Priorities are Medical Center and High School for 1 Year. (Spring: home, neighborhood)

[Rycy]

Originally Posted by Htown2013

That is perfect price range for a nice rental in Sugar Land. Sugar Land IMHO has the best commute to the med center than any suburb. Schools are great, and there is a large Whole Foods nearby. When do you need to move into property?

Out of curiosity: Which route do you take? It seems like anything other than 90 would be terrible to get to the med center.

[Schumacher713]

Originally Posted by Htown2013

Sugar Land is as fast as Pearland during rush hour. Sugar Land high schools have good STEM programs. I would not call Sugar Land a downgrade from Meyerland when raising family is involved. Meyerland is closer in and would be a better commute than Pearland or Sugar Land, although closer in rental prices are through the roof.

That is impossible. You must come up 59 to 610 west which always backs up. Then either take 59 to main or take 610 south and come up Fannin or something. From Pearland you come up 288 and exit off 288.

[Htown2013]

Originally Posted by Schumacher713

That is impossible. You must come up 59 to 610 west which always backs up. Then either take 59 to main or take 610 south and come up Fannin or something. From Pearland you come up 288 and exit off 288.

Highway 90 from Telfair.

[KatieKennedy]

As imback says, private high schools are a very tough admission in Houston. Unless you get in prior to 9th grade, there are few to no openings in the most selective private high schools. You might be able to get your son into Episcopal High School, which is located near the medical center/West U/Bellaire. The tuition at these private high schools is between 20 and 30K per year by the time you add in all the fees, books, uniforms, sports, etc It is unlikely a private school will admit your child if you only plan to attend for one year. They want your $$$ for the long term and usually prefer families with multiple kids attending (more $$$).

Lamar and Bellaire HS will be your best options. If someone in your family is working in the medical center with long hours, that person will not want a long commute or to have to deal with the horrendous traffic to get in/out of the suburbs. Get a good real estate agent that specializes in Bellaire and West U such as at Greenwood King.

[Htown2013]

Originally Posted by KatieKennedy

As imback says, private high schools are a very tough admission in Houston. Unless you get in prior to 9th grade, there are few to no openings in the most selective private high schools. You might be able to get your son into Episcopal High School, which is located near the medical center/West U/Bellaire. The tuition at these private high schools is between 20 and 30K per year by the time you add in all the fees, books, uniforms, sports, etc It is unlikely a private school will admit your child if you only plan to attend for one year. They want your $$$ for the long term and usually prefer families with multiple kids attending (more $$$).

Lamar and Bellaire HS will be your best options. If someone in your family is working in the medical center with long hours, that person will not want a long commute or to have to deal with the horrendous traffic to get in/out of the suburbs. Get a good real estate agent that specializes in Bellaire and West U such as at Greenwood King.

Agree with Bellaire and West U, but can you rent single family house with yard for OPs price in those areas? I recall 2 BR inner loop complex based apartments being in OPs price range, not single family homes. OP can find a very nice SF in Sugar Land for that price range.

[Jonathz]

If you are considering Sugar Land, you can look at Riverstone, it is zoned to Elkin HIgh School and has a nice Engineering Academy program. You can go to Medical Center via Fort Bend Toll Way or 90

[movetohouton]

What about Clements ?

[alovely1]

Thanks everyone for sharing your various perspectives! There are several areas across the country we're considering with Houston being one of them. I appreciate your knowledge about the drive parameters and the private school heads up. From your replies I see a clear corridor that will meet our needs. We are able to live comfortably in Bellaire/West U but not ruling out Sugarland. It's hard to give a specific budget when different areas have different costs of living, so I gave a general amount. I'll have to take that into account as I research each area. The day to day information local people give is worth it's weight in gold. Thanks again, best wishes!

[Bike4Life]

If you are coming for this Fall 2014, it's way too late to get the best options for high school. But it's doable in the aforementioned schools where you can instantly get into the regular program. If anyone is telling you about magnet or vanguard schools, the deadline for those has already passed and even if that would be for next year, there is no guarantee to get in.

[Rycy]

Originally Posted by Htown2013

Highway 90 from Telfair.

How long does it take to get to highway 90 from Telfair though? I don't doubt highway 90 into the med center is fairly quick. But I have multiple friends who live in Sienna (and have driven it myself in peak rush hour) and it takes longer to get to the entrance Sienna than it takes to get to the entrance of Shadow Creek/Southern Trails/Silverlake during rush hour. It's hard to imagine Telfair would be quicker.