Home foreclosures, short sales and sales in this housing downturn have put families on the move. More than ever, parents find themselves looking for new digs for their entire family. Some are moving back in with their parents, some are taking advantage of the lower home prices and taking the bold leap to a purchase, while others are finding themselves in the leasing and rental market for the first time. For whatever reason the move, either it be stepping up or more than likely downsizing, before jumping into that great housing bargain, don’t forget to clearly take a look at the public school that your child will be attending before you sign on the dotted line.
So often, the bottom line for your housing choice becomes the cost of the mortgage or monthly lease that schools are not appropriately evaluated before it’s too late. Don’t think just because a great school is across the street that your child will be attending it. School zoning lines have a way wiggling and curving around homes that it would seem to be a no brainer and obvious with regard to which school is to be attended. Not so. Public schools are dealing with over crowding and often the district offices will move lines to accommodate school populations.
It’s best to call the district office and find out if your new home or apartment is zoned for your child to attend the school you want them to attend. Moreover, ask them if there are any plans to change the school lines in the near future. Go to websites such as, Great Schools.net and plug in your prospective zip code or address and get a ballpark understanding of how schools near you fair. The schools in your five mile radius may be evenly matched or you may find that if your child doesn’t go to that great school around the corner and may be zoned to go to one that is further away and ranked very low. If that becomes the case, who wants to find that they made a great bargain on the rent or mortgage, only to find that they have to send their children to private school in order to maintain the type of education that they had previously.
So when you make your move, look at the whole picture. Do your research. You may have to downsize but it doesn’t mean you have to downsize your child’s education.
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