Archive for the 'Schools' Category
State law prohibits cell phone use in Spring TX school zones
September 1st, 2009 categories: Discover Spring Texas, Schools | views
If you use your cell phone when driving around the Spring Texas area, then you need to be aware of a state law that went into effect today. As of September 1st, cell phone use has become prohibited in school zones.
For the law to be enforceable a cell phone use prohibited sign must be posted. As of 10:00 am, the sign to the left had already been posted at Roth Elementary and by the end of the day I noticed numerous school zones in the Klein School District had posted signs.
Considering the large quantity of motorists I regularly see talking on their cell phones, I suspect this law is going to be difficult for many of them to get use to. I know at least one motorist became much more aware of the new law today as I saw her getting pulled over in the Haude Elementary school zone on Louetta for talking on her cell phone. Breaking of the law comes with a fine of up to $200 which I am not quite sure how the “UP TO” portion works but I am not going to personally find out.
Many states have laws prohibiting cell phone use while driving not just while driving in a school zone. So I think I can change my calling habits enough to wait the few minutes it takes to drive through a school zone before I place a call.
For a look at the state cell phone driving laws in individual states visit the Governor’s Highway Safety Association.
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2009 School Ratings for Spring Texas schools are out
August 28th, 2009 categories: Schools | views
Specialized instruction and improvement on test scores have paid off for the schools in the Spring Texas area as numerous campuses have been able to improve their TEA (Texas Education Agency) ranking in 2009. The TEA rates schools and districts primarily based upon the test results of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).
A standardized test that is administered to students in grades 3 – 11. The ratings given by the TEA to the schools and districts are (E) – Exemplary, (R) – Recognized, (A) – Academically Acceptable, and (U) – Unacceptable. The ratings are one of the ways parents evaluate Spring Texas schools in determining the quality of education provided to their children.
An Exemplary rating was easier to obtain in 2009 due to changes in the TEA ratings that gives schools credit for improvement. In Texas, 2,151 schools received an Exemplary rating more than double the quantity of schools rated Exemplary in 2008.
84% of the Klein school district campuses earned an “Exemplary” or “Recognized” rating an improvement over the prior year’s figure of 65%. One of the biggest improvements was in the quantity of ”Exemplary” rated campuses as the quantity increased from 7 to 16 campuses. In addition, the Klein School District increased its District rating from “Academically Acceptable” to “Recognized”.
87% of the campuses in the Conroe School District received a “Recognized” or “Exemplary” rating up from 74%. The Conroe School District was also able to improve their district rating from “Academically Acceptable” to “Recognized”.
The Spring School District continues to work hard and although its percentage of campuses achieving a “Recognized” or “Exemplary” rating remains unchanged at 55% compared to last year it has made strides at the individual campus level. With 4 additional elementary schools achieving an “Exemplary” rating this year.
75% of the Tomball school district campuses earned a “Recognized” or “Exemplary” rating which is up from 45% in the previous year. Note worthy is Tomball H.S.’s improvement to a “Recognized” rating and Beckendorf Intermediate’s improvement to an “Exemplary” rating.
The Cypress – Fairbanks School District also known as Cy-Fair remains top notch earning for the second year in a row a Recognized rating for the entire school district. Cy-Fair also continues to improve at the individual campus level as the quantity of campuses earning a “Recognized” or “Exemplary” rating has gone from 54% of the campuses in 2007 to 85% in 2009.
Additional detail on the ratings, student – teacher ratios, and campus demographics is available at TEA ratings. When relocating to Spring Texas you have a lot of decisions to make and deciding upon which schools you want your children to attend is one of them. Do your research and review the school districts and campuses TEA ratings, review the student – teacher ratios and other public data. After you have narrowed your choices down, go and visit the campuses you are considering. Get a feel for the school by walking through the halls, meet with the Principal and teachers and then make your own decision on which schools you want your kids to attend.
Even if you do not have children attending the Spring Texas schools the quality of education provided by the schools will still have an impact on you. The impact will be felt in your pocketbook. Good schools increase the value of Spring Texas homes. Bad schools will bring down the value of your home as less people will be interested in the area.
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Back to school
August 24th, 2009 categories: Schools | views
Spring Texas area schools were back in session today as the 2009 – 2010 school year began. Due to increasing growth in population in the Spring Texas area over the last several years, the start of a new school year typically meant the opening of new schools. This year the trend continues as three new schools made their debut in the Conroe School District, one new school opened in the Klein School District and four new schools opened in the Spring School District.
As a Spring Texas real estate agent, school districts and the particular schools a home is zoned to is a question I get frequently asked. Although I cannot control the zoning of schools any more than I can control the weather, I can certainly understand the reason for the question. Homes in the better school districts and zoned to the schools with the higher TAKS scores garner the highest demand and the increase in demand translates into greater price appreciation in home values. Thus whether you have school age children or not the school district and the individual schools your home is zoned to will and does impact the value of your home.
As a full-time Realtor® everything in one way or another relates back to real estate for me. So I apologize if back to school makes me think about resale value while back to school makes you think about school supplies, new clothes, schedules, and the never ending last minute notice of projects that are due tomorrow.
Have a great school year!
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Spring Texas Schools back in session
August 16th, 2008 categories: Schools | 306 views
Its August and in about another week its time for Spring Texas schools to start up again. If you are like me, you are thinking …… already? Where did the summer go? Its still HOT enough to be summer but the calendar says its time for the kids to go back to school.
The kids living in Spring Texas attend schools in either the Conroe School District, Klein School District, or Spring School District. All of these schools have web sites that are packed with the information you need including school hours, location and phone numbers, and bus schedules.
After that first time you wait in the horrendously long line to drop your kids off at school, you might all of sudden decide having your kids ride the bus to school sounds like a pretty good idea. No joke about the horrendously long lines. Maybe one of these days I will take a picture to share with you.
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Spring Texas schools experience jump in latest TEA ratings
August 6th, 2008 categories: Schools | 13 views
The release of the latest TEA (Texas Education Agency) school ratings have left some Spring Texas school teachers and principals beaming with joy and some down right crowing from their accomplishments. The TEA rates schools and districts primarily based upon the test results of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). A standardized test that is administered to students in grades 3 – 11.
The ratings given by the TEA to the schools and districts are (E) – Exemplary, (R) – Recognized, (A) – Academically Acceptable, and (U) – Unacceptable. The ratings are one of the ways parents evaluate Spring Texas schools in determining the quality of education provided to their children. Read the rest of this entry »
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How are the schools in Spring Texas?
April 6th, 2008 categories: Schools | 11 views
One of the questions, we are asked the most has to be “How are the schools in Spring Texas?” Its a good question. The quality of schools not only impact the education received by our children but they also impact real estate prices. A quality school that is in demand will increase real estate prices and just the reverse occurs with a lesser quality school.
“How do you determine which schools are good?” One of the methods we use to assess the quality of education provided by our schools are the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores. The TAKS are standardized tests administered to students in grades 3 – 11. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) rates schools and districts based largely on the results from these scores. Read the rest of this entry »
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Spring TX real estate taxes to increase if school bond passes
March 25th, 2008 categories: Property Taxes, Schools | 344 views
One of the bad things about growth is that sooner or later we are going to have to pay for its impact on our infrastructure. And pay we do, usually in the form of increased taxes. Over the last four years, our Klein school district has experienced growth. Growth of more than 16% or 6,000 students. Thus the need for another school bond election. If it passes, its projected to increase real estate taxes for Spring Texas homeowners by $0.20.
If you are like thinking, it wasn’t that long ago since Klein school district had their last bond election. You are right. Their last bond election was in 2004 for $224 million. It was projected to increase real estate taxes by $0.26 but luckily only reached $0.22. If you are not familiar with the components of our Texas property taxes, read Texas Property Taxes Why are they so HIGH?
What exactly is a school bond and why do we need it? Read the rest of this entry »
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Klein school district experiences 16% growth
January 29th, 2008 categories: Schools | 12 views
Since the 2004 bond election, Klein, a fast growth school district in Spring Texas, has experienced 16% growth. And the district does not see the growth stopping. As they are projecting the growth to continue for the next 10 years at a rate of 4% a year. That means by 2016, Klein school district is expected to grow by over 17,600 students.
Where is all this growth coming from? Since the last bond election in 2004, approximately 98 new subdivisions and new sections in existing subdivisions have been built in the Klein school district. Since all of the previous bond funds have been spent or designated for current projects, the district has started exploring a new bond election. Read the rest of this entry »
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Klein school district tax rate second lowest in greater Houston area
December 28th, 2007 categories: Property Taxes, Schools | 12 views
In a comparison with other school districts in the greater Houston Texas metropolitan area, Klein school district has the second lowest property tax rate. Klein school district is located in Spring Texas. The Klein school district property tax rate for 2007 is $1.26 per $100 valuation.
The award winning Klein schools offer a good public education for a relatively low tax rate and is one of the many reasons that people enjoy the lifestyle available to them in Spring Texas.
The school district tax rate is one of the three components of the overall property tax rate paid by Spring TX homeowners. The other two components of the tax rate are the county and the MUD with the school and the MUD being the two largest components.
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Klein school district in Spring Texas prepares for growth
September 19th, 2007 categories: Schools | 9 views
The Klein school district in Spring TX is forming planning committees to analyze its needs for a bond referendum expected to be called in 2008.
Klein school district currently has 43,000 students enrolled and the projections are for an additional 18,000 to 22,000 students to be seeking education in Klein schools within 10 years. To support this level of growth the school district will need to build 10 elementary, three intermediate, and two high schools. Increase in students usually mean increase in property taxes.
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