North DFW: Renting for high school sr year. Which high school??? (Plano: rental, credit)

[Vichig562]

Hi. We are relocating to DFW area. Husband will work in Plano at Toyota.

Our youngest daughter will be a sr in 2017/18 school year. Has a generally good outlook re move. Has told inquirers 'I'm just looking at it like I'm going away to college a year early' for which we are thankful for her positive attitude.

We will rent for that year to insure we a) get her into a school we choose and b) allow ourselves some time to pick our empty nest/reasonable commute to Toyota home.

She is: good student 3.9 GPA, on track with TX 'distinguished academic' guidelines. By end of jr yr will have taken 5 AP's. Likes art. Will not play sports. Likes ASB/social connection/involvement.

ISD's we are considering: McKinney. Lovejoy. Prosper.

?- any input on those high schools? We see 3 for example in McKinney ISD. Are they really that different?

?- since college apps will be completed with CA transcript, and an adjustment period will be reasonable, we're thinking maybe a moderate academic challenge would be appropriate. Is there any opinions as to which are MOST competitive/rigorous to steer away from?

And finally. Is it difficult to find a year lease? We would want a 3 bedroom at least. Don't care what condition really, as long as it's in school district we want. Our rental budget is capped at $2,850/month. We will purchase a home in a rural area concurrently and remodel while renting.

Thanks for any input.

[babs7907]

May I suggest narrowing down the location of your rental which will help determine which HS you are zoned for? Because working the other way round, and determining which HS you prefer, does not necessarily mean you will find a house rental that is zoned for that same HS in the price range you're looking for? Most likely, it'll work, but schools are zoned and it'd be a big hassle if you were to go for a particular HS and then find out that you can't find any living accommodations that suit your needs.

[UnfairPark]

It's just one year, go with a private school. You'll get personal attention of guidance counselor for college admission process and figuring out credit transfers, getting into extracurricular and things like that would be much easier.

[stephwin]

What kind of commute are you okay with? Because the 3 schools you listed aren't really in a great location for a short commute. You'd either be looking at a long commute, or a shorter, expensive one on a tollroad.

Why have you not considered Plano ISD?

[Vichig562]

We don't care where we rent. That rental will be driven by school choice

Re private schools then..... Any suggestions within a :45 commute to plano? My husband is ok with that for a year in order to get a good fit for daughter in school.

Thx

[Vichig562]

We'll consider plano too. Any input on school vibes? Pro's/Con's are welcomed. Thanks

[Vichig562]

We are looking at all academic data, and that's easy enough to compare. The intangibles are much more difficult.

For example, when looking at McKinney ISD. We see there are 3 high schools. McKinney Boyd on top, north right behind then McKinney at the bottom of the 3 academically in performance. What's odd though. When you look at McKinney Boyd website....nothing. No real data, no links to any real substance. Just contact info. No academic nor counselor pages. Then there's McKinney, is rigorously filled with links, departmental info, support pages, etc. if lush came to shove, with only the data and website to go on, we'd choose mckinney North or McKinney despite Boyd's great performance. I feel so overwhelmed. Help!

We will try to narrow down to 3 and then visit in person. Bit while narrowing, I'm finding it difficult to catch the happiness/satisfaction vibe. Any thoughts on schools in the general area?

[Vichig562]

Thank you for your input. Do you have any recommendations for the area? Again, my husband will commute up to about :45. Thanks

[UnfairPark]

I'm not sure about admission situation for good privates in senior year but Parish or John Paul ll are within 45 minutes and easier to get into. Top privates for girls or coed are Hockaday, Greenhill and Ursuline.

If you want to live in a rural area then you can consider a rural high school as well to save tuition money and get the feel of the town you want to buy in.

[ChristieP]

Plano West is one of the top high schools in DFW, and it would be a very short commute.