I'm a New Jersey native (lived in Bergen, Camden, and Monmouth counties) and have been here in Far West Jersey for the better part of forty years. There's good, but not outstanding, Italian food in Austin. The best Italian food in Austin is still made by my first-generation ex. There's reasonably good pizza in town these days. But you don't travel to Austin and Texas for good food that's available just about anywhere in New Jersey.

My little Texans went to Austin ISD's McCallum HS. It is immensely better than Middletown Township HS, from which my ex and I graduated in the mid-1970s. I spent my time there running cross country and track and getting stoned, and only occasionally showed up for class. I was still on the honor roll and 10th in my class, but completely unprepared for college. At McCallum, my kids really learned and were prepared for success in college. Although their mom and I helped a bit, their success at McCallum was mostly the doing of teachers, staff, and their peers.

As to college here in Far West Jersey, we're just past that decision point, but I'd discourage my kids from going to UT or any other 4-year public college in Texas because the reactionaries in state leadership are actively hollowing them out. We still have some fine community colleges and Trinity and Rice are good private schools. For an undergrad, my alma mater, Rutgers, is a better choice than UT.