How to Determine the Best School District to Buy a Home

Kids do a lot to influence their parents' lives. Perhaps the biggest thing that kids have sway over is the location of a new home because most parents want the best schools for their children. When it comes to searching for a new home, identifying the best school districts becomes critical when narrowing down choices.

Places to Find Information

Before you begin comparing school districts, you need to know where to find information. Usually states come out with an annual report on the condition of the school districts. You can see which districts perform well on standardized testing, see their populations and find the schools with the highest graduation rates. The state education board will be the least biased place to get information on area school districts. Other sites combine personal reviews and anecdotes about area schools. While these sites give first-hand accounts, they may also be flooded with too many people who have had a bad experience with the school district or with those who want to boost the district's reputation artificially.

Compare the Facts

When looking at schools, statistics about standardized test scores is one place to start, but you might also look at information on the median income of students in the district. This will give you an idea of whether the district is in a wealthy area with high-priced homes or in a lower-class area with numerous housing projects. Academics are important, but if your child is in dance, music or sports and wishes to pursue these activities at school in a high-achieving environment, you will need to take that into consideration. Some schools have particular programs or courses of study, such as IB or AP, that may not be offered everywhere.

Large Districts are Different

Sometimes, large school districts have a wide variety of students. These districts may have certain schools that are higher performing than others in the district are. When looking at individual schools, visit the district's website to see a map of the area the school you are interested in covers. School boundary maps can change, so get the most current map before selecting your home.

Why Great Schools Matter

You should pay attention to public schools in your area even if your child is homeschooled or in private school. Homes in quality districts tend to retain value and are easier to sell in the future. For a child in public school, better teachers, more rigorous curriculum and a wider range of extracurricular options can help a student to succeed.

Compare all aspects of area school districts to find the best place for your family to grow and for your child to have the greatest chances of success in life.

By: Jane Blanchard

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