Dallas Travel Forum

If my husband takes a job in downtown Dallas, can we live reasonably close and send our kids to public schools? Are there safe areas close to downtown? Otherwise, are there good private schools? Would you make the longer drive for better schools in the suburbs? THANKS!!



jmadelyn

I think it all depends on your financial situation. If you want to live downtown or close to it you are going to be looking at high rent or an expensive house (for a decent neighborhood that is). The schools in the suburbs are probably better than what you will find in the Dallas School District. The drive from the suburbs to downtown is not bad, the thing that is bad is the traffic. Traffic will depend on what hours your husband will be commuting to and from work. As well from the suburbs they have express buses that go directly downtown to save money on parking if you did decide on the suburbs.

There are some nice neighborhoods close to downtown. Problem is the Dallas school district is you typical big city school district that is generally considered second rate at best. There are two options close to downtown for public schools.
1. The towns of Highland Park and University Park are within 5 miles of downtown. They are actually surrounded by the city of Dallas, but they have thier own school district ( Highland Park School District ) which is supposed to be excellent. However, this is an extremely expensive area.
2. The area calledLake Highlands in the Northeast section of the city, is affordable, has some nice, safe, charming neighborhoods, is only 8 to 10 miles from downtown, and while it is in the city if Dallas, it is in the Richardson School District, which is supposed to be good.

Other than that, you are pretty much restricted to the suburbs, especially the northern ones (Plano, Frisco, Carrollton, etc). Dallas does have traffic, but it really is not that terrible.

It may be alittle late for this reply, but... Another pretty nice neighborhood is Lakewood. It is only about 5 minutes from downtown (not going on the highway). It is an older area, but the houses are very nice. And, they have actually started building quite a few new homes. However, they are a little pricey. The same is true for the previously mentioned Highland Park and Lake Highlands areas. There are several private schools in Dallas. Among the more well known are St. Mark's, Ursuline Academy, and Hockaday. I know there are a couple private schools in the Lakewood area, but I don't know much about them. A couple other suburb areas (not previously mentioned) are the Rowlett and Rockwall areas. Although, your husband would end up driving a little further to work - anywhere from 25 - 45 minutes, depending on traffic. I hope this helps.

Lisa

You could live in Highland Park or one of the other places listed here. Downtown Dallas is not like other cities. It has almost zero living accomodations, and Dallas' ISD is really corrupt and bad.