School District Preferences in Dallas?

When we moved to Dallas 5 years ago, we were told that if we were going to have kids to stay out of the DISD (Dallas Independent School District). The schools were lousy and you wouldn't get the education your kids need. We lived in Allen, about 20 minutes north of Dallas, and the high school is amazing. McKinney also has great high schools, and I have a friend that teaches elementary school in Frisco and loves it. I know someone else who taught elementary school in Lewisville and hated it. Allen, McKinney, Frisco are all towns for families, but do have great restaurants and shops. Uptown maybe more of what she is looking for in nightlife. If I were your niece, I would look to live in Dallas, and commute to Allen, McKinney or Plano (all with good High Schools). She would be going opposite of traffic so the commute shouldn't be too bad.

What is bringing her to Dallas? I would suggest to stay out of Dallas ISD. The schools are horrid. There might be one or 2 not in trouble. A LOT of children who live in Dallas go to the private schools.

If she got a job in Highland Park that is another story. Highland Park is the VERY nice area and very expensive. IF the Plano schools were not as good as they are, our daughter would be in either Highland Park or private schooled.

The best school districts are outside of Dallas. We are in Plano for a reason.... schools. I am biased so please have her check all the sites to get a good feel for all the districts. www.greatschools.com The Allen and Frisco schools are good. The ONLY thing I don't care for about Allen is the size of the high school, it is just too big. Plus they (we since my physical address is Allen and I am Plano school district) are paying off the $60 Million stadium they just completed and started using this year. Hoewever their curriculum and overall schools are good. I don't know much about McKinney schools. I've heard good things about Coppell, Keller and Southlake.

Just make sure she does a LOT of research.

Does she have to be working 100% of the time from day 1? If not, she soulc substitute at a lot of schools and get a feel for how things are run before she makes a committment.

I substitute at the same elementary in Plano where my daughter attended 10+ years now. My daughter is a Senior at Plano West (in the top 1% of high schools in America per newsweek..) GREAT school.

She could easily live in uptown, experience the Katy Trail, White Rock Lake area, Arboretum, etc and commute. The single teachers I work with do live in the uptown area and love it.

There is a lot to do here and we've loved it from day 1 in 1989. Great restaurants, events, etc.

I hope your neice loves it here as well!

I agree with the others, stay away from Dallas ISD. Allen McKinny and Plano would be schools to look into if she wants to live in Dallas. If she would be happy in the burbs...Keller and Southlake may be worth looking into. But stay away from DISD.

I'm just chiming in with the others. I teach in the area, and my children go to school in Mansfield. I don't teach in Mansfield, but it's an excellent district. I would stay out of DISD if at all possible.

Good luck to your niece!

I can certainly agree with what the other four ladies have said, Dallas Independent School District has a pretty bad reputation right now. That being said, if your niece feels led to use her gifts and talents to help students that don't have as much of a chance then I think she should still apply. Every student in America deserves to be taught by good teachers. Some are called to more needy areas, some are not. I spent my first year of teaching in a very low income school in Kissimmee, FL just outside of Orlando. It was the most exhausting but humbling experience I have ever had. I wish her the best experience possible whether she decides on the most desirable area of DFW or the ones that are literally considered the throwaways.