Westchase (Houston, Spring, Briar: apartments, homes, neighborhoods)

[Josci]

I am curious about Westchase. Is this a nice area to live for a family? good schools?

Does anyone know the zip code for that area?

I may be wrong...but isn't the area kind of around Beltway 8 and Westhemier?

Any information would be great.

[EasilyAmused]

Family neighborhoods are nice around there. The apartments are not. However, the problems from the apartments DO NOT filter into the neighborhoods.

Briargrove Park is nice, it's public schools are not.

Walnut Bend, Lakeside Estates, Heathwood, Country Village and Ashford Forest are all really nice. Some of the Best HISD schools are in the area as well. Westbriar Middle and Westside HS. Walnut Bend Elem has become a magnet school, however you have a heavily diverse student population. Many from the single familiy neighborhoods prefer Askew.

77042 is Briargrove Park and Walnut Bend
77077 are the other neighborhoods.

If you can afford it (350k+), then you skip north of the bayou into Memorial and the Spring Branch schools in 77079.

Rule of thumb for West Houston,closer the bayou and Terry Hershey Park the better.

[Josci]

Thanks for the info!!! I do not know much about the areas outside the loop but I am learning slowly. hah

I like that Westchase is not toooo far from the city. I would prefer Memorial but we cannot afford much more than 250,000....maybe 260,000.

Our first pick is still Sugarland though.

[Maybe So]

I know this is really a small technicality and really does not matter too much but Westchase itself has very few single-family homes within it. The areas that are mentioned in the above post technically are not in Westchase. However they do border the Westchase District.

]Briargrove Park, Walnut Bend, the Lakesides are all very nice, family friendly neighborhoods. Many people in this area spring for private schools. The area prices allow for families to afford to send multiple children to many very good private schools. Westbriar and Westside High School have good reputations. I have been hearing some good things about Walnut Bend Elementary School lately. I should mention that if you live in one of the above mentioned neighborhoods and are interested in sending children to public schools that you have a choice...ex. for Elementary School you can go to either Walnut Bend or Askew.

[Josci]

Originally Posted by Maybe So

I know this is really a small technicality and really does not matter too much but Westchase itself has very few single-family homes within it. The areas that are mentioned in the above post technically are not in Westchase. However they do border the Westchase District.

]Briargrove Park, Walnut Bend, the Lakesides are all very nice, family friendly neighborhoods. Many people in this area spring for private schools. The area prices allow for families to afford to send multiple children to many very good private schools. Westbriar and Westside High School have good reputations. I have been hearing some good things about Walnut Bend Elementary School lately. I should mention that if you live in one of the above mentioned neighborhoods and are interested in sending children to public schools that you have a choice...ex. for Elementary School you can go to either Walnut Bend or Askew.

That is interesting....you have a choice...I have never heard of public schools allowing that. I wonder why they give you a choice?

[Maybe So]

I wonder why they give you a choice?

I don't know why but probably could come up with some guesses. This option is very important to the area though...if you are technically zoned to say...Paul Revere Middle School you can opt for WestBriar Middle School, which is a MUCH better option. No comparison really. Perhaps this is a little know secret of the area. Also, you can apply to most any school in the city and if they have space they might admit your child...even cross district. Our neighborhood is zoned to HISD but there are a few families that applied for Spring Branch schools and their kids got in so that is where they go.

[Josci]

Thanks for the info! That is really interesting and good to know since we want to have kids!

[houstoner]

Originally Posted by Josci

That is interesting....you have a choice...I have never heard of public schools allowing that. I wonder why they give you a choice?

Perhaps because they realized if there weren't school choice there would be NO families left in the city. They'd all hightail it to the suburbs and HISD would become even more undesirable than it already is.

[Maybe So]

HISD would become even more undesirable than it already is.

I don't think it is fair to catagorize all of HISD schools as being bad. That is just not the case. There are many very good schools within that district. However, I do agree with your comment about parents needing the choice to send their kids to a more "desirable" school if possible.

[houstoner]

Originally Posted by Maybe So

I don't think it is fair to catagorize all of HISD schools as being bad. That is just not the case. There are many very good schools within that district.

Yes, I know. I have argued the same frequently here and I have a child in one. That doesn't change the fact that HISD as a whole is considered undesirable by most. My point was that if it weren't for school choice, HISD would be worse than it already is because there would be even fewer good schools to choose from.