Where to live near Downtown ? Memorial, River Oaks, West university, Galleria or Midtown ?

[nynaeva]

Hello

Thanks a lot for your answers, it s a lot of help
Sorry for my pretty stranges references like NY or SF, but I grew up in Europe ( we are european expats ) and only lived in big-east-coast city in the USA, I don t know a lot about living in the other part of the USA, I don t even have my driver licence, that s why I was looking for a walking-friendly area near downtown
But after reading all your advises, I m very excited to move here, and I think I will definitively need to learn how to drive a car here in Texas I think I will be the oldest girl around to pass the driver licence

We are looking for a 2 bedroom rental in a condo ( or small house ) something for a small family of 2 adults and a kid, we have around 1500 dollars budget
I looked at Rice university area which is really great but much too expensive with mainly big houses
I looked at memorial school but the public school even the exemplary ones have a lot of hispanic kids ( like 70% to 80% ), nothing xenophobic but I was wondering if it will easy to fit in for my daughter who dont even speak english as main language ( we speak another european language from our birth country at home )
The river oaks area is also full of big and expensive mansions
Midtown and upper kirby don t seems to have great public school, there are some private school, but aren t they difficult to get in ? I mean if I m not a member of the church nor having another child already in the school ... ( I m thinking of st John s school )
Tanglewood seems to have great school and some great condo community ( I m thinking of briargrove public school )


Also, how difficult it is to get into some great private school in the area ? Do I need to wait 2 years? Do some community/religious service ? Sorry but we don t know a lot about Us educationnal system so help is welcome
Please correct me if I m wrong, all advice are welcome

Thanks a lot

[testmo]

with that budget take a handle on any pretensions and get an apartment/rent a smaller condo in the city or move to the burbs.

[modster]

The very highest demand, most expensive private schools probably have waiting lists, but there are a number of good options with private schools.

Learning to drive should be a priority if you are moving to Houston. It is a very sprawling city and a car is pretty much a necessity.

Popular public schools + inner loop or Galleria area location = big bucks. There are some affordable closer in areas with good elementary schools, but not much after that, so if you are renting that might work for awhile. The main reason most people endure hour long commutes each way to the suburbs is to get schools they are happier with. So that is always an option as well.

You are correct, River Oaks itself is a very exclusive neighborhood, although you might be able to rent a condo in the immediate area. River Oaks Gardens on Shepherd for example. The Rice Village area is expensive for rentals as well as homes.

[houstmom]

OP said: I looked at memorial school but the public school even the exemplary ones have a lot of hispanic kids ( like 70% to 80% ), nothing xenophobic but I was wond"

I wonder if you are looking at the wrong school. There is an elementary school in HISD called Memorial Elementary near Memorial Park. The demographics of the school are mainly Hispanic and lower income (though the school is surrounded by Million Dollar homes). This school is not in the Memorial area.

Look at schools like Frostwood and Bunker Hill Elem. in the Spring Branch school district. These are really great schools.

We are zoned to Memorial Elementary but I send my son to a private Montessori school. It is not hard to get into (meaning you don't need connections). Tuition is about $7K per year for Kindergarten.

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by houstmom

OP said: I looked at memorial school but the public school even the exemplary ones have a lot of hispanic kids ( like 70% to 80% ), nothing xenophobic but I was wond"

I wonder if you are looking at the wrong school. There is an elementary school in HISD called Memorial Elementary near Memorial Park. The demographics of the school are mainly Hispanic and lower income (though the school is surrounded by Million Dollar homes). This school is not in the Memorial area.

Look at schools like Frostwood and Bunker Hill Elem. in the Spring Branch school district. These are really great schools.

We are zoned to Memorial Elementary but I send my son to a private Montessori school. It is not hard to get into (meaning you don't need connections). Tuition is about $7K per year for Kindergarten.

There are schools in northern SBISD that have high levels.

"Memorial Schools" within SBISD have a complete flip-flop in demographics. Memorial is an area/neighborhood, not a school district.

Private schools can run 7-21,000. As the price level increases, so does the ability to get in easily.

But for all the "desirable areas" I think your looking at older/small townhouses or apartments in your price range.

[nynaeva]

Hello

Thanks a lot for your answers, yes we are looking for some small apartment/older condo, maybe a small house but nothing fancy since I m learning to drive we want to live near downtown, in case I finally need to take the public transportation

I will look again at memorial s school... and is briargrove school in galleria/tanglewood good, we found a rather cheap apartment in an older condo nearby ?

[EasilyAmused]

Yes, Briargrove is a great school. Safe, clean and new.

[jasltx]

Within your budget, you could probably rent a decent townhouse/condo in the area around Memorial and the Beltway in complexes such as Georgetown or The Pines. The schools there are great and, although it is nothing like SF or NY, City Centre is right there with its many amenities. Since a combination of schools and amenities are important to you, I'd suggest you look at places like First Colony in Sugar Land, Cinco Ranch in Katy, or The Woodlands if you have your heart set on a house under $1500.

[Randy2931]

Originally Posted by nynaeva

Hello

Thanks a lot for your answers, yes we are looking for some small apartment/older condo, maybe a small house but nothing fancy since I m learning to drive we want to live near downtown, in case I finally need to take the public transportation

I will look again at memorial s school... and is briargrove school in galleria/tanglewood good, we found a rather cheap apartment in an older condo nearby ?

Look at Frostwood and Bunker Hill. There are some apartments that might be in your range in those areas. Wilchester and Rummel Creek are good, little further out.

Briargrove is a good option also.