DFW vs. Houston

[Mhanis]

I for one am a HUGE fan of the Allen football stadium but I am/have been a season ticket holder for a long time. It was voted on by the citizens and passed easily so there is no school district shenanigans going on there.

As far as the school goes, it is HUGE but it has it's pluses and minuses:

Pluses; it is HUGE and has a lot to offer. When my son graduated a couple of years ago he left high school and nearly had enough college credits to be a (college) sophomore. He took a bunch of "dual credit" classes and the like. Having just finished his third semester at Texas Tech he is an academic Junior. Being at a school that size really prepared him for the way a university operates.

Minuses; it is HUGE and I can see where it would be easy to get "lost" in the crowd. Participating in athletics is very difficult due to competition. The fine arts programs (band, symphony) are fantastic.

Believe it or not the schools are UNBELIEVEABLY diverse. Going to functions when my daughter was in elementary school I would be willing to bet that whites made up for 45%-50% of the school. There is an idea that Allen is "Lilly white" but that is not accurate at all. As a disclaimer that is an unscientific opinion, I didn't count the kids.

There is also a wakeboard waterpark here if that matters to you and a free open to the public skateboard/rollerblade park with a BMX track next to it. None of that matters to me, my son went a few times, but it is nice if you like that kind of stuff.

Mark

[IZ]

Thanks M.  I appreciate the info. You raise a good point with the college credits.  That's a big plus!   Definitely looking for diversity as well.  Glad to hear that there are other activities close by too.

[muskrat]

Be mindful of taxes.......Frisco freak out.

[swanny]

I live a litte east of Plano in Wylie, TX.   I have lived here for about 10 years now.  Fairly close to most things but also a little outside the "big city" pace of life.  Good roads for motorcycles aren't too far away and Lake Lavon is close by.  Not sure if you are looking to buy a house, but you tend to get more house for the $$$ when compared to Frisco and some of the other suburbs.

You might also look into the Lucas, TX area which is right next to Allen.  Beautiful homes, larger lots and Lovejoy ISD is one of the best in the state. Much smaller schools compared to Allen.

Feel free to send me a PM if you have any questions about the area.

Swanny

[Mhanis]

Yes, I forgot to mention the taxes, they are pretty high but we LIKE where we live and we take advantage of the things that taxes fund (library, parks, Event Center). I have even been known to make the occasional donation to the local police! 

I have always though about moving out of the City of Allen just to lower our tax burden, but darn it, we like it there.

I am not trying to sway you into Allen over some other place by any means, I don't get a commission! I am just passing along my thoughts.

I suspect that the dual credit high school/college courses will be available at just about any decent size school.

[CajunR]

+1 to pretty much all of the above.  Allen is really nice, and that high school is amazingly huge.   But yeah, the programs they offer (nursing, welding, etc, etc) are incredible.

I live in Wylie, and my wife is a teacher in Lovejoy ISD.  Nothing but good things to say about either location.   

[muskrat]

I too wanna move into the country but I did just that 9 years ago and they built the city around me.  Where to go next.....

[Mhanis]

I too wanna move into the country but I did just that 9 years ago and they built the city around me.  Where to go next.....

..................back from whence you came?

You made that too easy!

[Frisco]

..................back from whence you came?

You made that too easy!

That would be if they permitted him back .... THAT TOO was way too easy 

[muskrat]

the geriatrics must have a convention from which you both are posting.   

[IZ]

Thanks for the info. Keep it coming!   I found a few places in Whylie, Lucas and Rockwall last  night that I wouldn't mind living in for a few years.  An acre or two would be nice but in afraid what comes with that too, i.e.: anything that slithers and/or rattles.

[muskrat]

In Texas you can shoot'em. 

[CajunR]

In Texas you can shoot'em. 

^^^  This.   

[IZ]

Shoot em in AZ too.  I just don't want my son to be outside playing and discover one when I'm not around.  We could explore outside freely growing up in mid-MI and the only thing to worry about were garter snakes.

[muskrat]

I won't even get started on that one, suffice to say playing in the jungle (amazon) was much scarier and the snakes were make the beast with two backsing huge.  Let the rug rat loose.