Located in northeastern Texas, Collin County, TX is home to around 969,603 residents (as of 2017). Collin County is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area and includes several incorporated cities, such as Plano and McKinney, as well as part of the city of Dallas.
Collin County Schools
With fourteen different school districts in the area, Collin County boasts one of the largest school districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. Most have experienced tremendous growth in recent years as more and more families make their way to the area.
Currently, Melissa Independent School District, referred to as the separation between a rural-style school and a city-style school, is the smallest district, with around 2,338 students. McKinney Independent School District sits on the opposite end of the spectrum, with around 24,765 students of diverse backgrounds. Despite the large student population, the 14.7:1 teacher to student ratio is particularly impressive. All school districts are known to be high performing, with high pass rates.
One thing all of the school districts have in common is their love of high school football, a Friday night staple throughout the Lone Star State. It’s not unusual to see the stands full of cheering fans on Friday nights, who are there to enjoy not only the football, but the dance teams, cheerleading, and bands.
Collin County has an array of private schools to choose from as well, ranging from Christian and Lutheran academies to Wylie Preparatory Academy and IANT Quranic Academy, the county’s first private school to feature a true Islamic centered curriculum.
Collin County Homes for Sale
Things to Do in Collin County
Residents of Collin County have plenty of ways to stay busy. Shopping is one such option, whether they prefer locally owned boutiques, big box stores, or the amazing deals that are so often found at Allen Premium Outlets. Many of the shopping centers offer activities designed for the whole family, such as live music on the weekends at Watters Creek, and classes, demonstrations, and workshops at The Shops at Willow Bend.
Fans of the arts and culture can take advantage of the many museums, theatres, and cultural centers located within Collin County. Museums include the hands-on Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary and the Museum of the American Railroad, one of the nation’s most complete museums dedicated to the development and growth of the railroad.
The Frisco Discovery center is another option that hosts private films, ballet, music, and theatre performances, as well as an art gallery, a Sci-Fi Discovery Center, a Black Box Theatre, and a National Videogame Museum. At the same time, the recently opened Art Centre of Plano will host some of the top artists and artistic studios, while the McKinney Performing Arts Center features frequent performances, ranging from off-Broadway productions to comedy, concerts, and theatre.
Collin County Parks & Recreation
Collin County offers residents the chance to enjoy nature at its very finest. Parks are conveniently situated throughout the county, allowing for ample opportunities to do everything from hike, bike, and fly kites to bird watching, butterfly charting, or strolling through the gorgeous and diverse vegetation.
Thanks to 21,400-acre Lake Lavon, residents can go camping, boating, fishing, or simply spend the day basking in the sun at one of the lake’s multiple beaches. Collin County residents with a love of golf will appreciate the area’s stunningly maintained golf courses that are open year round.
Collin County Weather
Residents of Collin County will experience all four seasons, from the muggy dog days of summer, which are perfect for a day at one of the Lake Lavon beaches, to the cold and windy days of winter. The average temperature varies from 35°F to 96°F, depending on the time of year. On the bright side, the temperature rarely dips below 22°F or rises above 101°F.
Just like the temperature, the chance of rain varies greatly, depending on the time of the year. The wetter season lasts from the 9th of April to the 28th of June, with the chance of rain on any given day being around 27%. The drier season spans the other nine months of the years, with the smallest chance of rain around 16%. On occasion, residents may even see snow in Collin County, TX.