Help - choosing between Lake Travis ISD and Dripping Springs ISD neighboroods (Lakeway: 2014, middle school)

[janejanejanejanejane]

LTISD and DSISD are both definitely hill country and I suggest them highly. You should look at Sweetwater and other neighborhoods on highway 71. You can look closer to steiner as well, but not in steiner, cause it is not LTISD.
As suggested, try Lake Pointe- that's a really ideal location.

[janejanejanejanejane]

oh and we were looking precisely at what you were looking at- we chose LTISD of DSISD cause DSISD is just more "out there" in terms of stuff. They go shopping in south west Austin and I just did not want to drive to ugly sw austin to shop. Out here, you can shop in Bee Cave. It's nicer and newer. Such a silly reason, but it's true.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by LakeTravisAlum

Dripping Springs is smaller and a little more rural with average extra curriculars and okay academics.

People, please think before you post..

I would say that three Exemplary and two Recognized schools out of five is a little better than "okay". The bottom line is that your learning expectations, your involvement, your foundation is more important than the state rankings when it comes to the outcomes you can expect from your kids. You can't turn an underachiever into a superstar by inoculating them with LTISD magic juice, and you won't hold back your prodigy by attending DSHS. The educational differences aren't that big.

That said, the environments are completely different. LT is upper middle class suburbia - functionally identical to Oakland county, Michigan, NE Tarrant county, Texas, and Fairfax county, Virginia. We know, because we've lived in all four. All the big box stores, Whole Foods, and restaurants full of well scrubbed, nicely dressed families. Social scenes centered on the kids. DS is still semi-rural Texas, though changing, with all of the pros and cons that go with that.

There are HUGE differences between the two areas, but it isn't in the education YOUR child can receive.

[LongTimeAustinite]

Originally Posted by scm53

I would say that three Exemplary and two Recognized schools out of five is a little better than "okay". The bottom line is that your learning expectations, your involvement, your foundation is more important than the state rankings when it comes to the outcomes you can expect from your kids. You can't turn an underachiever into a superstar by inoculating them with LTISD magic juice, and you won't hold back your prodigy by attending DSHS. The educational differences aren't that big.

That said, the environments are completely different. LT is upper middle class suburbia - functionally identical to Oakland county, Michigan, NE Tarrant county, Texas, and Fairfax county, Virginia. We know, because we've lived in all four. All the big box stores, Whole Foods, and restaurants full of well scrubbed, nicely dressed families. Social scenes centered on the kids. DS is still semi-rural Texas, though changing, with all of the pros and cons that go with that.

There are HUGE differences between the two areas, but it isn't in the education YOUR child can receive.

I would agree with all of this (education and community). Lake Travis is new and full of shopping. Dripping Springs is still a very small town with a small town feel. I can see how both environments would appeal depending on what you want. I'll take the small town feel. Much rarer around here. I'll drive to where the shops are when I need something.

[stevjaty]

Group, many thanks for all the excellent information. We drove to Austin this weekend and scouted around Bee Cave and even went to the Founders Day festival in Drippin'. Is there any website that would give me an estimate on taxes by location as well as a guestimate on insurance? Obviously both depend on home value, but I was hoping to track down the multiplier and then do some what ifs. Thanks.

[blackbunneh]

I think Zillow lists the property taxes for previous years.

[Takamin35]

What did you decide, Lake Travis or Dripping Springs? How has it worked out? I am in the midst of making the same decision, with similar aged kids. Any information would be helpful. Thanks.

[usernamenottaken]

Anyone have any opinions on Lake Travis Elementary? The most recent reviews are terrible on Great Schools. Would like to hear from others. How about Hudson Bend Middle?

[llkltk]

DSISD was recently voted at the top in Central Texas. Go for DS! Sure, it may not have as much stuff as Lake Travis, but it will eventually.

[cBach]

LT is better, especially if your kids are into sports in any degree.