Lake Travis ISD - why should I NOT move here? HELP. (Dallas: real estate, 2015)

[movingfromdfw]

Moving from the DFW area and was attracted to the Lake Travis ISD area due to the quality of schools. Of course, I heard Eanes was "better", but seriously doubt we can afford the homes in that area. Are there neighborhoods to avoid in Lake Travis? What am I missing here about the area - looks decent on paper but really want to know more about what locals think.

[scm53]

If your life is centered on your kids, and revolves around them and their activities, there isn't a better area in Austin. Just realize it comes at a price, especially if your employment isn't in that area. Also sort of isolated from the nightlife and associated activities of Austin. Those are the two biggest downsides, and may mean nothing at all in your case.

[movingfromdfw]

My life does center around my kids - maybe that's why I am attracted to the area. I want a good education for my third and last child (other two are college-aged, Rice and UT) and I like the idea of being closer, but not too close, to them too. I think I could be happy anywhere, just want my youngest to have opportunities in the area we move to and not be bored out of her mind. Not a nightlife person and I'm used to driving 30-60 minutes to enjoy downtown Fort Worth/Dallas when desired as it is now, so I think being that far out from downtown will be alright with me too. I don't know. Like I said, it all looks good on paper, and I think it's the best choice, just wondering what may be missed I guess.

[centralaustinite]

I would not be my choice -- and I should state upfront that I often make atypical choices -- for me LTISD is too far out and I'd not a fan of the enormous single high school district. There are no plans to ever have a second HS in LTISD and the demographic projections have the HS getting into the 5000 student range! They will probably do a 9th grade center or even a 9-10th grade campus and 11-12 grade campus at some point.

I much prefer smaller high schools; they are a better fit for my kids.

[Gorfml]

I'm pretty sure lake Travis high school has a 3500 student capacity and they plan on building a new high school when it gets to that point...

[scm53]

Originally Posted by movingfromdfw

My life does center around my kids - maybe that's why I am attracted to the area.

Let me draw a parallel you might be more familiar with. LT is Southlake Carroll. I know, because I've lived in them both. If you like SLC, you will love LT. If you could never imagine raising kids in Southlake -- for good reasons and bad -- then stay away from LT.

[FalconheadWest]

I lived in the Dallas area for 25 years, mostly Richardson, but also Valley Ranch, Lewisville, and went to college in Arlington. I also did 8 1/2 years of real estate up there before moving down to Austin 7 years ago.

We chose Lake Travis because of the schools, mostly. They are great schools. I have a 2nd grader and a kid in the LTISD pre-K program. I don't agree that they removed the centrally located Middle School and now have one at either end of the district with nothing in the Middle, but there is already land owned for more schools. Some of that land is rumored to be where the new high school will be built in many many years.

If they remain a 1 high school system, I do like the 9-10th grade and 11-12th grade concept like Plano has it, but they would need to build one on both ends of the district as it's so spread out. Not sure it's possible...

[Aquitaine]

My brother-in-law and his wife both teach and live in LTISD and they like it. They don't come into Austin much and they are starting a family, so it checks all their boxes.

For me - it's too far out. But what it has is really nice.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by Gorfml

I'm pretty sure lake Travis high school has a 3500 student capacity and they plan on building a new high school when it gets to that point...

You are right, with the new 9th grade annex, the capacity of LT HS is 3500! The community really wants to keep one HS. “The LTHS Annex allows us to honor the wishes of our community shared with us during our 2011 bond presentations, which was to maintain a 9-12 grade unified school model to best support students,” Lancaster said. See the whole article here (if the link works, it is a AAS report from Feb 2015)
https://shar.es/12OpM2

I think that scm is spot on his comparisons to Southlake above, I think LTISD will opt for a split campus model before they make a second HS.

[austinaggie]

We're in Eanes but I work in Dallas a couple of days a week. My impression is that Southlake Carroll is the Eanes of the Dallas area. I may be off base though.