By Guest Blogger: Whitney K. Shaffer, Realtor
As a realtor, one of the biggest client concerns I run into is finding a home in a good school district, and rightly so. Even if your family does not have school aged children it is advisable to purchase in such an area. If and when you plan to sell, future buyers with children will more likely give your home priority over homes that are not located in a desirable school district. This also means that your home will attract more buyers.
Choosing schools that are compatible with your family’s needs and wants can be difficult to pinpoint for the average home buyer. This is why the use of a Realtor is highly recommended. But there are resources available to everyone to help make this choice a bit simpler.
Step 1. Talk to other parents.
This may seem like a no brainer but many people overlook this source of valuable information. Most parents will be more than happy to either brag on their child’s school or tell you exactly what they dislike about it. This can also play into the factor of your family’s needs and wants. Perhaps a super structured school is not what you want for your child. Maybe you would prefer a school that places emphasis on the arts and focuses more on creativity and individuality. Whatever path you are looking for, it is imperative to find out what other parent’s experiences are.
Step 2. Research test scores.
Standardized test scores are widely available online, and are also usually available on each county’s Board of Education website. Some test scores to look for include CRCT, SAT, and Graduation test scores. It is important to remember that standardized test scores are utilized in qualifying schools for federal funding. Depending on performance, the general rule is the better the test scores the better funding. Although this is not always the case. (Editor’s Note: We’re big fans of the website: SchoolDigger.com)
Step 3. Research class size.
In addition to class size, take into account the student to teacher ratio. The lower the ratio the better. The fewer children per teacher means that your child will be taught in a more intimate setting, getting more attention. This information can also be found on the county’s Board of Education website as well as other sites such as Realtor.com.
Step 4. Visit schools you are interested in.
Many people don’t realize that they can tour the schools that they are interested in their child attending. This is a very important step in the process of choosing a school, because you get to observe the environment complete with teachers, administrators, and children. If you get a bad feeling, there is probably a good reason for it. On the other hand, if you tour the school and are completely blown away, you will undoubtedly feel better about the choice you make.
At the end of the day, what works for one family may not work for another, so it is important to do your research before you begin your home search. You certainly don’t want to fall in love with a home only to find out that it’s zoned for a school that you wouldn’t dream of sending your child to. Spending a little extra time and putting forth the effort before you buy will no doubt pay off for years to come.
Whitney K. Shaffer, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty River Cities
5700 Veterans Parkway, Columbus, GA 31904
Office 706.221.6900 | Cell 706.573.0774
[email protected] | www.BuyFromWhitney.com
