Picking the right school system not so easy (Dallas, Plano: home, school districts)

[ryjo5822]

We are new to the Dallas area and are still looking for a place to settle down. Like anyone else, I want my kids to go to a great school, but I feel an overwhelming emphasis on whether the schools are good, great, exemplary, top rated, etc...

It's a bit confusing as to which schools are better and why they are better. Some answers are opinion and some are fact, but it's very hard to distinguish between the two and it depends on who you ask.

Maybe I am reading too much into it, but I feel a lot of pressure to pick the "right" school.

[BiGeek]

It's easy, you pick best performing high schools in DFW as there is more data to help you find one compared to data on lower schools. Once you pick the high school then you look into that school's feeding schools. If Plano West performs best then obviously lower schools are doing something right as well.

[ChristieP]

There are good school districts all over the DFW metroplex.
First, start looking fairly close to where you will be working so that you won't have a ridiculously long commute, and no time to spend at home with your kids.
Then, look for a place that's within your housing budget. You don't want to be "house poor" and not be able to do anything extra due to lack of disposable income.

[ryjo5822]

Thank you BiGeek. That makes sense. What data sources do you recommend? All I know of is greatschools.net

[Funtastic44]

All the research that I did, Plano Sr West is the ideal stream if your budget is between $200k- 1 million. They are already on top of the charts and now with Rice and Jasper, it is without a doubt the strongest school stream in DFW.

[ryjo5822]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

There are good school districts all over the DFW metroplex.
First, start looking fairly close to where you will be working so that you won't have a ridiculously long commute, and no time to spend at home with your kids.
Then, look for a place that's within your housing budget. You don't want to be "house poor" and not be able to do anything extra due to lack of disposable income.

This is what we are trying to do, but I heard from my realtor that the schools aren't known for being the best-rated schools.

[Funtastic44]

Originally Posted by ryjo5822

Thank you BiGeek. That makes sense. What data sources do you recommend? All I know of is greatschools.net

If you look at SAT scores, National Merit Scholarships, Ivy admissions, Science fair results, Newsweek's national high school ranking etc then its very clear who is doing better and who is not.

[ryjo5822]

Originally Posted by Funtastic44

All the research that I did, Plano Sr West is the ideal stream if your budget is below 1 million. They are already on top of the charts and now with Rice and Jasper, it is the strongest school stream in DFW.

We are below 450K. I am a stay at home mom. I believe I should find a nice home with great schools for that price, but I'm from Kansas so...

Our dilemma is that dh works in Oak Cliff.

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by ryjo5822

We are below 450K. I am a stay at home mom. I believe I should find a nice home with great schools for that price, but I'm from Kansas so...

Our dilemma is that dh works in Oak Cliff.

Yes, that will be a problem.

Would you be willing to consider private schools? Many people who live in Oak Cliff do that since the non-magnet DISD high schools there are horrid.

[GripeWater]

If you can handle a 1/2 hr ride twice daily then it could save you tons of money on private schooling. I say up the budget a bit instead of going private. I know people who drive from Plano to Bishop Arts District and think its worth the commute but of course you should explore other options as well.