Well, there is always hardy bamboo. Fast growing, tall, thick, non-poisonous, and it'll eventually take over your whole yard, and that of your neighbors as well!

Wax myrtle could be a good option in your area if soil is neutral or acidic. Many culinary/(folk?) medicinal uses and I don't recall hearing of any toxicity issues for children or pets. Nursery person should be able to confirm.

Loropetalum is another that might work. Most of the newer named cultivars will be smaller than what you're looking for. But the unnamed varieties found at the big box stores can usually make a large shrub or small tree. Major ice storms can be hard on these, but are pretty good about recovering.

I second the wax myrtle!

Molly

Variegated Chinese privet. Many gardeners do not like it based on what other gardeners say about it. I like it a lot based on my experience: drought tolerant, pretty, grows well in poor soils, responds well to trimming, easy to care of, no pests/diseases, evergreen, birds like to nest in it, fast grower and fragrant, white flowers in spring. I've heard that it produces a lot of berries. I guess my plants are sterile. I've had 12 plants for 9 years and I have not seen not even one berry or volunteer.

Omar

Red-tipped Photinia is a fast growing, very tall, thick privacy hedge. Mine along my driveway is 20' and it completely blocks view of neighbor's yard. The ones I grew qt my last house for 10 years grew quite tall in just two years, were quite thick and required annual pruning to keep them at head height along house to avoid blocking windows. Lovely red leaves in spring after pruning, too.

I use native Cedar (Juniper) that grows wild all over East Texas. The only pest I've ever incountered is bag worms that are easy to control.

Alphonse Karr Clumping bamboo! Its pretty fast growing but easy to keep in place it grows from the base with shoots and all you need to do is break off new growth when its as big as you want! I had it when I lived in a mobile home park and it was a wonderful screen!

As a neighbor...please no bamboo. I'd be sooooo annoyed that your choice meant I would have to be pulling it from my side all.of.the.time. Wax merytle will look nice.

I agree that 'running' bamboo is a nightmare, but 'clumping' bamboos like Alphonse Karr might be a consideration. The only reason I haven't used it is because from what I've observed it seems to need more water than what I am willing to provide. Wherever I've seen it in San Antonio it's growing well, but the very tips of the leaves look dried.

THIS method of growing a tall narrow hedge looks interesting.

If you can find clumping bamboo, that would be great! I wouldn't recommend red tip Photinia. I have a mature one that is very healthy, but a new one that I planted (in the same sun and water situation) a few years ago is already dying from the Photinia leaf disease.

For goodness sake don't plant Red tipped Photinia unless you can afford to go back to square one at any time. They are susceptible to insects and disease that kill it overnight.