Looking for a great High School in South East Houston Area (Pasadena: appointed, apartment)

[Ang3l3y3s]

I moved to the area about 9 months ago. We are coming close to the end of the lease at out current apartment and are looking to move. I am working full time in the Pasadena area, but our top priority is moving someplace that has a great school for my 15 year old to attend. If anyone has some insight in a school that will challenge him, I would appreciate it.

[Schumacher713]

Greatschools.com

Don't expect a miracle though. I am not even sure if there is a good HS in SE Houston.

[texas7]

Well if you work in Pasadena, you could move into Clear Lake and send your kid to Clear Lake H.S., very highly rated and still an easy commute for you.

[ilikeme]

You might want to think about the Pearland or Clear Lake areas then

[jerbear30]

Here is the ranking for Pasadena Memorial High School from Schooldigger.com. Schooldigger is a very good resource and errs on the side of caution:

Pasadena Memorial High School in Pasadena TX - SchoolDigger.com

This looks like a very good school. Otherwise, I'd recommend living in Pearland and looking into Glenda Dawson High School.

[Oildog]

Clear Lake.

In all reality, it may be more about how much your kid applies themselves. You can lead a horse to water...

[katydogs1]

Originally Posted by Oildog

Clear Lake.

In all reality, it may be more about how much your kid applies themselves. You can lead a horse to water...

Spot on comment. Getting a good education is probably 95% on the student and parent and 5% on the school.

[texas7]

Clear Lake H.S. is going to be the best h.s. in this area academically. Has a strong engineering/math/science focus. Consistently rated one of the tops in the states. So if you have a smart kid who applies himself and the advantage of a school that challenges - its a win-win.

It's going to beat Pearland/Deer Park/Pasadena Memorial/other clear creek ISD schools as well.

If your kid has had the basics instilled in him during his elementary years, he will excel anywhere. My kids went to a good elementary and a not so good middle and h.s. and excelled. When he went to a community college, they were stunned at where he had gone to h.s. because his education seemed broader -- I believe it was what he picked up in his younger years.

[Ang3l3y3s]

I appreciate all the comments, they give me a place to start looking. My son is smart and does apply himself, he just found that Clear Creek High School where he attended last year didn't seem to give him any information that he hadn't already learned in Oregon where we are from. I plan on doing my homework before we move and switch him to a new school. We are even looking at possibly private schools.

Thank you again for all the input and options.

[fnh]

Ang3l3y3s, your experience is not unusual. I have had this conversation with a number of people who moved here from elsewhere and bought into pricey areas for the 'best' schools, only to be disappointed at what qualifies as 'best' here. I also know others with the opposite experience, who moved away from the 'best' schools here only to find the kids are behind when they land at schools in other states.

Schools in Houston are unfortunately judged first and foremost (essentially solely) on demographics, not at all on academic rigor or offerings. I do think the HISD selective magnets are an exception.