Brae Acres? (Houston, Bellaire, Bacliff: for sale, big house, transfer)

[BrokenWyngs]

My husband and I found a home we'd like to renovate in Brae Acres. It's close to where I work, and we really like the fact that it would give us a lot of space and still be in Houston.

However, I'm really concerned about its proximity to Sharpstown and the crummy schools it looks to be zoned to. We have two young kids, and I want to make sure they get a good education. Would the HISD magnet programs be a good solution?

Can we make this work, or is it an unattainable goal?

[robertrulez]

Brae Acres is a very good investment. Getting so much land in a location close to Houston is an amazing feat. There are also several high priced homes in the area including an extremely large mansion that was just built. Also the schools in the area are improving, Sharpstown High was ranked 556 in the best high schools in the country beating Lamar and more than 10k other high schools nationally. Sutton Elementary which is nearby is excellent and consistently ranked as "Recognized". If you push your kids hard when it comes to academics they will succeed. The area has a lot of potential and when the university metro line does happen you will make a VERY nice profit if you decide to sell due to the close proximity from the Hillcroft Transit Center.

[modster]

Plenty make the magnet program work, however, it is a crap shoot as to whether you will get in the schools you want. Miss out and you will need money for private.
That aside, as for the proximity to Sharpstown, I wouldn't get too worked up about it. Good areas next to bad is just part of the territory when living in Houston.

[BrokenWyngs]

Thanks y'all, I really appreciate the responses.

We'd be moving there from Bacliff, so we're used to good areas next to bad. We currently have our oldest in private school since DISD is arguably not much better than HISD. But our youngest will start kinder next year, and the thought of tuition almost doubling scares me

The only problem with private schools is that, if we do buy and renovate the house, we probably will not be able to afford them Aside from magnet or private school, are there any other options? Does HISD allow intradistrict transfers? Does Bellaire allow out of district transfers?

I really really like the house, but want to make sure my kids get a good education. I don't want to send them somewhere they can't learn because the school is too much of a zoo.

Thanks so much for all of your help!

[DJboutit]

I found a home in Brae Acres for sale that I kinda like might be the same one I can across does it have a lot next door also for sale

[BrokenWyngs]

There's a lot for sale in the area, but I think it's down the street, not next door

[DJboutit]

Oh ok

[robertrulez]

Originally Posted by BrokenWyngs

Thanks y'all, I really appreciate the responses.

We'd be moving there from Bacliff, so we're used to good areas next to bad. We currently have our oldest in private school since DISD is arguably not much better than HISD. But our youngest will start kinder next year, and the thought of tuition almost doubling scares me

The only problem with private schools is that, if we do buy and renovate the house, we probably will not be able to afford them Aside from magnet or private school, are there any other options? Does HISD allow intradistrict transfers? Does Bellaire allow out of district transfers?

I really really like the house, but want to make sure my kids get a good education. I don't want to send them somewhere they can't learn because the school is too much of a zoo.

Thanks so much for all of your help!

Houston ISD serves Bellaire, you can transfer your kids to any school in bellaire.

[BrokenWyngs]

Thanks, that is good to know. How difficult is the transfer process?

[bamba_boy]

You can't get in just being in HISA but not zoned to Bellaire as suggested. However you CAN apply for your kid as a foreign language magnet student. They will have to compete with many other students, though.

That's just a gorgeous neighborhood, though. I used to live across the FWY in Sharpstown and used to lust over those huge (2-3 acres it looks like) wooded lots and big houses. It's an absolute anomaly - acreage lots well inside the Houston city limits 15 minutes on the 59 from downtown. An option also if you don't like Sharpstown High is the very excellent Strake Jesuit and St.Agnes Parochial Schools just two or three miles north on Bellaire Blvd @ Gessner.