What ISD's/Towns on the edges of DFW provide smaller enrollment/growth trends while still being good education, extracurriculars, AP/dual credit opportunities? Let's call it 50ish mile radius max from Far North Dallas (where i work a hybrid schedule) and 2A-4A districts only.


This a hypothetical scenario for now but something I am evaluating over the next 2-3 years as my kids start progressing through school system. Currently in Prosper (the town and ISD). It's been good for us, but I don't want my kids in a district this big by the time they are in middle/high school and they are adding 3k kids a year to the ISD. Open to good private schools or being out of district transfer as well (I've considered Prestonwood Christian Academy as its near me but the cost is outrageous). Home schooling not on the table right now.

Ideally, I am living in this ISD boundary and the town has a similar small town feel and will grow much slower than the mess that is Collin County north of 380.

Probably the 2 best schools right now in the area that fit your criteria would be Gunter and Brock. Also, you could look at school districts like Ponder, Krum, Pilot Point, Aubrey, Paradise, Boyd and maybe Decatur. Those all are smaller schools, but I know less about their academics and extra curriculars.

Gunter is definitely on the short list given we are in the area, but the real estate there is just insane. We've also considered that if things get too bad we could do out of district transfer to Gunter from Prosper. Currently Gunter allows transfers which is good.

Gunter's 10 year projections still seem to be on the smaller side so it fits with what i am looking for.

Glad to hear the recommendations so far. I have put quite a bit at Gunter, Decatur, Pilot Point to this point but will certainly look at all those listed

Gunter seems to fit best honestly. Decatur if you are willing to go pretty far West. Not 4a, but Lovejoy would be an East option for you if 5a is okay.

As already mentioned, Gunter is the answer. Lovejoy is small population wise, but it's not a small town. It's just wealthy east Allen.

I'd vote Lovejoy because it is a fantastic district, you get the benefits of being essentially in a a nice suburb with amenities, and the district growth is limited due to septic/sewage requirements.

He said 2A-4A only, so Lovejoy is way out. And since you said far north, I'll leave out the really good ISDs down south.

Gunter really does check all your boxes. Although it won't be rural 10 years form now.

Pilot Point is another good choice.

what are the good ISD down south? I just don't know those towns and ISD's well enough to say its even worth considering. seems like more bang for your buck south than Gunter.

Sunnyvale is east/southeast 4A high school that I believe is pretty well thought of. I know quite a few folks who have moved there from central Dallas, but probably not convenient to get north from there until (if?) 635 construction is finished.

I understand Gunter's city politics are or have been messy. Also heard that long ago they refused to enter water service agreement with either NTMWD or UTRWD and that if the population grows they could have water supply issues. Not sure if true but I would check into it.

The new TI plant going into Sherman is going to bring a lot of growth to the Preston / 82 area.

I think Whitesboro might be good to look at. And they just got a Tender bbq.

FightinTAC08 said:

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what are the good ISD down south? I just don't know those towns and ISD's well enough to say its even worth considering. seems like more bang for your buck south than Gunter.

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They are too big for your criteria. Waxahachie, Ennis and Corsicana are all really good schools.

Waxahachie has a 6A & 4A HS
Corsicana & Ennis are both 5A

I'm not sure any of the three are considered "good"

I grew up in Gunter, graduated high school there and even moved back when my kids were first born thinking I would raise my kids there. On paper it looks great but it is not the Gunter it once was and I doubt will ever be again. Gunter used to be a great small school district with great sports, academics and leadership. Everybody knew everybody and took care of each other. However, the leadership turnover has taken a toll at both the city and district level. Sports is king and they can't retain a good teacher to save their life no matter what numbers they spout about graduation rates, college attendance rates, scholarship dollars, etc. Some people you talk to say the place changed after they became "Title Town" but the fact is it started changing long before but people overlook the other issues because they win titles and make deep playoff runs in every sports and they're just trying to get little Johnny seen by college coaches.

Don't even get me started on the city issues…Google Gunter water, Gunter BNSF, Gunter batch plants, Gunter roads, or join one of the local groups to really see the mess. Their mayor is new and clueless with no background in civil service except maybe a month on some MUD committee (don't quote me but it was something silly like that). The superintendent is on his way out (Ag by the way with ties to B/CS) but was less than stellar and didn't do much. The legendary football head coach is also on the way out if that matters to you…

All that said, if you can afford it (most people can't but this is TexAgs and we are all rich right? Haha) and can deal with drama/politics play on around you at the district and city level then go for it. If I moved back there again, I would enroll my kids in Whitesboro, Pottsboro, or even Bells. Maybe Howe but it is on the same timeline as Gunter in terms of growth. We had so many friends move out after only 1-3 years and go to neighboring schools. It is just good but not great by any means.

And before anyone says "old man yells at clouds" I'm only 32 and pretty plugged into what's going on despite not living there anymore.

Hope this helps.

TLDR: do your research

I am in Peaster so not in your range. But we've had good interactions with Pilot Point & Ponder over the years in our football district. Pilot Point seems like an ok place - they also have the lake if that's your sort of thing.

thanks for the details. I've read some of this stuff, most recently the BNSF mess.

definitely won't be making any changes without plenty of information.

Kellso said:

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FightinTAC08 said:

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thanks for the details. I've read some of this stuff, most recently the BNSF mess.

definitely won't be making any changes without plenty of information.

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At this point I would just plan on moving to Oklahoma.

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As the Houston board says, try El Paso

Kellso said:

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FightinTAC08 said:

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thanks for the details. I've read some of this stuff, most recently the BNSF mess.

definitely won't be making any changes without plenty of information.

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At this point I would just plan on moving to Oklahoma.

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There's a little truth in there somewhere. I lived in Sherman before moving back to Gunter and that place is also booming. A lot of blue collar type work moving in. New developments out the wazoo. I was out there at the end of March and before that in December and wow! A lot of stuff and construction going on.

Blue Ridge could be another option.

Yep. Or Celeste.

GT_Aggie2015 said:

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I grew up in Gunter, graduated high school there and even moved back when my kids were first born thinking I would raise my kids there. On paper it looks great but it is not the Gunter it once was and I doubt will ever be again. Gunter used to be a great small school district with great sports, academics and leadership. Everybody knew everybody and took care of each other. However, the leadership turnover has taken a toll at both the city and district level. Sports is king and they can't retain a good teacher to save their life no matter what numbers they spout about graduation rates, college attendance rates, scholarship dollars, etc. Some people you talk to say the place changed after they became "Title Town" but the fact is it started changing long before but people overlook the other issues because they win titles and make deep playoff runs in every sports and they're just trying to get little Johnny seen by college coaches.

Don't even get me started on the city issues…Google Gunter water, Gunter BNSF, Gunter batch plants, Gunter roads, or join one of the local groups to really see the mess. Their mayor is new and clueless with no background in civil service except maybe a month on some MUD committee (don't quote me but it was something silly like that). The superintendent is on his way out (Ag by the way with ties to B/CS) but was less than stellar and didn't do much. The legendary football head coach is also on the way out if that matters to you…

All that said, if you can afford it (most people can't but this is TexAgs and we are all rich right? Haha) and can deal with drama/politics play on around you at the district and city level then go for it. If I moved back there again, I would enroll my kids in Whitesboro, Pottsboro, or even Bells. Maybe Howe but it is on the same timeline as Gunter in terms of growth. We had so many friends move out after only 1-3 years and go to neighboring schools. It is just good but not great by any means.

And before anyone says "old man yells at clouds" I'm only 32 and pretty plugged into what's going on despite not living there anymore.

Hope this helps.

TLDR: do your research

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OG prosper person here. Played Gunter in district sports growing up. Many old prosper folks moved north to Gunter or Weston or whitesboro or pilot point/tioga long ago.

Gunter ain't prepared for this growth. Nor is Celina.

Before your time but there was that one family that produced 3-4 badass athletes in Gunter back in the late 90s early 00s… their name is fleeing me however. Started with a P.

Agree, neither Gunter nor Celina are ready but Celina is light years ahead compared to Gunter.

The name you're probably looking for is Pecina. You also had Joe Westman right before most of the Pecina clan. They're all legends around there. They're the former players the kids my age looked up to growing up. Those were the days.

Fun fact Sean Terry, former (maybe still is?) Celina mayor, is a Gunter grad and former Aggie punter.

May want to look up his land development company (Centurion?) and check his ties to some of the Gunter **** show.

Pecina. "Puh-seen-uh". That was what I was saying but I couldn't spell it.

That's the one.

I drive by that old metal shack of a high school often. "Title town". Everything got easier once we all got out from underneath Celina's shadow us beating Celina my senior year of high school for the first time in I think 30 years was magnificent.

Also, on the football coach front. lol. As soon as I saw he was stepping down I said "he either touched a kid, cheated on his wife, or has an alcohol problem, pick one". Welp, I was right.

I'll say this on coach, I wouldn't be who I am today without him. He truly knows how to motivate and he teaches you to be tough, how to be part of a team, and work hard. TPW - tough people win. That said, I don't think many people were surprised, myself included. He was always that playa playa type and when he announced he was getting married a lot of people were like WTF. He was on top (no pun intended), had everything going for him, beautiful family, and he messed it up for 15 seconds of fun.

It's unfortunate for the family but the school did the right thing in asking him to resign (or be fired). You cannot be in that position and be a "molder of men" having done what you did regardless of whether or not it was on your own time or not. Anyone who tries to defend him is a bafoon and blinded by the rings.

What's even more unfortunate is the crazy social media rumors from people who know absolutely nothing including other football coaches in and out of Gunter's district.

But alas, this is just a drop in the bucket as far as Gunter issues go. I hate it's become what it is because I did think for a long time my kids would go there but it is what it is.

PS I'm hearing the new football coach will either be an internal guy (likely Gill, dad was a longtime HFC for Whitesboro and Aggie wife who played volleyball) or rehire of Castorena. Talk about another clan, the Castorenas are the more modern Pecinas.

ChoppinDs40 said:

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Also, on the football coach front. lol. As soon as I saw he was stepping down I said "he either touched a kid, cheated on his wife, or has an alcohol problem, pick one". Welp, I was right.

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I would have thought only one of those gets a coach with his record canned. The other two can be forgiven...

The Collective said:

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ChoppinDs40 said:

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Also, on the football coach front. lol. As soon as I saw he was stepping down I said "he either touched a kid, cheated on his wife, or has an alcohol problem, pick one". Welp, I was right.

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I would have thought only one of those gets a coach with his record canned. The other two can be forgiven...

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I'm of the belief that in that position (father figure to some, molder of men, setting the example, leader, etc) probably not a good look to keep him around. Some things are more important in life than sports…like perhaps not committing adultery. No one is perfect and free of sin but in that position you're held to a higher standard. My two cents but sad situation for all involved and the collateral damage is greater and deeper than the keyboard warriors see or think it is or better yet they don't think. They just see their biggest rival lose their coach and celebrate the situation. Social media is just disgusting these days.

Have a coworker that commutes to Grand Prairie from Muenster

NormanEH said:

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Have a coworker that commutes to Grand Prairie from Muenster

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Sean Terry. Former mayor of Celina. Aka
Punter from Gunter.
He and his wife have kids at A&M now. See them at the Celina Star Cafe occasionally.

I grew up between Aubrey and Pilot Point and graduated from Aubrey high in 2016. Back then, it was a good place to grow up. It still had that small town feel but you were still only 45min form Dallas if traffic wasn't bad. Last time I drove though there, It was almost unrecognizable because things had changed so much.

When I was in school, Aubrey always had the reputation of being better academically then Pilot Point. Pilot Point also had a bigger drug problem at the time. Like we used to say, "if she's from Pilot Point, she knows how to roll a joint". Once they opened up the section 8 housing next to the high school, I noticed things got a lot rougher at school. No school is going to be perfect but I would look more North than Aubrey and Pilot Point.

My parents now live around Forestburg and that is a really nice part of the area. I now live South of Amarillo but if I lived around the metroplex and could swing living up around Muenster, St. Joe, and Forestburg I would.

You should also look into Callisburg ISD between Gainesville and Whitesboro. I've heard that that's a good ISD.

That place has good breakfast! A little pricey but that was our go to.

All those places you listed are really good. Forgot about Callisburg but that's a good ISD too.

Tioga was the Pilot Point equivalent growing up. Full of the trouble kids and druggies who got bussed to Gunter before Tioga got a high school again. That whole 377 corridor down to 380 is just nuts. Collinsville is still good too.