Another neighborhood question, any advice deeply appreciated (Dallas, Highlands: apartments, to rent)

[Pilly]

We are relocating to Dallas from oversees this summer. We are looking to rent a house or townhome for at least the first year to get a feel for the area.
We need 3-4 bedrooms and a fenced in backyard (we have a dog).
Our kids (ages 8 & 9) will be going to St. Monica's so we would like to live close enough to the school.
We are very concerned with safety as each of us travels a good amount and we want to feel safe when one or both of us is away.
We had heard many good things about the Sparkman neighborhood (and we LOVE the community pool), but on-line searches and some other comments I've heard, raise real questions about the safety of that area. Is Sparkman safe, are certain sections of it more safe than others?
I have heard good things about the neighborhood named after Disney characters.
Do you have any thoughts/comments about the suitability of Lake Highlands?
Would your recommend Sparkman, 'Disney', Lake Highlands or are there other neighborhoods/developments which we should look at?
We would like to rent and can pay $1,600-$2,000 monthly.

This feels like a huge undertaking, and doing it from Ireland makes it all the more chalenging! I will be in Dallas twice more before the move, and wouold really like to check out neighborhoods. Thanks so much for any and all advice you can offer us!

[TurtleCreek80]

You would absolutely be safe in any of those areas, although Lake Highlands is a good bit further from St Monica's than Sparkman or Disney.

Did a quick check of zips 75229, 75230, and 75225 and found only 5 properties in your price range. The going rate is closer to $3000-3500/mo, so if you see a listing you like in your range, you should definitely jump on it.

You should also include the 75230 neighborhood called Melshire Estates (Forest & Dallas North Tollroad area) as some of the listings I found were there. It's a great location & neighborhood, too.

[FarNorthDallas]

Did you look at Preston Hollow - boundaries Walnut Hill, Preston, Royal, Hillcrest. You might be able to get one of the original homes there (not one of the million dollar rebuilds).

[SMS_Parent]

Welcome to St. Monica! Turtlecreek80 is correct that all the areas you mention are safe. Your children will have lots of classmates in either Sparkman or the Disney Streets -- not so many in Lake Highlands. There aren't any town homes in either Sparkman or the Disney Streets and most houses that you would want to rent in those neighborhoods are probably above your desired price range. Check out the Forestwood Apartments at the corner of Forest and Inwood. They have three bedroom and I think even four bedroom units, some with garages. They aren't luxury apartments by any means, but they are very convenient, in your price range and lots of St. Monica and St. Rita families live there when they are doing gut remodels on their houses.