What Houston has to Offer

Houston is the fourth largest city in the nation, with great school districts, excellent core industries as well as a low cost of living. We put together a few of the

highlights for your review.

Living in Houston

Houston is the fourth largest and the most diverse city in the US and a leader in numerous industries including oil and gas, manufacturing, healthcare services, and engineering. In addition to great business, you will experience an incredible quality of life including professional sports, first class museums, a vibrant restaurant scene and plenty of green space! On top of that there is no State Tax!!!

Houston has truly become the great melting-pot. According to a recent study by Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research it is now the most ethnically diverse city in the Unites States.  Houston is home to more than 250 languages and 350 ethno-linguistic people groups from around the globe. Every major world religion is represented and practiced in the Houston area. 

Houstonians wake up to all the perks of big city life without the heavy price tag. Whether it’s a weekend grocery run or a stop at a local coffee ship – your dollar goes further in Houston

The Third Quarter 2012 C2ER Cost of Living index shows that Houston has one of the lowest overall costs of living among the 29 metropolitan areas with more that 2 million residents. The same study shows that Houston’s overall after-taxes living costs are 9.2 percent below the nationwide average, largely due to affordable housing costs.

Houston’s a great deal, and people are taking notice. For the fourth consecutive year, Houston ranked first in U-Haul’s annual national migration trend report. “The U-Haul 2012 Top 50 U.S. Destination Cities”.

School Districts

When you drop your kids off at school, know Houston is a top education destination. Based on student performance indicators, the state of Texas has rated 57 percent of HISD schools as either Exemplary or Recognized.

Also a leader in higher education, Houston has more than a dozen community colleges educating 170,000+ Houston area students, along with 17 colleges and universities that educate more than 165,000 students.Furthermore, our numerous technical schools teach critical skills to Houston’s emerging workforce.

The following slides will provide some information on elementary to high schools in the Houston and Greater Houston Area..

Here is a list of the top schools in Houston. A majority of these schools are charter or magnet schools. In the following slides we will review the top scoring non-magnet or non-charter schools.

Katy ISD

http://www.greatschools.org/texas/katy/

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/texas/districts/katy-independent-school-district

Cypress

http://www.greatschools.org/texas/cypress/

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/texas/districts/cypress-fairbanks-independent-school-district

Sugarland

http://www.greatschools.org/texas/sugar-land/

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/texas/districts/fort-bend-independent-school-district

The Woodlands

http://www.greatschools.org/texas/the-woodlands/

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/texas/districts/conroe-independent-school-district

Bayou PlaceLocated in the heart of Houston's Downtown Theater District, this 130,000 square foot entertainment megaplex is comprised of theaters, bars, lounges, and restaurants. Start the evening off with dinner at the legendary Hard Rock Café or the authentic Italian trattoria, Mingalone. Enjoy box office hits or catch the latest indie flick at the Angelika Film Center followed by drinks and dancing at ROCBAR, Houston's largest rock and roll nightclub. Perhaps the most frequented member of the Bayou Place family is the Verizon Wireless theater. This site has been voted by the Houston Press as Best Live Music Venue for 3 consecutive years. Verizon has been host to such acts as John Legend, B.B. King, and Kathy Griffin.

The Galleria and Post Oak The Galleria Houston, Texas's largest mall, is an upscale shopping mall centrally located just outside the 610 loop in Houston's Uptown District. The retail center is anchored by Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, and occupies such high-end tenants as Tiffany and Co., Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Yves Saint Laurent. The mall is also home to two separate Westin hotels. The Houston Galleria is known for it's beautiful architecture.

With a median home value of $1.5 million – and a number of houses worth many times more – this fabled expanse of oak-shaded lawns and jaw-dropping mansions ranks among the most luxurious in Texas, if not the United States. Some of the city’s richest and most prominent characters have called River Oaks home since it was founded in the 1920s around a country club that shares its name. Just across I-610, the Galleria provides the well-to-do a huge, air-conditioned mall that manages to retain the feel of a high-end shopping district.

Johnson Space CenterVisit Space Center Houston for a dramatic experience of the mystery that is outer space. Witness real life astronauts in training, feel the weight of a moon rock or land a virtual rocket at this state-of-the-art educational institution. Exhibits include:Astronaut Gallery: exhibit featuring the world's best collection of spacesuits as well as portraits of every U.S. astronaut that has flown in space.The Feel of Space: realistic simulation of life as an astronaut aboard a space station.Starship Gallery: collection of several of the earliest space artifacts including the Apollo 17 Command Module.Blast Off Theater: experience the rush of a rocket launch.Count Dooku's Sky Bike: attempt to pedal your way 360 degrees around a 20-foot inverted circle.

Houston ZooSheltering over 4,500 animals and 900 species, The Houston Zoo is the 7th most visited zoo in the nation. Spend the day strolling through the facility's beautifully landscaped grounds or enjoy a more hands-on encounter by scheduling a guided tour. Tour experiences range from feeding a lion cub to shadowing a staff veterinarian for an entire day. On May 4, 2010, the Houston Zoo received its newest addition in the form of a 348-pound newborn Asian Elephant named Baylor. Baylor was named in recognition of the efforts the Baylor College of Medicine has put forth to reduce the threat of the deadly elephant herpes virus. Most recently added to the Houston zoo line-up is the Dinosaur exhibit, a thrilling showcase of life-like creatures from millions of years ago. Experience dinosaurs like the Stegosaurus, Triceratops and of course T-Rex as they roar, move, and even spray water at viewers

Houston Museum DistrictThe Houston Museum District refers to the collection of museums, galleries, and cultural centers located within a 1.5 mile radius of Herman Park. The Museum of Fine Arts which also houses the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, boasts a collection of over 56,000 pieces. Just a few blocks away is the John P. McGovern Health Museum which is home to Houston's first and only 4D theater. Other area attractions include the Holocaust Museum, Houston Center for Photography, and the Lawndale Art Center. Many of the museums including the Contemporary Arts Museum, the Menil Collection, the Holocaust Museum and the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft require no admission fees. General admission museums offer weekly free admission days. During Museum District Day, held annually in the month of September, admission to all 17 participating museums is free. Complimentary shuttle service is provided to and from the museums as well. Links to these museums are above if you hove over the picture.

Kemah BoardwalkKemah Boardwalk, a restaurant and amusement center overlooking Galveston Bay, is located just 20 miles south of Houston. The 42-acre megaplex not only boasts some of the areas finest seafood and shopping, but offers live musical entertainment as well.

SplashtownThis family water park is located in North Houston (there's also a location in Galveston) and features several slides, a wild wave pool, and a lazy river. Younger guests can visit Crocodile Isle, a fully interactive children's play area complete with a pirate ship and kid-friendly slides. Splashtown now offers cabana rentals. Included in the rental fee are tickets, food and beverage wait service, meals, towels, a family-sized locker and more for up to four guests.

Montrose AreaOne of Houston's most demographically diverse regions, Montrose has become the city's hub of vintage shopping, live music and great restaurants. Restored mansions and bungalows, tree-lined boulevards, and an antique mall make this neighborhood a unique, pedestrian-friendly tourist spot. Montrose was home to the legendary aviator and film producer Howard Hughes as well as former U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson. Ishmael author, Daniel Quinn lives and works in the Montrose neighborhood. On Halloween night, the neighborhood hosts the annual Montrose Crawl, a pub crawl that takes place along Westheimer Road. A portion of the beverage sales is donated to local charities.

Houston Downtown AquariumThe Houston Downtown Aquarium, birthed from the historic Central Waterworks Building and Fire Station No. 1, houses over 200 species of sea life, an upscale seafood restaurant, amusement park rides, a ballroom and more. Whether you're looking to host a wedding, birthday party, corporate event or just hang out with the family, this place is a safe bet.

Old Town SpringLocated in North Houston, Old Town Spring is a community of shops, restaurants, and museums designed to resemble America during the early 1900's. Enjoy a nostalgic walk through the town's many Victorian-style antique shops, or catch a live music performance at the Jailhouse Saloon. Lodging options include two hotels and an RV resort. The Rayford Crossing RV Resort in Old Town Spring is a full service resort including such amenities as heated pools, game rooms, a pet park and spa. There are nearly 150 shops in Old Town Spring with merchandise ranging from Amish collectibles to Shabby Chic home furnishings. Each shop is built in charming Victorian style. Old Town Spring hosts five major events throughout the year including Springfest, the Texas Crawfish and Music Festival and Pet Fest.

Discovery GreenDiscovery Green is one of the best parks in Houston. It is also the city's only eco-

park. It is fun, family-oriented and, best of all, free. Throughout the year they feature numerous free activities, including exercise classes, concerts, holiday-themed celebrations and more. In the winter time, Discovery Green's one-acre

lake is transformed into an ice skating rink.

Buffalo BayouBuffalo Bayou is one of Houston's favorite in-town locations for outdoor recreation. Along the bayou exist several well-maintained parks including Memorial, Allen's Landing, and Sam Houston Park. Experience Downtown Houston by way of kayak or canoe along the Buffalo Bayou. In 2003, the Northside Trail which stretches from Sesquicentennial Park to UH Downtown was completed along with the planting of over 75 trees. Buffalo Bayou, one of the few bayous left in central Houston, contains over 100 species from three ecosystems including sunflowers, black willow and yaupon holly.

The WoodlandsThe Woodlands Town Center is a 1,000-acre suburban "downtown" located in North Houston. The complex consists of 6,000,000 square feet of retail and commercial businesses, a 1.25-mile waterway, the Woodlands Mall and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. The center attracts over 20 million visitors each year. Explore the center by way of water taxi or trolley. Visit a variety of retail establishments including Anthropologie, Sur la Table and Bailey, Banks and Biddle. Dining options include Grotto, Fleming's Steakhouse and Berryhill. During summer months, visit the new Rob Fleming Aquatic Center featuring a 500-ft lazy river, a two-story tube slide and an interactive play structure for the little ones.

Close to HoustonHouston is in great location because we have Galveston, Austin, San

Antonio and the Hill Country all close by. The Hill Country even has Texas Wineries to visit!!!