West University / Southside

West University is located just southwest of Downtown Houston and immediately west of the Texas Medical Center. The area is generally made up of several neighborhoods, West University Place, College Court, Collegeview, Monteclaire, Sunset Terrace, Belle Court, and Southside Place. West U, as it is known, is in fact a city within a city and administered by the City of West University Place. Professional families from the Texas Medical Center, Downtown Houston, Greenway Plaza, and Rice University have flocked to this area over the years. These neighborhoods combine a wonderful family, suburban-like atmosphere with the convenience and walkability of a great metropolitan city. Shopping districts like Rice Village provide a wealth of boutiques and restaurants that cater to this upscale area.

Parents will find some of the finest schools in Houston's inner loop in the area. Kids living in West U proper are zoned to West University Elementary School, Pershing Middle School, and Lamar High School. Some kids in Southside Place are zoned to Mark Twain Elementary, Pershing Middle School, and Bellaire High School.