Why Schools Are Important in Your Home Search

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Whether or not you have school-aged children, schools and school districts should play an important role in your home search. From access to unique education programs to neighborhood desirability, here are a few reasons why you should research nearby schools as you begin looking for your next home.

Location, location, location

There is a connection between high-ranking school districts and strong home values, as many buyers with children consider school district to be one of their top priorities when choosing a new home. Because this is such an important factor, it is not uncommon for properties near highly sought-after schools and school districts to be highly sought-after themselves.

Access to Educational Programs

Maybe a great student to teacher ratio is your priority – or perhaps the combination of culinary and STEM extracurriculars at the French International School is also high on the wish list, either way, it is important to identify the schools and curriculum that will meet your family’s needs and consider them when beginning your home search. Proximity to your chosen school and district will cut-down on commute times, while also allowing your children to participate easily in extracurricular activities, while also living near to friends and classmates.

Resources

There are several factors to consider when choosing a school or school district; however, there are also resources available to help make your decision a bit easier. First, there is greatshools.org, which rates each school based on a scale from 1 to 10. You can view ratings, as well as reviews and testimonials (a la Yelp!). Portland Monthly is another useful resource that breaks information down by the numbers, allowing you to compare schools based upon statistical information — you can review Private Schools as well as Public Schools.

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While these are great tools for helping you to identify your family’s ideal school district, you can also reach out to schools directly and ask to be connected with a family who can provide you with more information.

Questions

If you have any questions, reach out today! We can help you create a home search based upon the school district or area that you’re looking in, as well as to establish a strategy to help you find your dream home and your dream district!