How Do the Schools Compare?

We have lived in McKinney for a long time now (about 7 years) and my son has gone to McKinney schools for 3 years. The schools are great and the teachers we have encountered really care and do whatever possible to help. This year because of the teacher and me working with the teacher, my son's grade went up in writing and his test scores for math improved. We so far have really liked MISD.

I have two kids under 4, so I'm not there yet, but we are interested in McKinney and Prosper, too. Please tell, what are the "strange things" you've heard about McKinney?

I am a special ed teacher in McKinney but live in Prosper. I worked in Plano for years and can tell you that I enjoy working in McKinney so much more. The district puts the kids' needs first and spends a lot of money to support the students - special ed or not. This fall, the PPCD program will be moving to a self-contained building where all services will be centralized. This will be a big move for McKinney and a very good one, I think.
We live in Prosper because we could get a bigger yard, newer/bigger house and the community is great. Our neighbors love the schools. (One of our neighbors went to work at the school her kids go to because she was spending so much time volunteering there anyway!) Our son isn't school age yet but I'll have to decide whether to take him with me to McKinney or leave him at school in Prosper. It would be a really hard choice. Both districts have a lot going for them.
Good luck!

I have a friend that moved to McKinney and she ended up putting her son into a private school because she did not feel the MISD was up to par especially in the PPCD department. I only know 1 family that lives in proper and they love it. My oldest son has played against them several times in baseball and every time we go out there my husband and I end up talking about moving out there on the way home. I don't know if you have seen this movie but it's like Pleasantville out there LOL. You should come one Saturday afternoon to the baseball field and just check out how the town runs.. It's a really neat thing to see people still living like that. It just feels so safe there.

Good luck!

I've heard fabulous things about Prosper. Not as much about McKinney.

Having said that I would make a list of your questions, especially concerning the PPCD program and interview the schools. And, yes...there are programs in McKinney for children with delay.

I had to change my son's school this year in Plano and I interviewed the special ed coordinators as well as the counselors. Then I visited the schools that I liked before making a decision.

Good luck!

When we moved here 4 1/2 years ago from NJ we chose McKinney because of its small town feel and the schools were well rated. I'm not sure what "strange" things you have heard because I have two daughters in the school system and they are both doing great! They definitely have focused classes for kids with learning issues. And on the flip side they also offer higher level learning for students who excel . . . so essentially they make sure that kids of all learning abilities have an outlet. The bussing thing isn't exactly accurate. There are sending districts (a map is posted on the McKinney ISD website) but if you move into a neighborhood mid year and if the grade level at your local school is full to capacity they will put you in another school, which is good from an overcrowding standpoint because there's nothing good about a high student:teacher ratio.

A great resource to learn about the schools is www.greatschools.net. I found out a lot about McKinney's schools from this site. Some schools withing the city are better than others, so it helped me narrow down what neighborhoods we looked in.

Gathering information about certain schools should be done by your Realtor. Have you picked one yet? If not I would be happy to help coordinate your school and home search. I personally have lived in Frisco for over 11 years now and have watched the surrounding areas grow. My hubby and I are considering a move to Prosper as well before our daughter starts school. Many clients/friends have moved to Prosper to slow down the pace and get more yard. Our brokerage works hard to go above and beyond the expectations of your typical realtor. We not only help you find a home, but make sure all the pieces fit: schools, financing, inspections, and service after closing. I would love to opportunity to visit with you about your particular situation and see if we can help.

T. Robinson
Owner, North Texas Home Finders
email: ____@____.com
cell: ###-###-####

As a resident of McKinney, I would love to know what "strange" things you've heard about MISD. I have kids in elem., middle and high school in McKinney and have been thrilled with the education that they are receiving in every way. We've also been in Frisco ISD as well as Maryland schools and by far in the 5 years that we've been in McKinney, they are receiving their best education thus far. We've not had any issues or problems come up and they are challenged academically. People move to McKinney for the schools as well as the community and "small town" feel that you get here. Historic downtown is a wonderful aspect of MCKinney as well. You will get more home for your money in McKinney than Prosper as well. Good luck!

Hi A.,
We are from CA and were also considering McKinney or Prosper. We choose Prosper because of the community but mail because of the schools. I called McKinney school district and they told me that they "bus" kids. What that means is you may live in a new neighborhood, with a new school just down the street from you but YOUR child may be bussed to another school to "balance" all the schools. Moving from another state and having my girls make friends in the neighborhood then to find out they dont even go to the same school! I wasn't intersted in that.
Our girls go to Folsom Elem and they love it. They love their teachers, the program is very different than what they were used to. Neither one of my girls are in any special program but I have meet two special ed's teachers from there and they are very friendly and I hear the kids love them. My girls are in 1st and a 4th grade.
I hope this helps.
Have a blessed day.

First off "what strange things have you heard about Mckinney?" Well, we moved here from Arkansas and we were worried about not having that small town feel. We live in Mckinney and it is AWESOME! My sonis in Special Ed and i have no complaints what so ever. We moved here when my daughter was going into 2nd grade and her school in arkansas told us she had no delays that she was just fine. well she just kept getting farther behind so they tested her agin down here and come to find out she has a reading comprehension disability. So they have been wonderful with her and trying to get her caught up. i dont know anything about Prosper but what i do know is that Mckinney schools are great. The teachers really love your children as if they were there own and want them to do their best. Good Luck with your move and i hope you find they school that is right for your children.

~M.~

If you think you are going require special ed services awhile Plano is the place to go. If you will no longer need those services then I like Prosper. I know people in both districts. We really like Lovejoy which borders McKinney. Lovejoy serves Fairview, Lucas, and part of Allen.