Dallas Public Schools (Plano, Richardson, Coppell: 2013, rent, insurance)

[dallasite1985]

I am getting out of the military soon and will be return to the city shortly thereafter. Ideally, I would want to live in Highland Park for the Schools, but that is presently outside of my price range. The only decent High School I have seen in the city is Woodrow Wilson, but even that is sketchy . . . so I have set that if I can get a house zoned to Stonewall Jackson Elementary or Lakewood then that would be satisfactory until middle school and bite the bullet and send them to private school.

[Skycastle]

Just move to Plano. Awesome schools.

[PISDstudent]

There are a lot of cities surrounding Dallas with fantastic school systems...Plano, Coppell, and much of Richardson ISDs are all very well respected. Any reason you aren't considering them?

There is one poster here who does consider Woodrow Wilson HS to be the best thing since sliced bread. I'm still a bit skeptical, but I'm sure he'll post with his perspective.

This website has some aweoms lists as far as school quality is concerned, just in case you want to do some research.
Dallas, Texas Area School Information
You can find SAT scores, ACT scores, Number of 2013 Merit semifinalist at each school, etc. etc.

[dallasite1985]

I don't want a long commute from downtown.

[TurtleCreek80]

How old are your kids? If they're elementary aged or earlier, you have quite a few years before dealing with middle & high school decisions or private school or DISD magnet applications.

The two best feeder zones in DISD are in the Woodrow and WT White high school zones- and within them, only specific elementary schools. There are also some very good elementary schools scattered around - Kramer Elementary in 75230 (Royal & Hillcrest area), Rosemont in 75208 (Norh Oak Cliff), and Hexter (75218 in Old Lake Highlands area) are several stellar neighborhood elementaries.

You can actually rent in HPISD as an option. A 3/2 Duplex will run about $2500/mo and you won't have the burden of properh taxes / insurance (well, just renter's which is much less than homeowners).
Richardson ISD is another good option- straight shot north on 75; not as far out as Plano/ Coppell.

[Considering Coming Back]

What do you find sketchy about Woodrow? How short are you from being in HP?

Not to profile you, but ex-military members aren't often fond of living inside loop 12...

[CREW747]

Best search tool for school info


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[HockDad]

Not to profile you, but ex-military members aren't often fond of living inside loop 12...[/quote]

I am real curious on how you determined this fact. I know a ton of ex-military living inside the loop.

Based on the OP's comments, I think he should consider RISD. The schools, although not HP, are pretty good and his commute to DT would probably be around 20 minutes. (maybe less if he did Lake Highlands)

[BigDGeek]

I think the OP should look at Richardson. It's not sexy or glamorous but its schools are definitely better than most of what DISD has to offer and it's not such a long slog from downtown. Not as long as a lot of other suburbs would be anyway. It's an easy straight shot up 75 and the OP could even take the train.

[Considering Coming Back]

Originally Posted by HockDad

I am real curious on how you determined this fact. I know a ton of ex-military living inside the loop.

Sure. I'll tell you that I started with the knowledge that the TX-30th Congressional district had one of the lowest levels of Iraq/Afghanistan casualties in the country. But of course, anecdote is not data. So after you asked I went to the Census and searched UP. UP has a 4.1% veteran rate compared to 8.6% statewide. But, more tellingly of 18-34 year old males (I'm assuming the OP was born in 1985 and is 27/28) the service rate is 0.7% for men and 0.0% for women (statewide it's 4.6% for men and 1.2% for women). I would assume the numbers are even lower for the more liberal precincts east of the Park Cities. Have you read the Big Sort?

Census link: American FactFinder - Results *