Considering School Districts While Home Shopping

There are lots of factors to consider when buying a home and for most buyers, location is right at the top of that list. And with that location comes school districts. Even buyers without school-age children will take them into consideration. So what exactly goes into evaluating whether the school systems you're looking at make the grade?

School System Data

• Student to teacher ratios and standardized test scores.
  This is some of the most revealing information about how schools are really doing. Lower teacher-to-student ratios mean teachers have a reasonable workload and are available to help students individually when they need it. It also means the school is less likely to be overcrowded. Standardized test scores can give insights as to how effectively students are learning. If most students are scoring average or above average on those tests, they have learned the information effectively and are able to apply it.  
• Graduation rates and college-bound students.
  These statistics can be helpful, but they don't tell the whole story. A more useful piece of information is knowing the percent of graduates that require remedial work when continuing their education. A high number here would indicate that students are graduating without the skills they need.  
• Age and condition of the facilities.
  Buildings that are overcrowded and deteriorating can be distracting, uncomfortable, and provide less room for learning and other activities. All of this can create a less than ideal or even dangerous environment. This information also might give some insight as to whether your taxes are likely to go up in the near future.
• Fiscal responsibility.
  A financially sound school district is more likely to continue to meet higher educational standards further into the future because they consistently have the resources to do so. This is especially important if your children are very young and you plan on staying until after they graduate.

Other Factors

The data-based factors mentioned above are a good place to start. But there are some other more subjective factors to consider that are just as important.

• Does the school or district meet your children's needs?
  If your student is special needs or gifted, you'll need to do a little more investigation to make sure what they need is available. Small districts often transport students to neighboring larger districts if these services aren't available, so you'll want to know that too. If your student has a sport or other outside interest like music that they participate in, you'll want to make sure those kinds of opportunities are available to them as well.
• Parent involvement and how other parents feel about the school and district.
  A good amount of parent involvement means the schools are going to be more aware of and responsive to the needs of students. First-hand information about the schools is invaluable. If you can talk to the PTA or other parents to get a feel for the situation, that is excellent information to have.
• Transportation.
  This is something that affects your family every day, so it's worth looking into ahead of time. Not all school systems provide transportation and some may not provide it to every school or every area of the district. Transportation to and from daycare can be an issue as well.

The school district is an important consideration when buying a home. Knowing what to look for can help you make an informed decision that will benefit your family and most importantly your children.

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