My wife and I have three kids and we've been in the market the past few months looking for a new house. We've been focusing on houses in school districts that feed up to Colleyville Heritage because of good reports on the schools in that district. We also like the area because it's relatively close to her parents and mine in Irving, along with being close to where I work in Las Colinas.

The bad news is that we're having issues finding houses that fit our parameters in our price range.

I've noticed that houses in Keller are about 25% less on a per square foot basis. The location obviously isn't as convenient, but are there any other drawbacks to the area that I should know about?

Jeff,

Both areas are good and have good schools. We have friends in Keller ISD who are pretty happy, but I think overall GCISD is hard to beat. Depending on what parameters you are looking for, don't rule out GHS. There are lots of reasonably priced houses that feed into GHS. My daughter went to GHS for two years and we were very pleased. She will be at CHHS this year, but that has nothing to do with any issues at GHS (long story, but it is about friendships, etc).

If any of your kids are elementary aged, a real gem in GCISD is Bransford elementary. Smaller enrollment numbers = good student/teacher ratios, and the administration and teachers there are EXCELLENT.

Some neighborhoods to consider would be Mill Creek, Saddlebrook, Briarwood, Mill Creek Haven (all in the 200s-400s).

Jeff,

Try Silverlake. We have a great elementary in the neighborhood and it feeds to CHHS not to mention you're only a few minutes from the Lake and downtown.

Good Luck.

GC is a lot better than Keller. The politics in Keller ISD are ridiculous. The only decent school in Keller is the original Keller High. The rest suck.

I know a great Realtor for that whole are you need one?

I live in Keller and I agree with what Southpark said above. If you can't find anything in GCISD, make sure you are in KHS attendance zone for KISD and I would stay as far east in Keller as possible to avoid possible future redrawing of boundry lines.

We don't have kids yet but I can second Cool Hand that Silver Lake is great. We have lived there for 4 years and hear very good things about the schools that it feeds into.

Jeff -
Don't forget that far north Euless is also in CHHS zone.
I think north of Mid Cities Blvd is the divider.

Very true, Cooter. There's actually a house in Hurst that just came on the market that we may take a look at this week.

I'm in the section of Hurst on the border of colleyville that feeds into GCISD, so you are likely looking in my neighborhood. Hope you find what you are looking for...we love GCISD

My sister (Class of '88) and her family live in Hurst and her son attends Grapevine HS. It's an excellent school. Also, my mom taught in the Grapevine ISD for many years before retiring. My sister and I went to Richland, which is in the Birdville ISD. Not sure if it is still good, but it's newly remodeled. Birdville HS might also be a choice.

It has been a while, but Silverlake elementary wasn't as good as it started out at 10 years ago. I was also not impressed with GMS.

It is funny to see how many of your neighbors are on Texags. I also live on the GCISD border in Hurst but on the BISD side.

Pro Ag,

I believe you are correct. Apparently the demographics have changed since then and the Principal for the past 5 years has been amazing. She just got promoted to GMS but the reminder of her staff is intact.

Heh...Lumberjack you probably live within 1/2 mile of me. Small world.

Good to hear about Silverlake and GMS. I like lots of the neighborhoods that feed in and CHHS has been good for years.

And to the OP, not sure what price range or how big of a place you need but the Southern part of Flower Mound also has great schools.

My daughter is 4 this weekend. Where are you all getting info on school districts? I am going to need to move to FM soon for her sake, and need to know how to figure it all out.

I used greatschools.com for comparing individual schools and districts and just talking to people I know.

We ended up picking a house in Grapevine that feeds up through Grapevine Elementary to CHHS.

I never could get excited about any of the houses that I saw in Flower Mound. The value wasn't much better than what I was looking at in Grapevine and the commute was less convenient.