In Spring Valley (the small pocket of homes north of I-10 zoned to Hunter's Creek Elementary) or in Meyerland in the neighborhood south of Braeswood, east of Chimney Rock, north of Bellfort zoned to Kolter, Pin Oak/Johnston, Bellaire HS?

This is the home in Spring Valley - http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cfm?mlnum=39199976. This was listed yesterday, there were 16 showings, and at least 6 bids, including mine. The house needs some updating but I wouldn't put too much into it knowing I would eventually tear it down.

The home in Bellaire is being flipped by a developer I know and would be 2700 sq ft and renovated and would be around the $500K mark, at the high end of the market for that area.

I think the Spring Valley home is the better investment but the creature comforts of the newly renovated Meyerland house have me second guessing.

Spring Valley, no doubt. Nothing to do in the Meyerland area.

Spring Valley, but you'll have to deal with Helen Brown representing you

That home on Byronwood is technically not in Spring Valley, but is in the City of Houston so you'll have HPD, HFD, and higher Houston taxes, if any of that matters to you. That said, Hunters Creek is a good school and the Brykerwoods neighborhood is a solid investment in my eyes and a good place to live.

I used to live in meyerland and my house was zoned to kolter, johnston, bellaire. I moved to SBISD to get out of those schools FWIW. We generally liked meyerland and we used to shop and eat alot in the bellaire and west u area, but I like living in the villages and SBISD alot better.

So just found out there were 8 offers and the sellers are down to the top 3 of the Bryonwood house. We are not in the top three and offered way over list. Disappointed but not surprised.

Crossbow, you think the Spring Branch schools are that much better? Or is it the demographic of the attendees that you were after?

According to this Kolter is above Hunter's Creek and a lot of other Spring Branch elementary schools. http://www.scribd.com/mobile/doc/90635932

I can strongly recommend the schools in the Meyerland/Bellaire area. We have lived there for 20 years and sent both our boys thru the school system in the area. HISD has a very bi modal distribution of quality of schools. That area has some top notch ones. Parker, Kolter, Lovett are all excellent elementary schools. Bellaire is an incredible high school. My son came out of Bellaire with 33 hours of AP credit and felt it really prepared him for A&M. He graduated with honors in Aerospace Engineering in 4 years.

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I used to live in meyerland and my house was zoned to kolter, johnston, bellaire. I moved to SBISD to get out of those schools FWIW.

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What exactly is wrong with those schools? With the Pin Oak option, that's a pretty good group IMHO.

We were cool with Kolter, it was the middle school options that we didn't like. My wife has some friends who were not happy with their kids at pin oak and we were not even condsiering Johnston. I don't know how many people I have met from West U that send their kids to West U El then put them in private school because of Pin Oak.

There is a reason that comparable houses are a more money in some parts of SBISD than they are in Meyerland. It is the schools.

Plus I wanted a bigger house and lot than I could get in Meyerland.

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I can strongly recommend the schools in the Meyerland/Bellaire area. We have lived there for 20 years and sent both our boys thru the school system in the area. HISD has a very bi modal distribution of quality of schools. That area has some top notch ones. Parker, Kolter, Lovett are all excellent elementary schools. Bellaire is an incredible high school. My son came out of Bellaire with 33 hours of AP credit and felt it really prepared him for A&M. He graduated with honors in Aerospace Engineering in 4 years.

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How do you feel about the middle schools?

that's surprising to me. I have heard great things about Pin Oak and their test scores are great.

Comparing Meyerland with all of SBISD isn't really fair. Bellaire would be a better comparison when looking at the higher end homes.

I'm talking about '50 & '60s construction typically ranch style 2,000-3,000 SF on and 8-10,000SF lot.

From what I have seen SBISD south of 10 is $100k more atleast.

FWIW, I sold my very updated 4/2 2300 SF on the corner of yarwell and runnymeade in 7/2009 one block from Kolter for a little over $400k.

That same house in SBISD zoned to an ES south of IH 10 would be at least $600K.

Chasing the ISD sucks too because property taxes are super high, but it is cheaper than private for 3 kids and you can currently write them off your taxes.

A good story is that I work with a guy that lives in Telfair and his house is appraised at 1/2 of what mine is and his property taxes are almost the same as mine.

The moral to the story is to kick the illegal aliens out and we can send our kids to good schools close to work for a reasonable price. But that might offend someone.

My point is there are several neighboring areas around meyerland that fetch quite a bit more. Schools play a big part in value but location is more important.

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I'm talking about '50 & '60s construction typically ranch style 2,000-3,000 SF on and 8-10,000SF lot.

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In Nottingham, that's a $500K house, in Wilchester its a $650K house, and in Frostwood its a $750k house.

[This message has been edited by Diggity (edited 2/8/2013 12:10a).]

No one will answer the question?

Is Pin Oak a good middle school? Anyone send their kids there? Is Johnston awesome?

I am sure Chico will come along and tell us that he can live in HISD and send his kids to school in SBISD.

The moral to the story is to kick the illegal aliens out and we can send our kids to good schools close to work for a reasonable price. But that might offend someone.

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In Nottingham, that's a $500K house, in Wilchester its a $650K house, and in Frostwood its a $750k house.

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OP, according to diggity nottingham is in your price range.

Thanks for the input, I know there will be something that comes along in my price range in SBISD but I'll need to go see it the day it's listed and compete with 20 other families for it. My realtor had us write a letter to the sellers of the Bryonwood house to get sympathy points.

Or I could sit back and choose my own design and finishes in Meyerland which seems like another hot spot where houses are flying off the market.

Sorry, I skipped reviewing middle schools because that was a grim time for both my boys. My personal opinion is that kids should be cyrogenically frozen from 6th to 8th grade. I am not sure any school can do all that much with them.

But I digress. One son attended TH Rogers on a vanguard transfer. Highly recommend if you can get them in. The other went to Johnston. Johnston, Pershing, and Pin Oak are all good options in the area.

Good luck.

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No one will answer the question?

Is Pin Oak a good middle school?

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by every reasonable measurement...yes it is. I guess if you're afraid a few Mexicans than it might not be for you, but the test scores and reputation are excellent.

[This message has been edited by Diggity (edited 2/8/2013 9:49a).]

Meyerland FTW!

Not crazy about either area because you get so little house for the money, but I'd pick Spring Valley over Meyerland 10 times out of 10. Much rather send kids to Memorial HS than Bellaire. A LOT of crappy apartments feed into Bellaire HS.

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I guess if you're afraid a few Mexicans than it might not be for you

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I grew up in Alvin and I had about 40% mexicans in my kindergartern class in '82 and my teacher was named Lopez. Where do your kids go to school? I am pretty sure is isn't Kolter/Johnston/Bellaire or Hunters Creek/Spring Branch MS/Memorial HS so GTFO realtor.




[This message has been edited by CrossBowAg99 (edited 2/9/2013 1:04a).]

Live in Braeswood Place, zoned to Twain - Pershing - Bellaire. Instead of Pershing, magneted all three daughters to Lanier for Vanguard. While all three kids are intelligent / academic, their HISD educations are / were second to none. My oldest daughter will graduate from A&M a semester early in December with a 3.9 GPA.

It always amazes me on these threads that people are so afraid of a little diversity.

Crossbow sounds like a swell guy.

OP: spring valley

[This message has been edited by BMX Bandit (edited 2/9/2013 8:44a).]

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Where do your kids go to school? I am pretty sure is isn't Kolter/Johnston/Bellaire or Hunters Creek/Spring Branch MS/Memorial HS so GTFO realtor.

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sorry I must have hit a nerve.

you still haven't explained to this ignorant realtor what is so terrible about Pin Oak.

Revival,

The schools in Meyeralnd are very good. Our son followed the Lovett/Pershing/Bellaire track and did great. Kolter and Pin Oak are excellent schools. Johnston, OK. Contrary to the opinion of some, if your kid is taken advanced classes mainly, Bellaire High is far superior to Memorial.

[This message has been edited by aggiemike (edited 2/10/2013 1:09a).]

Just want to add that HISD's magnet program allows for easy transfers to good schools in the area. Middle schools transfers a quite common. Kids in our area went to Johnston, Pershing, Pin Oak and Lanier. All very excellent schools.

I had two kids go thru Bellaire, was PTO President for 2 years and worked there for 4 years (ending in May, so experience is current). Bellaire is a very diverse school, but in no way shape or form do I see that as a detriment. Incredibly strong AP program, IB program as well. Bellaire sets kids up to go to college and succeed. It has a strong college culture. You should see college night at Bellaire, I was always so impressed walking around and seeing the huge turnout from students and universities.

"Bellaire High is far superior to Memorial"

http://childrenatrisk.org/research/school-rankings/houston/

Memorial:
Average SAT 1172
TEA rating is Recognized
Economically Disadvantaged 11.8%
Graduation Rate 86%

Bellaire:
Average SAT 1158
TEA rating is Acceptable
Economically Disadvantaged 40.2%
Graduation Rate 75%

You have a slowly shrinking core of really good students keeping Bellaire's reputation propped up while the demographics of the school are being gutted. Why do you think the average SAT at EHS and St. Thomas Episcopal climbed 100 points in a 2-3 year period?

[This message has been edited by Buck Turgidson (edited 2/10/2013 2:03p).]

So Buck, you are basing the quality of education on how many economically disadvantaged don't attend the school in question? Would my daughter's SAT score (1300 math + verbal) been higher if she had gone to Memorial?

in HISD, your kid has to be in the honors program or they're going to be at a disadvantage.

I agree Diggity - if your kid is average or below, by all means go to a school where everyone looks the same. But you can get a great education at HISD schools, and white flighting your way to Egypt to escape HISD schools is ignorant and bad advice. IMHO.

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Memorial:
Average SAT 1172
TEA rating is Recognized
Economically Disadvantaged 11.8%
Graduation Rate 86%

Bellaire:
Average SAT 1158
TEA rating is Acceptable
Economically Disadvantaged 40.2%
Graduation Rate 75%

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These numbers tell me a different story than they tell Buck. I see a school that has a 28% higher economically disadvantaged rate and yet is able to educate these students to the point that the average SAT score is only 14 lower. And all Juniors at Bellaire take the SAT, not sure about Memorial's policy, but HISD started paying for the SAT to be taken by Juniors at the school.

The basic message for the OP is that you have good options for schools in both places. I don't think there is any need to attempt to discredit Bellaire by the use of numbers.

well said

Bellaire resident here.

My kids are going/went the Horn ES/Lanier MS/Bellare HS route. Both very bright and taking vanguard/preAP/AP classes. Could not be happier with their schools.

I give the edge academically to Lanier over Pin Oak, but I would not have had a problem with my children going to Pin Oak. Pershing would be third, but certainly not a distant third. I have good friends in Bellaire, Southside Place, and West University Place and their kids go to all of these middle schools (and a few at St. John's and other private schools). All are generally happy.

Buck,

Thanks for backing my point up very well with your numbers. I said in the advanced classes. The AP program at Bellaire would blow away the AP program at Memorial. If we are talking middle of the road kids taking regular classes, you are right, it is a different story. Pay 23K or whatever for EHS, SJS, etc. The AP educaton at Bellaire is just as good if not better.

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Live in Braeswood Place, zoned to Twain - Pershing - Bellaire. Instead of Pershing, magneted all three daughters to Lanier for Vanguard. While all three kids are intelligent / academic, their HISD educations are / were second to none. My oldest daughter will graduate from A&M a semester early in December with a 3.9 GPA.

It always amazes me on these threads that people are so afraid of a little diversity.

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So you agree that the middle school that you are zoned to sucks. Most people don't like to make the largest financial decision of their lives based on "if" some beurocrat will let thier kid go into a better school.

What did you oldest daughter get her 3.9 in? Hopefully it is something that will allow her to enjoy the standard of living that you have provided her.

It took me years and many user names to understand that calling people afraid of diversity (aka racists) on this forum is not acceptable and I think it is classless and unintelligent. You will learn.

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Crossbow sounds like a swell guy.

OP: spring valley

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I am glad that you agree with me.

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So Buck, you are basing the quality of education on how many economically disadvantaged don't attend the school in question? Would my daughter's SAT score (1300 math + verbal) been higher if she had gone to Memorial?

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Does it hurt your feelings that Memorial has a higher SAT and graduation rate? Do you care about the kids that didn't graduate? What did your daughter do to help them?

It took me years and many user names to understand that calling people afraid of diversity (aka racists) on this forum is not acceptable and I think it is classless and unintelligent. You will learn.

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I agree Diggity - if your kid is average or below, by all means go to a school where everyone looks the same. But you can get a great education at HISD schools, and white flighting your way to Egypt to escape HISD schools is ignorant and bad advice. IMHO.

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It took me years and many user names to understand that calling people afraid of diversity (aka racists) on this forum is not acceptable and I think it is classless and unintelligent. You will learn.

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You have a slowly shrinking core of really good students keeping Bellaire's reputation propped up while the demographics of the school are being gutted. Why do you think the average SAT at EHS and St. Thomas Episcopal climbed 100 points in a 2-3 year period?

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I agree and it is why I left Meyerland.

Buck tells it like it is on schools and has been doing so for years on this board. He is not trying to offend anyone.

You the folks that are so happy with Bellaire I think you are just trying to prop up your property values, IMHO. It was good but it has gone down hill.

Only time will tell.