Canyon Creek and Noel Grisham Middle School (Anderson Mill, West: apartments, houses)

[austin_family_guy]

We are a young family looking to buy a house in the westwood high area. Does anybody know if there are any plans to change the Noel Grisham middle school for the Canyon Creek area esp for the houses in the RRISD? We like the Canyon Creek neighborhood but are skeptical about Noel Grisham based on the reviews on greatschools and schooldigger. Any insight from people living in that neighborhood is really appreciated.

[hound 109]

What do you mean "change it"?

GMS is a good to great MS. The kids in the top 70% at GMS are prepared for the rigors of WWHS. I don't agree with the negative comments from the 2-4 great school comments. But that's my take. GMS is a "diverse" MS with 20-30% of the kids coming from lower economic background (this is a good or not good thing depending on your perspective). My kid (& the rest of the top 70%) were academically challenged at GMS with several advanced classes & the IB program..... & are prepared to excel at WWHS (along with his many buddies from CVMS). The diversity at GMS has made him (IMO) more well rounded (with lots of interaction & friends from a variety of backgrounds & cultures) & it also translated positively in him being able to compete with more confidence (in an individual sport) against all different types of kids, both statewide & nationally.

The only way to "change it" (GMS) would be for the apartments that are zoned into GMS to be torn down. Not sure that's going to happen. If you decide your kid won't be in the top 70% at GMS or if you're still concerned (or skeptical?....skeptical about what?) based on the handful of negative great school comments, then pony up the extra 150K for the same sized home that feeds into CVMS (or the extra 300K for one that feeds into Eanes).

Feel free to elaborate on your skepticism.....or what it is you want "changed". I had concerns prior to my kid going to MS. (do a search on Grisham....some of my posts will pop up from 3-4 years ago) But I'm glad he attended GMS for the reasons stated above.
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[austin_family_guy]

Thanks hound 109 for your comments. I did go through your previous comments and they were definitely helpful. When I said change, I meant to ask if there are any plans to have a MS in CC or have CC feed into a different MS 'coz I feel that GMS is a little up north and the area between CC and GMS falls under a different MS which didn't make sense to me. Atleast by looking at the map, I felt that CC was geographically disconnected from the area that serves MS.

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by austin_family_guy

Thanks hound 109 for your comments. I did go through your previous comments and they were definitely helpful. When I said change, I meant to ask if there are any plans to have a MS in CC or have CC feed into a different MS 'coz I feel that GMS is a little up north and the area between CC and GMS falls under a different MS which didn't make sense to me. Atleast by looking at the map, I felt that CC was geographically disconnected from the area that serves MS.

Good point on the gerrymandering. That area along Anderson Mill just to the east of HEB should logically go to GMS. Probably some politics involved (or wanting the ES/MS/HS to track). But no, I don't think CC will ever track to CVMS.

I also don't think there will be another MS west/southwest of Grisham. CC is built out & that's the western edge of RRisd, so no more need for new schools. The good news from an investment perspective is that a new HS (& possibly MS) will be built over near the Palace on Parmer (2-3 years from now?). This will draw from areas north of 620 (some of the apartments & a couple of working class neighborhoods north of Lakeline) currently feeding to GMS/WWHS & will also draw from RRHS & McNeil feeders as well. Plus, in the 3 years I've been dropping off my kid at tennis courts near GMS & WWHS, I've seen the Anderson Mill neighborhood improving (more spruced up....new buyers putting some improvements on these 30+ year old homes) each season. I believe the AM.ES & the Purple Sage ES will steadily keep improving & because of this, GMS will as well.

My kid is out of MS & starts at WWHS in the fall. I know 2-3 dozen kids who are or have attended CVMS & GMS.....& both are top drawer schools (with zero tolerance for bullying) & both prepare their students for WW. My kid is sharp, took advanced English & Algebra....but I doubt he was top 10% at GMS (& wouldn't have been at CVMS). Probably will be lucky to be top 20% at WW. (There are THAT many good students at both schools). But if i had it to do over again, I'd have him go to Grisham (again) because of the reasons I posted upthread.

Good luck on the search.
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[MovingAloha]

Originally Posted by hound 109

Good point on the gerrymandering. That area along Anderson Mill just to the east of HEB should logically go to GMS. Probably some politics involved (or wanting the ES/MS/HS to track). But no, I don't think CC will ever track to CVMS.

I also don't think there will be another MS west/southwest of Grisham. CC is built out & that's the western edge of RRisd, so no more need for new schools. The good news from an investment perspective is that a new HS (& possibly MS) will be built over near the Palace on Parmer (2-3 years from now?). This will draw from areas north of 620 (some of the apartments & a couple of working class neighborhoods north of Lakeline) currently feeding to GMS/WWHS & will also draw from RRHS & McNeil feeders as well. Plus, in the 3 years I've been dropping off my kid at tennis courts near GMS & WWHS, I've seen the Anderson Mill neighborhood improving (more spruced up....new buyers putting some improvements on these 30+ year old homes) each season. I believe the AM.ES & the Purple Sage ES will steadily keep improving & because of this, GMS will as well.

My kid is out of MS & starts at WWHS in the fall. I know 2-3 dozen kids who are or have attended CVMS & GMS.....& both are top drawer schools (with zero tolerance for bullying) & both prepare their students for WW. My kid is sharp, took advanced English & Algebra....but I doubt he was top 10% at GMS (& wouldn't have been at CVMS). Probably will be lucky to be top 20% at WW. (There are THAT many good students at both schools). But if i had it to do over again, I'd have him go to Grisham (again) because of the reasons I posted upthread.

Good luck on the search.
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This is great info, as we are looking at a particular home that tracks to Canyon Vista and Westwood. I love the old growth trees and the somewhat uniqueness of each of the homes in the area. We will need to decide soon between this area and Circle C.

[austin_family_guy]

Really great info. Thanks for your input hound109.

[ocanas]

Both of my daughters went to CVMS -> WWHS, the kids coming from GMS were a swell prepared as the CVMS kids (many of them shared the Spicewood Elementary also). GMS band program has always been better than CVMS (at least in the last 6 years) and some of my kids' best HS memories happened with kids from both CVMS and GSM. As other people have said in other forum topics - the key is stay involved as a parent in your kids education and they will do fine in any school IMHO

[nathali]

I just moved to Canyon Creek and I do have to say that my realtor warned me about the unfriendliness of the neighborhood. I am glad I was warned and the house next door just moved in as well and they were also shocked. We don't know if it is just our street or what. But I do have to say that going to Canyon Creek elementary makes up for it. I am a teacher and we have had a magnificent experience.
I also have a daughter in 10th grade in Westwood and she has no life what so ever. SHe is in all the pre AP and Tag programs and has LOADS of homework.
She hardly has any time for any other activities but she does like to go to bed around 10.
She has complained that their is no integration what so ever with the other non white students.
But academically it is great.
About Grisham it has improved tremendously and I am sure it will continue .