Surprisingly, the quality of the local school districts is one of the major value drivers for real estate. Whether you have children or are simply looking to make a smart investment, evaluating the school district is crucial. A strong school district often correlates with higher property values, neighborhood stability, and better resale potential.
In this blog, I will explain how to quickly and effectively evaluate school districts using online platforms.
Why School Districts Matter in Real Estate
Before jumping right into the tips, why does this matter at all? Here are the reasons:
- Property Values: Homes in top-rated school districts often have higher property values. Even if you don't have school-age children, a good school district can boost your home's long-term value and end up becoming a better investment.
- Resale Potential: When it comes time to sell, a home in a desirable school district can attract more buyers, particularly families looking for quality education.
- Community Quality: Strong school districts usually reflect well on the overall community, indicating well-maintained neighborhoods, active community involvement, and lower crime rates.
Top 4 Online Platforms to Evaluate School Districts
Now, let's explore how to use four of the best online platforms to evaluate school districts and the neighborhoods they serve.
GreatSchools.org
GreatSchools is one of the most widely used platforms for evaluating school districts. It provides ratings based on test scores, student growth, and equity, making it a great starting point for your research.
- How to Use It:
- Overall Rating: Look at the overall rating of schools in the district, which is scored out of 10. Make sure to focus on neighborhoods with schools that consistently score 7 or above.
- Equity Rating: Check the equity rating, which measures how well schools serve disadvantaged students. A high equity rating often indicates a district that's committed to providing quality education for all, reflecting positively on the neighborhood's inclusivity.
- Parent and Student Reviews: Read through reviews to measure community satisfaction. Look for mentions of strong parent-teacher relationships, safety, and community involvement, which are key indicators of a good neighborhood.
Niche.com
Niche offers detailed profiles on schools and districts, grading them on various aspects such as academics, teachers, diversity, and extracurricular activities.
- How to Use It:
- Academic Grade: Focus on the academic grade. High grades suggest the district offers a robust education, echoing the neighborhood's quality.
- Diversity Grade: A high diversity grade can indicate a vibrant, inclusive community that is appealing to both families and individuals.
- User Reviews: Dive into user reviews for insights on school safety, teacher engagement, and the quality of extracurricular programs. These reviews can provide a nuanced view of what it's like to live in the neighborhood.
SchoolDigger.com
SchoolDigger provides rankings based on test scores, enrollment data, and district boundaries, making it useful for comparing different neighborhoods.
- How to Use It:
- Ranking Trends: Look at the trends in school rankings over the years. A district with improving rankings suggests a neighborhood on the rise, likely benefiting from community investment and growth.
- District Boundary Maps: This is very important. Make sure to use the boundary maps to identify which neighborhoods are served by the highest-ranked schools. This can help you narrow down your search to the best areas within a city or town.
- Test Scores: Compare the test scores of schools in different neighborhoods to state and national averages. Higher scores are a strong indicator of a district's quality and, by extension, the neighborhood's desirability.
Zillow and Realtor.com
While primarily real estate platforms, Zillow and Realtor.com provide valuable school information directly linked to home listings, making them convenient for house hunters.
- How to Use It:
- School Ratings in Property Listings: When browsing homes, pay attention to the school ratings included in the listings. These ratings are often sourced from platforms like GreatSchools, giving a quick overview of the district's quality.
- Neighborhood Insights: Both platforms offer additional neighborhood data, such as crime rates and nearby amenities, which can provide a broader context to the school information. This can help you evaluate whether the school district meets your lifestyle needs.
- Nearby School Search: Use the map features to explore the proximity and quality of schools near potential homes. Identifying homes near highly-rated schools can enhance your convenience and investment potential.
I didn't even think of evaluating a school district when I was buying my first real estate investment. But, as a parent myself, I now clearly see why school districts matter so much to real estate investment. I believe buying real estate starts with finding a good neighborhood, and I wish you all to leverage these tools to find a perfect neighborhood for your investment :)