Hp

We recently moved from the Westchase area (Westchester) to Panther Trace in Riverview (S. of Brandon). Panther Trace is a nice master planned community with large homes & attractive pricing. Fewer amenities because the area is still being developed. It is not too far from the highway and you can pick up the Crosstown to get to MacDill. My husband works downtown and it takes him 30 min. tops on the Crosstown. Mostly highway and very little traffic problems. He turns South right where the traffic starts to back up going towards FishHawk. There is no large road to that community and no way to avoid the traffic. Collins Elementary is right in the middle of Panther Trace. It is an A school. Most reviews are quite positive. I have to mention though that they focus more on "good citizenship" than academics and you have to get be proactive if you want what's best for your child, like I did.

Schools in the Westchase area are some of the best in the county. You excluded Deer Park Elementary which is a brand new school built to aleviate the overcrowding at Bryant. I may be biased but I think Deer Park is the best Elementary in that area. Test scores are quite high. Parental involvement is phenomenal and the principal is the best I have seen at an elementary school so far. He runs a tight ship and is highly involved in every aspect of the school and very accessible. I believe the school is still not at capacity which would enable you to apply for your child to go there under the School Choice program. The downside is that the commute to work will be much longer and the homes are a bit older though there are sections with newer homes. Waterchase is beautiful but pricier, though in today's market I'm sure you can get a deal. Amenities are plentiful with restaurants, shopping, doctors and a huge library within minutes of homes. - Tue Jul 22 2008, 05:59