Is nottingham forest improving? (Spring, West: house, buy, elementary schools)

[bgrif]

Originally Posted by Meyerland

What are you currently zoned for?I can probably help compare.

You want to know what HISD school I'm zoned to? Sinclair elementary/Black middle/waltrip high. I'm assuming you have some knowledge in the schools and know that Sinclair has been slow to change due to families in timber grove and lazy brook not sending their kids to it. However, that is rapidly changing as home values have increased and people are investing into the neighborhoods more.
Black and waltrip are atrocious on paper, but are speculated to improve dramatically because of Oak Forest becoming the new West U. All the oak forest kids are zoned to black and waltrip as well.
All of this makes us wonder if we should just stay put and not make the trek out to memorial. It's just worrisome because they aren't good yet.....

[Meyerland]

Originally Posted by bgrif

You want to know what HISD school I'm zoned to? Sinclair elementary/Black middle/waltrip high. I'm assuming you have some knowledge in the schools and know that Sinclair has been slow to change due to families in timber grove and lazy brook not sending their kids to it. However, that is rapidly changing as home values have increased and people are investing into the neighborhoods more.
Black and waltrip are atrocious on paper, but are speculated to improve dramatically because of Oak Forest becoming the new West U. All the oak forest kids are zoned to black and waltrip as well.
All of this makes us wonder if we should just stay put and not make the trek out to memorial. It's just worrisome because they aren't good yet.....

I don't know too much about Sinclair, but I am fairly familiar with Black MS. I know the principal and some of the teachers. They are both on the way to being good schools, but not quite there yet. Over the next few years there should be some big changes there.

black Middle school has some excellent teachers and the vanguard program is pretty good. Lots of trainings and inservices going on right now.

I can see why you are a bit nervous and looking to move. Meadow Wood is better than Sinclair in my opinion. I am not very familiar with that middle school in SBISD, but it's at least equal to Black.

[mcmummy]

I would argue that SBISD public schools are not as cookie cutter as you think.
The schools differ in the programs they provide. One school may use for example words their way to teach spelling or use Singapore math while another may not. Meadowood has a a Writers in the Schools program that they use that is phenomenal.
Apparently there is some leeway.

The PTAs differ in what they decide to buy for the schools. They differ on staff development programs they fund, on technology, class room supplies they purchase, field trips they pay for, etc. They even supplement staff positions. One school may have to share a counselor, reading and math specialist with other schools, while another school's PTA will pay for the staff salaries so they don't have to share.

You also have a difference in outside school experiences. One school, may have a strong tradition of parents volunteering to head up parent/child groups, scout troops, volunteer experiences, bible study and prayer groups, etc. Some schools, don't have that tradition.

As far as middle school goes, Spring Forest is on a block scheduling system, while Memorial Middle uses the period system. I don't think one system is better than the other, but they are alas not cookie cutter.

But they do all take the same standardized tests and have to meet the same state standards. However, how each school chooses to go about doing this is different.

[ToyYot]

Originally Posted by Meyerland

I don't know too much about Sinclair, but I am fairly familiar with Black MS. I know the principal and some of the teachers. They are both on the way to being good schools, but not quite there yet. Over the next few years there should be some big changes there.

black Middle school has some excellent teachers and the vanguard program is pretty good. Lots of trainings and inservices going on right now.

I can see why you are a bit nervous and looking to move. Meadow Wood is better than Sinclair in my opinion. I am not very familiar with that middle school in SBISD, but it's at least equal to Black.

Most in our neighborhood send their kids to Spring Forest, if that helps.

[Meyerland]

So I called my friends who live in NF and asked about the middle school. They are all planning to send their kids there and said most people seem happy there. One is doing private, but she's the type who would never do public school.

I would rather take that hundred grand for private school and help my child buy a house or a business. To each their own, I guess.

[bgrif]

Originally Posted by Meyerland

So I called my friends who live in NF and asked about the middle school. They are all planning to send their kids there and said most people seem happy there. One is doing private, but she's the type who would never do public school.

I would rather take that hundred grand for private school and help my child buy a house or a business. To each their own, I guess.

Thank you! SO sweet of you to call your friends! That helps to make me feel better about things. I've contacted some of the moms from a moms group in NF8 and am asking around about the schools. We are also going to tour the elementary next week and see how it feels. Thanks again for your help and a big thanks for getting the scoop on things And I LOL'd about the private school lady...there's one in every bunch! We would also rather save tuition from private school to help our children get ahead of the game as young adults.

[bgrif]

Originally Posted by ToyYot

Most in our neighborhood send their kids to Spring Forest, if that helps.

That does help! Thank you

[miniguy1966]

Interested in this thread as we are trying to decide how much premium to place on Wilchester/Rummel Creek/MMS over Meadow Wood Elementary/Spring Forest Middle while looking for a home in that area. We have narrowed the decision down to homes zoned to these schools, and all advice is appreciated.

Our first child just turned one, and we hope to have a second within the next year or two, so we are considering taking the bet that MWE and SFMS demographics will improve substantially by the time they enter those schools in order to save at least $100K in house price.

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks in advance!

[donblackie]

Ever wonder why homes in rummel, Wilchester, etc are more expensive than NF8? Location is one factor....school is another.

So what's the debate here? You stated earlier that school is the number one priority. If that's the case, buy the smaller home in better zoned schools.

If that's not the case, and you are just saying that to make yourself feel better about possibly cheating your kids out of a better education to buy a bigger home....then just be honest about it. It doesn't really matter to strangers.

Are the schools zoned to NF8 good enough? Sure I guess....depends on who is asking. Are they as good as or better than Rummel or Winchester....No.

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by miniguy1966

Interested in this thread as we are trying to decide how much premium to place on Wilchester/Rummel Creek/MMS over Meadow Wood Elementary/Spring Forest Middle while looking for a home in that area. We have narrowed the decision down to homes zoned to these schools, and all advice is appreciated.

Our first child just turned one, and we hope to have a second within the next year or two, so we are considering taking the bet that MWE and SFMS demographics will improve substantially by the time they enter those schools in order to save at least $100K in house price.

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks in advance!

I WOULD NOT pay a premium in Memorial (West of Gessner)for housing thinking zoning will be unchanged in 10 years.

I predict a reshuffle coming soon with all the apartment and townhouse construction taking place between Bunker Hill and Eldridge. Memorial middle is already and full capacity, as is Wilchester. Wilchester has already been rebuilt, and I've heard of no plans for remodel or rebuild for MMS. Heck MHS is busting out of temporary buildings as well.

MWE is already good, Spring Forst could be dramatically better by the time your one year old attends.