Forest Hills is in the Dallas Independent School District. Alex Sanger Preparatory School, inside the neighborhood at 8410 San Leandro Drive, serves PK3 through 8th grade, and it sits in the Bryan Adams High School feeder pattern. Families can also apply to Dallas ISD choice programs or consider private schools nearby. Always confirm assigned campuses by exact address.
This guide covers Forest Hills (not to be confused with Little Forest Hills), the 1924 neighborhood bounded by Garland Road, Lakeland Drive, the BNSF rail line and Highland Road and San Rafael Drive (Forest Hills Neighborhood Association, Boundaries). Dallas ISD lists Alex Sanger in the Bryan Adams High School feeder pattern, alongside W. H. Gaston and Robert T. Hill middle schools (Dallas ISD, Bryan Adams High School Attendance Zones and Feeder Pattern, verified October 2026).
Which public schools are zoned for Forest Hills?
The Forest Hills Neighborhood Association lists two Dallas ISD campuses as the neighborhood's feeder schools:
- Alex Sanger Preparatory School (PK3 to 8th grade), 8410 San Leandro Drive, Dallas 75218. The school sits inside Forest Hills.
- Bryan Adams High School Leadership Academy (9th to 12th grade), 2101 Millmar Drive, Dallas 75228.
Because Sanger runs through 8th grade, many neighborhood students can stay on one campus from preschool through middle school. The broader Bryan Adams pattern also includes W. H. Gaston Middle School, so ask Dallas ISD which middle school campus applies to your specific address.
What programs does Alex Sanger Preparatory offer?
Sanger opened in autumn 1956 as a Pre-K through 5th grade school and was later expanded to serve PK3 through 8th grade (Forest Hills Neighborhood Association, History of Alex Sanger Preparatory School). According to the school's own quick facts page, it offers:
- A Spanish dual language program
- General education classes taught in English
- Candidacy for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme in grades 6 to 8
The neighborhood association also notes the school's volunteer program and food pantry, both supported by local families. Visit, ask about class sizes and enrichment, and review the most recent accountability information from the Texas Education Agency before deciding.
What does Bryan Adams High School offer?
Bryan Adams High School Leadership Academy lists Advanced Placement courses, a leadership academy, NAF career academies and a P-TECH pathway on its Dallas ISD site, along with athletics, fine arts and clubs. P-TECH programs in Dallas ISD let students work toward industry experience and college credit while in high school. Program details change, so check the campus website and attend an open house.
How do Dallas ISD choice programs work?
Dallas ISD runs a districtwide choice system, which lets families apply to campuses beyond their attendance zone. For the 2026 to 2027 school year, the application window ran from November 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026, and the district advertised more than 100 programs (Dallas ISD, The Hub). Program types include:
- Magnet schools and talented and gifted programs
- Montessori and single-gender schools
- International Baccalaureate and dual language programs
- P-TECH and early college high schools
- Transformation and personalized learning schools
- Visual and performing arts and STEM or STEAM programs
Many programs have entrance criteria or lotteries, and the timeline typically repeats each fall and winter. If you are buying in Forest Hills during the spring or summer, you may be past the main deadline for the next school year, so ask Dallas ISD about second-round applications.
What private schools are near Forest Hills?
East Dallas families have a wide range of private options within a reasonable drive, including Catholic parish schools, Episcopal and other faith-based schools, independent college-prep schools and schools focused on learning differences. The Forest Hills Neighborhood Association keeps its own list of private schools close to the neighborhood. Admissions calendars for many independent schools open in the fall for the following year, so plan ahead.
Our Dallas private schools guide explains application timelines, testing and what to ask on a tour.
How do I confirm the schools for a specific Forest Hills address?
Never rely on a listing description or a neighborhood name alone. Use these steps:
- Look up the address on the Dallas ISD SchoolSite Locator interactive map.
- Call the zoned campus to verify, since Dallas ISD enrolls students based on its PowerSchool street directory assignments.
- Check whether any attendance boundary changes have been proposed for upcoming years.
- If a choice program matters, confirm its application dates and entry criteria before you buy.
Our post on which schools serve Lakewood and Little Forest Hills is useful if you are also looking just across Lakeland Drive or west of the lake. For a wider look at the area, see our East Dallas neighborhood page.
How do schools affect home buying in Forest Hills?
Having a PK3 to 8 campus inside the neighborhood is a real draw for young families, because it can mean a walk or short drive to school for many years. Buyers who plan to use private schools or choice programs often weigh lot size, commute and the lake more heavily than the zoned campus. Either way, decide which school path you are planning before you set your search area, because it changes which streets and which neighborhoods make sense.
How can The Agency Dallas help in Forest Hills?
The Agency Dallas helps families buying in Forest Hills line up their school research with their home search, so the timing of a purchase fits enrollment and application deadlines. Send us your budget, timing and must-haves, including your school priorities. If you already own in the neighborhood, request a home valuation. Start on our East Dallas page or call (469) 839-6020. We follow up within one business day. The Agency Dallas represents buyers and sellers in Forest Hills and the rest of East Dallas.
Frequently asked questions
What elementary school serves Forest Hills in Dallas?
Alex Sanger Preparatory School, at 8410 San Leandro Drive, is listed by the Forest Hills Neighborhood Association as the neighborhood's feeder school. It serves PK3 through 8th grade and sits inside the neighborhood. Attendance zones can change, so confirm the assignment for a specific address with the Dallas ISD SchoolSite Locator and the campus office.
What high school do Forest Hills students attend?
The neighborhood association lists Bryan Adams High School Leadership Academy, and Dallas ISD includes Alex Sanger in the Bryan Adams feeder pattern. Some older sources mention other campuses, so do not rely on third-party websites. Verify the zoned high school for your address directly with Dallas ISD before you buy or enroll.
Is Forest Hills in Highland Park ISD or Richardson ISD?
No. Forest Hills is inside the City of Dallas and is served by Dallas ISD. School district lines in Dallas County do not always follow city limits or ZIP codes, so it is always worth checking, but the neighborhood association and Dallas ISD both place Forest Hills campuses within Dallas ISD.
When do Dallas ISD choice applications open?
For the 2026 to 2027 school year, the window ran from November 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026. Dallas ISD typically opens applications each fall. Some programs offer a second round for remaining seats. Check the Discover Dallas ISD site for the current calendar, entrance criteria and open house dates before you plan a move.
Do private schools near Forest Hills provide transportation?
It depends on the school. Some offer bus routes or organized carpools, while many expect families to drive. Ask each school directly during the admissions process, and factor the daily drive along Garland Road or other corridors into your decision about which part of East Dallas fits your routine.
Sources
- Dallas ISD, Bryan Adams High School Attendance Zones and Feeder Pattern
- Dallas ISD, Alex Sanger Preparatory School Quick Facts
- Dallas ISD, SchoolSite Locator Interactive Map
- Dallas ISD, The Hub: Applications for specialty schools and programs now open (November 2025)
- Forest Hills Neighborhood Association, Schools; Boundaries; History of Alex Sanger Preparatory School
Verified October 2026.
