I moved from the DC area to Houston immediately after finishing my senior year of high school because my parent’s job moved there. I disagree that Houston is ‘the armpit of Texas.’ Sure, there are some bad areas, just like in any other city, but there are also plenty of really nice areas. I have a few friends from the area, all of whom were educated either at private schools or in the huge high schools in the suburbs (like the Woodlands). I live near Lamar High School, which has an IB program that qualified students can do. From what I’ve heard, it to some degree separates the more high-achieving students from what might be considered the ‘rougher’ crowd of the school. If your daughter was to enroll in a program like this, I suspect that she would do just fine and be able to go to college just as prepared as anyone else, plus get the experience of being in a diverse school.
I really did not like the atmosphere of the area I grew up in. It was pretentious and homogenous. While I loved the cultural opportunities and restaurants and such that the DC area had to offer, my suburb was not to my taste at all. I was looking forward to going to college and to moving. I really like the area of Houston I live in now. It’s liberal and there are a lot of things within close distance. I can walk to nice cafes and shops and most things are no more than a fifteen minute drive away.
If your daughter is attached to her high school and enjoys living where you currently live, then I don’t really see the need to move to Houston (or any other place). But if that’s not the case, then I think moving could be a good experience.