How good Plano public schools are when you compare nationally? (Dallas: renting, buying)

[DaveG99]

Originally Posted by NiceJohn

How about Frisco or Mckinney area public schools? Thank you.

For the most part all the collin county schools are good. Collin county includes plano, Mckinney, Frisco, and Allen. You cant go wrong with any of them

[Big G]

NiceJohn:

I think your question is, "Sure, the PISD is considered top-notch in Texas, but does that just mean it's the best of an underperforming lot? Would the PISD be considered good if it were located in, say, New York State or suburban Chicago?"

To answer that question, I think that yes, it would be considered very good. PISD had well over 100 National Merit Semi-Finalists this fall. The AP courses boast an AP test passing rate far above the national average. The valedictorians, salutatorians, and other top students gain admission to Ives/MIT/etc. year after year after year.

Honestly, the real question is, "Are your kids ready for the PISD?" It is an absolute meat grinder of a school system, especially from 6th grade up. High expectations and zero slack. It is "go big or go home" all the time, from classes to sports to clubs. Your child will know the meaning of an all-nighter well before college.

[stan4]

As a graduate of PSHS, I have to say everything BigG has said is 100% true.

BUT, I credit my years in this school system with my success. And while many of my friends are planning on private school, I'm putting my kids in the Plano ISD.

[NiceJohn]

Thank you very much. You guys convinced me now. I will move to Plano area in this coming year. I know I have to sacrifice about 20K a year paycut to move to Texas. But with 2 kids, it is worth it.

[nsumner]

Originally Posted by NiceJohn

Thank you very much. You guys convinced me now. I will move to Plano area in this coming year. I know I have to sacrifice about 20K a year paycut to move to Texas. But with 2 kids, it is worth it.

Considering the COL is lower than most parts of the country, you may not feel like you're taking a 20K hit.

Come on down... It's a good place to raise kids.

Naima

[unexpected]

Originally Posted by FarNorthDallas

In my opinion Plano schools are better than Frisco and McKinney schools.

Frisco and McKinney (less so) are still relatively young. I think in 10-15 years time, they'll be equal and possibly better than Plano.

[lwnj]

I am currently in NJ and here's the 2007 SAT score comparison:

• High Technology High School (Lincroft, NJ, magnet school, ranked #7 nationally by U.S. News & World Report) - 2044
• Monta Vista HS (Sillicon Valley) - 1892
• Lynbrook HS (Sillicon Valley, ranked #73 nationally by U.S. News & World Report) - 1860
• Princeton High (Princeton Regional, NJ, ranked #94 nationally by U.S. News & World Report) - 1824
• Dr. Ronald McNair Academic HS (Jersey City, NJ, magnet school, ranked #26 nationally by U.S. News & World Report) - 1748
• Highland Park High School (Dallas, TX, ranked #33 nationally by U.S. News & World Report) - 1743
• Cupertino High School (Sillicon Valley) - 1735
• Plano Senior High School - 1715
• Westfield Sr. High (Westfield, NJ) - 1713
• U.S. national average - 1511
• Texas statewide - 1481

Top 100 High School - Gold Medal Schools - US News and World Report

Plano would easily fit into the top 25 of all NJ school districts. Consider that comparable houses in all of the above school districts easily cost 3-5 times more than those houses in Plano, (and property tax in NJ is easily twice as much as those in Plano), I'd say Plano is a very good deal for public education. : )

[compSciGuy]

It's the parents and peer groups not the teachers that make the difference. Granted, being in such an environment where most of your 'peers' are higher achieving with parents that care just sets up a better social environment. High school is really too late, one needs to worry about elementary and middle more.

[NiceJohn]

Between Plano schools, which plano areas have better schools? Thank you.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Check them on www.GreatSchools.net (http://www.GreatSchools.net - broken link), comparing schools within any state but not across states.