My family is being transferred to McKinney, TX from Florida this summer. Being a native of Florida and knowing everything there is to know about the Tampa area, I'm a little nervous about a new place! Anyone have some insight on schools, things to do, restaurants, etc. in McKinney? We have a 5 year old and a 16 year old -- is McKinney family oriented?

I live about 20 miles south of McKinney, in Sachse.
I like McKinney, my daughter worked downtown for a long time and we spent a lot of time there... nice old town square. I think if I were being transferred to McKinney I would check the school districts nearby. Allen may be better... not sure though. My daughter said that McKinney is not as good as Allen. You could also head up to Anna and save some money on housing or over to Frisco if you like being in the middle of things.
Good luck...

PS... do a search on McKinney for additional posts.

Try Stonebridge Ranch in McKinney. It's a huge planned community with lakes, golf courses, schools. Mckinney schools are good and there has been quite an influx into that area and it's growing rapidly. I would stay west of highway 75 in looking for homes. Allen, just north of Plano, has good schools but taxes are high there. Frisco is also a hot area and near McKinney. Get yourself a good realtor and they can give you all the info and steer you in the right direction.

Thanks for the replies! We actually did buy in Stonebridge Ranch. TX Travel has me questioning the public schools there. Any input?

luvtwotravel...we moved from Tampa to San Antonio two months ago. Welcome to Texas! I am sure, like us, you were tickled with home prices compared to Tampa. You are in a terrific area...we lived in Plano for close to two decades 12 years ago and had friends in Stonebridge Ranch. It's pretty...there are actually a few hills, and it's not as congested as Plano. Sorry...can't help with the school system, but know what you left which was no bed of roses unless you lived around Davis Islands for Bowie Elementary, or South Tampa for Plant or were involved with magnet schools. Even in S Tampa, most of my friends kids went to private school.

Restaurants are abundant in adjacent areas, (our son lives in Frisco so we still get up there, and he is a huge plus in our return to Texas) but not with the intimacy of a Hyde Park. It will be different and you'll be making changes...some of which may be hard to swallow...the water and recreational activities surrounding it being our most difficult to adjust to so far. The people are wonderful though...genuinely so! Like you, I felt I knew everything there was to know about Tampa, maneuvered easily (if slowly ) to wherever I wanted to go around Tampa, and this will be for you, as it is for us, a period of adjustment and missing the good things Tampa offered. I've just now, after two months, found a neat boutique to replace M. In Dallas you'll have no problem with that!

We head back to Tampa for the 4th of July week for a week of sailing and trying to make a decision on whether or not to move our boat here. Try to OD on the beach before you leave Tampa and good luck in your move. I hope you find McKinney as welcoming as we have San Antonio...and just think...NO more hurricanes!

I moved to Philadelphia from the Dallas area about 17 years ago and while I don't miss the summer heat, I really miss all the great Mexican food...I'm envious.

ltt --

Check out just4kids.org. It's a site that lists Texas school rankings via TAAS (state achievement test)scores.

McKinney is like a lot of school districts - elementary schools are great, then things tend to go downhill in the upper grades. But you're living in one of the nicer communities there. Just get involved, communicate with teachers, etc and things should be fine.