1. 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.

2. 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!!!

3. 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.

4. 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”.

9. 
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..

10. 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.

11. 
Katy ISD
http://www.greatschools.org/texas/katy/

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

13. 
Cypress
http://www.greatschools.org/texas/cypress/

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

15. 
Sugarland
http://www.greatschools.org/texas/sugar-land/

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

17. 
The Woodlands
http://www.greatschools.org/texas/the-woodlands/

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

19. Bayou Place
Located 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.

20. 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.

21. Johnson Space Center
Visit 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.

22. Houston Zoo
Sheltering 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

23. Houston Museum District
The 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.

24. Kemah Boardwalk
Kemah 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.

25. Splashtown
This 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.

26. Montrose Area
One 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.

27. Houston Downtown Aquarium
The 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.

28. Old Town Spring
Located 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.

29. Discovery Green
Discovery 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.

30. Buffalo Bayou
Buffalo 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.

31. The Woodlands
The 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.

32. Close to Houston
Houston 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!!!