The quality of the school district in an area is a big factor in whether many families will purchase a home or not. It is also one of the focal points that buyers look at when they are determining what neighborhoods they want to live in. Even if buyers do not have kids now, down the line when if and when you do have children, you’ll want to know that you are sending them to a quality school.
Here are a few ways to evaluate schools before you purchase a new home.
Begin with Your Builder
Start with your home builder’s sales representative who can at least give you the names of the schools in the district that serves the neighborhood. A good real estate agent will have plenty of info about the schools in the area as well.
If the neighborhood already has families living in it, you could also go door-to-door and ask how the local school system is. You would be surprised at how many people are willing to help bring people into their neighborhood by sitting down with them and helping them understand the area.
Go Online
There are plenty of places online to find out anything and everything you need to know about a school district. If you know the names of the schools, you can start by looking up the school’s website or even the district’s website if you do not know the exact names of the school. Two great websites for info on schools are GreatSchools.org and Education.com. On these sites, you can search and compare school ratings, stats and more.
Questions & Tips on Choosing a School District
Take a look at the school district’s annual report
See what services are available at the school
What is the school district’s discipline policy?
What is the school district’s safety policy?
Is there an active Parent-Teacher Association?
When making the decision to purchase a home, one of the biggest things you should look at is the quality of schools that serve the neighborhood. Even if right now you do not have a family, you want to be prepared for if and when you do in the future. You don’t want to have to move out of your neighborhood simply because you are looking for a better school district.
Leverage Your Real Estate Agent
Work closely with your real estate agent to learn more about the schools that are connected to the neighborhoods you are interested in. Your agent will have a wealth of knowledge and may even be able to put you in touch with other clients they have worked with who have children in the school district. Remember, your agent will have a lot of information on more than just homes, they can provide you with plenty of other market information that can help you make a mindful decision for you and your family on where you live.
Are you in the market to buy a new home? If you have questions about a school district for a particular neighborhood, reach out to me and I will be happy to help.
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