The 2019 school accountability scores were issued by the Texas Education Agency this week (more on that next week), just in time for this week’s School + House, where we head to the one Dallas ISD school in Farmers Branch — Chapel Hill Preparatory.
Full disclosure — we’re a newly-minted Chapel Hill family. But what excited us about the school — its emphasis on social and emotional learning combined with a new approach to academics — is what also makes it a somewhat hidden gem in the area.
And lo and behold, this year’s scores revealed that not only did the school meet state standards, but it also got four of six possible distinctions.
The school, which was formerly named Cabell Elementary, was renamed in 2018 after the area surrounding it, which is informally called Chapel Hill.
A quick tour of the school (we’ve had a few by now) shows some of the things that make it stand out — a quiet room for meditation and calming down (complete with a fountain and yoga mats), another room for “heavy work” that can help calm and center stressed students, flexible seating in every classroom (including stationary bike desks in some classrooms), bright and cheerful layouts and design, and plenty of gardens for learning opportunities are just a few of the things you might not expect when someone tells you about a Dallas ISD school.
And no, you don’t have to be a Rockefeller to afford to live in the footprint for this school, either. When we looked for an exemplar listing this week, we found listings ranging from as much as $1.3 million, all the way to just shy of $200,000.
There’s literally something for everyone.
Our listing for this week is a great example of that — and it’s within walking distance to Chapel Hill Prep. Located at 3404 Janlyn Lane, this 1,950 square foot house boasts four bedrooms and two bathrooms, and has been totally remodeled.
The Midcentury Ranch was built in 1966, and has high-end finishes throughout the home, including engineered wood floors. The kitchen’s spruce-up came with granite, white custom cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and is open to the family room, which is anchored by a brick fireplace.
Both bathrooms have been redone with dual sinks, upgraded tile shower enclosures, custom cabinetry, and brushed nickel fixtures.
Outside, an enclosed patio with a fan means you can enjoy that big backyard in relative comfort even during the worst of the summer. And the backyard is big enough (and this price point friendly enough) that you could contemplate a pool back there, too.
And even better is the location — walking distance to school, across from the neighborhood park with trails and tennis courts, and just down the road from a gorgeous community garden.
The home is priced at $329,500, and is listed by Candi Munguia with Keller Williams Realty. Want to check it out in person? There’s an open house Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Want to see more of the listing? Click here. For more about Chapel Hill Preparatory, click here. To see more featured schools, click here.
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