Southlake to Legacy West (Dallas, Plano: homes, job transfer, school districts)

[hkgake]

We are contemplating a job transfer from Westchester County, NY to Dallas area. Office location is in Legacy West part of Plano. Are we out of our minds to consider Southlake?



We come from a school district that is very strong (and very small by TX standards) and I'm trying to find places that appear comparable. I have read good thinks about West Plano and Frisco but I hesitate with I think about moving my kids to a school 3x the size. Home prices in Southlake are within out budget, so it's really a matter of schools and commute. We're looking for under an hour, but closer to 45 minutes or so.



Thank you!!

[ChristieP]

Yes, you are out of your mind for considering that commute. It's very heavy traffic on toll roads the whole way, and if there is an accident on the toll road, there is really no good alternative route. You'd be lucky to get there in 45 minutes each day.

[stargirl007]

Originally Posted by hkgake

We are contemplating a job transfer from Westchester County, NY to Dallas area. Office location is in Legacy West part of Plano. Are we out of our minds to consider Southlake?



We come from a school district that is very strong (and very small by TX standards) and I'm trying to find places that appear comparable. I have read good thinks about West Plano and Frisco but I hesitate with I think about moving my kids to a school 3x the size. Home prices in Southlake are within out budget, so it's really a matter of schools and commute. We're looking for under an hour, but closer to 45 minutes or so.



Thank you!!

if you are commuting to Legacy West and would want smaller, but stronger schools I would probably look in Prosper perhaps.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by hkgake

We are contemplating a job transfer from Westchester County, NY to Dallas area. Office location is in Legacy West part of Plano. Are we out of our minds to consider Southlake?



We come from a school district that is very strong (and very small by TX standards) and I'm trying to find places that appear comparable. I have read good thinks about West Plano and Frisco but I hesitate with I think about moving my kids to a school 3x the size. Home prices in Southlake are within out budget, so it's really a matter of schools and commute. We're looking for under an hour, but closer to 45 minutes or so.



Thank you!!

You are not out of your mind to ask and/or consider that commute. You'd be out of your mind to actually try to make that commute work long term assuming regular working hours. People do it but the all need brain scans or mental evals. IMO.

There are a number of strong to excellent public school choices that would be half the commute time or less.
Others would know drive times better than me but check out: Prosper, Frisco, Plano as noted and I'm sure there are others. Allen might be worth a look too but the high school is MASSIVE. It might be possible to find an area on the SW side of McKinney that might work.

Keep in mind school districts in TX do not match city limits.


Good luck and if you make the move welcome to Texas.

[Waterdragon8212]

I'm confused by whether you are more concerned with school reputation or size. Size-wise, some of the high schools in Frisco that are 9-12th grade have fewer students than Southlake Carroll's enrollment of just 11th and 12th graders. Plano West does have massive enrollment, but Carroll's enrollment isn't all that different and both districts are highly ranked. Personally, I would rather carve out my eyes with a spoon than do the commute from Southlake to Legacy West on a daily basis. I also don't see what Southlake schools would offer that Plano or Frisco schools don't that would make that murderous commute worth it.

[unexpected]

Originally Posted by hkgake

We are contemplating a job transfer from Westchester County, NY to Dallas area. Office location is in Legacy West part of Plano. Are we out of our minds to consider Southlake?



We come from a school district that is very strong (and very small by TX standards) and I'm trying to find places that appear comparable. I have read good thinks about West Plano and Frisco but I hesitate with I think about moving my kids to a school 3x the size. Home prices in Southlake are within out budget, so it's really a matter of schools and commute. We're looking for under an hour, but closer to 45 minutes or so.



Thank you!!

honestly, there's not going to be an area that's really comparable to Westchester (one of my best friends is from Katonah!). If you want that sort of school environment, I would strongly consider privates if you move here.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by hkgake

We are contemplating a job transfer from Westchester County, NY to Dallas area. Office location is in Legacy West part of Plano. Are we out of our minds to consider Southlake?



We come from a school district that is very strong (and very small by TX standards) and I'm trying to find places that appear comparable. I have read good thinks about West Plano and Frisco but I hesitate with I think about moving my kids to a school 3x the size. Home prices in Southlake are within out budget, so it's really a matter of schools and commute. We're looking for under an hour, but closer to 45 minutes or so.



Thank you!!

I mean, it’s an easier commute than Westchester into Manhattan, but you don’t necessarily need to sign up for that kind of commute here to get great schools.

Highland Park / University Park is a straight shot up the tollroad to Legacy West and are the top public schools in Texas in a Westchester Co kind of atmosphere (minus the lovely winding country homes and estates, of course). It’s about 30 minutes AM commute to Legacy & 45-60 minutes PM.

Or a little closer to your office with smaller schools is Lovejoy ISD (serving parts of Fairview, Allen, & Lucas). Bigger lots, smaller schools. Probably 30 min AM, 30-40 PM drive times. More country-ish setting.

Or just embrace the fact that everything’s bigger here and jump into Frisco, Plano, McKinney or Prosper schools. Take note that the farther east / west you get of the Dallas North Tollroad, if you are not able to get easy highway access to 121 or Bush, it can be a VERY long stop & go commute due to all the school zones. Friends live in Little Elm/Frisco border and it takes them 45 minutes to get to their office at The Star (also in Frisco and on the same side of the tollroad) some mornings.

[panacea1982]

we were thinking of doing that 2 years ago but we ended up in Frisco because of the drive from Southlake to Legacy West. And we are happy with the decision.

But I know a couple senior executive at my Company do the drive because they want to put their kids in Southlake schools. They are happy with their decisions.

So it is just really a matter of your preference.

[veuvegirl]

Originally Posted by unexpected

honestly, there's not going to be an area that's really comparable to Westchester (one of my best friends is from Katonah!). If you want that sort of school environment, I would strongly consider privates if you move here.

^^^ this. We moved from New Jersey out here and the schools are just massive. We chose Allen, which only has one high school, and is way too big. Other towns are not comparable size wise to Allen. However, if you want something small and highly rated, check out the private schools.

[ea0337]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Take note that the farther east / west you get of the Dallas North Tollroad, if you are not able to get easy highway access to 121 or Bush, it can be a VERY long stop & go commute due to all the school zones. Friends live in Little Elm/Frisco border and it takes them 45 minutes to get to their office at The Star (also in Frisco and on the same side of the tollroad) some mornings.

From what I've heard, access to 121 especially in Central/East Frisco is pretty crowded in the rush hours due to school zones on every major North-South road slowing traffic.