C.K.
I'm a single mom and am moving me and my girls (5 & 9) out to Rockwall. I have done research on various school districts and especially wanted a good one for my oldest who receives special education. She's been in DISD since Kindergarten and will be starting 3rd grade this fall. I looked into GISD because of the "school choice" but we weren't going to be able to move until August and so we've missed our on "choosing our school"...which means that my kids won't get to go to a Garland school that I choose because it's most likely already full. Well, I wasn't about to put them in one school this year and then another next year. They need consistency. So, I have opted for Rockwall. So far, everyone I've asked has only had great things to say about Rockwall ISD. I could have chosen Lakewood or Lake Highlands where I grew up, but crime is getting bad. I just got an email from our neighborhood association about someone in Lakewood was held up at gun point in their front yard...which has happened in Garland as well. This is another reason I chose Rockwall. I've also heard good things about Plano ISD and Allen ISD...but that would have been too far from my job. Personally, I think the larger the school district is, the more hoops you have to jump through and the more red tape involved when dealing with the system.
Good luck.