trenton and Jackson, which is growing, and has good ISD. There are some nice gated community, where you can get a decent house at 230k. I choose this place because highway is near and everything is near from the Jackson. And edinburg is kinda university town, which will potentially grow. Best..

[recrossler]

To be honest, McAllen is more pro-growth than Edinburg is. McAllen seems to have designs on becoming a desirable city in S. Texas while Edinburg seems to be content with the status quo.

[txtres]

Thank you for all your answers; I will look in the Canterburry district and would love a pool too . My 4th grader is in the GT program here so it is nice to know about Canterburry. I am not too worried about culture shock.

[txtres]

Do the High Schools have a good AP program? My elder daughter is currently enrolled in 3 AP courses, she is a junior, and wants to continue them.

[Mcallen Kid]

Originally Posted by txtres

Thank you for all your answers; I will look in the Canterburry district and would love a pool too . My 4th grader is in the GT program here so it is nice to know about Canterburry. I am not too worried about culture shock.

Canterburry is a very good campus, I went there in elementary. another good school is Leonel Gonzalez Elementary in the McAllen District. Its also in a very nice area (NE McAllen). on Martin ave (Alberta rd.) and Colonel Rowe Blvd.

[JoniVera]

It's what I would call "sprawling", lots of construction and new businesses, especially in the outer parts of town.
The schools are pretty iffy at best unless your kids are part of the top 10%. Definately recommend Canterbury and IDEA like the others mentioned. Edinburg isn't much of a college town either, only the area around the PA campus.

Pan-Am is a commuter school full of kids that were either too poor or didn't have the grades to go to UT.

Correction, that's more STC's mantra My cousin's wife graduated from there with a Doctorates in Psychology. It's a decent college, it's what these kids make of their education that counts.
Unfortunately the standards aren't very high down here.

(I apologize if my reply is in the incorrect format; long time lurker, first time poster.)