Population of Bryker/OHenry/Austin High (Temple, Andrews: neighborhoods, middle school, university)

[balor123]

Does anyone familiar with these schools know what the Jewish population is like? I notice that there's a synagogue in Rosedale. Does that imply there's Jews living in that area? It's reform so maybe not too many who feel the need to walk. How would it compare to Hill/Murchison/Anderson? Are academics comparable at this point?

[GreenPlastic]

I live nearby and while there are Jewish folks in the area, it doesn't compare to the concentration you will experience in NW Hills. Both tracks are good school-wise but if being close to other Jews is important to you, I would look in NW Hills.

[Danbo1957]

There is almost no Jewish presence in Tarrytown. Zip. Nada. Temple Beth Shalom is on Hart, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congreg...ustin,_Texas); also the HEB off Far West has a real Kosher food section.

[balor123]

The synagogue I see in Rosedale is Beth Israel. Come to think of it, I'm kind of surprised that they managed to get that domain name. Anyway, I'm really asking about Rosedale rather than Tarrytown. I guess I'm ok with there not being a lot of Jews living in the area as NWH isn't far away ande as long as there's decent families around but am more concerned about what my kids will find in the schools. Diversity is good but not so much as to cause isolation, as I experienced that growing up as well. How many do you think are at Bryker - a few or a dozen? Same for OHenry and Austin High but that's much further away. I suspect I know the answer but would like to hear from someone with first hand experience if possible.

NWH, Jester, and Great Hills are relatively quiet neighborhoods so just looking at other areas that might be more lively. I think there's some in Allandale and Highland Park is good I hear but I hear terrible things about Lamar and McCallum.

[centralaustinite]

Your info about Lamar and McCallum is out of date! Lamar MS now has a middle school fine arts academy and is becoming more and more desirable. McCallum has the HS Fine Academy and is very well regarded. Personally, I prefer its diversity and size over Anderson.

Brykerwoods Elementary is a small school, very hard to predict demographics. Beth Israel has a BIG reformed congregation, not sure how many actually live in the surrounding area. There is a fairly consistent Jewish contingent in Austin private schools (particularly St. Andrews 1-12, St Stephens 6-12 both Episcopal and St. Francis School which is independent).

If you want lively, look in NW Hills close to Far West.

[GreenPlastic]

??? I live in Tarrytown and yes, there are Jewish families here. One across the street and several in the surrounding blocks.

Originally Posted by Danbo1957

There is almost no Jewish presence in Tarrytown. Zip. Nada. Temple Beth Shalom is on Hart, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congreg...ustin,_Texas); also the HEB off Far West has a real Kosher food section.

[Danbo1957]

I live in Tarrytown too. A few Jews in an area doesn't make for a Jewish presence-- (and that goes for any ethnicity). There is a Jewish presence in Northwest Hills, with a small but well defined cultural infrastructure.

[mackenziep]

Anecdotal, to be sure, but I have a couple of Jewish friends who weren't happy with their kids' overall first experience at Brykerwoods, and they decided to move to Northwest Hills. Another Jewish family I'm close with lives in Hyde Park and their kids go to Lee Elementary. They're happy there. But I definitely think that if you want to be tied in with the main Jewish community in Austin, Northwest Hills is the place to be.

[Devout Urbanist]

Originally Posted by balor123

I think there's some in Allandale and Highland Park is good I hear but I hear terrible things about Lamar and McCallum.

What "terrible things"? First of all, McCallum is probably the best overall school in Austin. When I went to school there it had genuine diversity (folks from Highland Park to University Hills), smart, dedicated teachers, and creative students. McCallum was probably the closest thing to racial and socioeconomic harmony I ever experienced while growing up in Austin (apart, I suppose, from the years I spent as a kid in Milwood, which was surprisingly diverse for NW Austin in the '90s). And I had amazing teachers. Secondly, I went to public schools in both of the areas you mentioned. During my time, the Jewish presence at Lamar/McCallum was much stronger than the Jewish presence at Murchison/Anderson.