Help with Austin schools (Elem/Middle/High)?! (Killeen, Round Rock: how much, home)

[vanille6]

We're moving to Austin next year from Killeen (hour north of Austin). I've been here for two years, finishing school and helping my mom with my dad in Iraq. I have two daughters, age 6 & 3. The 6 year old is in the local elementary school which I've had a lot of problems with. I won't get into them here, but I'm looking for schools in/around Austin that:

a) Believe in the separation of church and state
b) Didn't dump their art classes
c) Doesn't have a drug problem.

I own a horse, so I was looking at Cedar Park, Round Rock, etc..., but I'm a city girl, big time. We make just about $100k/year, if that matters. We're also very liberal and an agnostic family. Also, if the area was child friendly (anyone experienced living off post in Germany? That's what I'm talking about, with the playgrounds that are walking distance everywhere), that would be nice.

Thanks in advance, I'm really trying to narrow this down and really excited about my move

*I wanted to add that it's not necessary to only have liberal/atheist/agnostic neighbors, but I would like openminded neighbors. Seriously, I want to be left alone about my beliefs, because I sure don't push them on anyone or even express them unless asked.

[TexasHorseLady]

Okay, so are you looking to board your horse, since you want to live in the city? If so, what is your discipline? (I'm thinking of places that are in the city that meet your criteria that are also a reasonable distance from a boarding stable.)

[vanille6]

Haha, TexasHorseLady, I was just hunting down my own post because I thought I should add that I will be boarding my horse. I am a trail rider now conditioning myself and my gelding for endurance rides/races. Here there are only Western riders, so that's where I've been boarding him. No hunting/dressage/rodeo, just trails

I don't know anything about southern or Eastern Austin. There's a shortcut from Killeen that takes me straight to Cedar Park or Georgetown (depending on if I make a right or left), which is why I'm more familiar with these areas.


I also want to add that I would love to live IN Austin, and if we comfortably could with kids, that would be amazing. I just love Austin's vibe, I feel completely at home there. But I'm not going to get my hopes up about it. lol.

[TexasHorseLady]

Okay, how much would you like to spend on a place? That'll impact recommendations, too. I'm getting a few ideas, but which ones to put forth will depend on that.