How to Pick the Right School District

Whether you already have children or you’re planning to start a family soon, finding the right house isn’t the only factor you need to consider when you’re moving—there’s also the question of school districts. Namely, which one is right for your kids, and how do you even go about deciding something like that? Here are some basics for determining which school is the one. Visit. Visiting sounds like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people skip it, or else skip the opportunity to sit in on a class. In reality, though, there’s no better way to get a feel for how engaged children are than to see it yourself. While you’re there, also make sure to observe more than one grade. Your children won’t be the same age forever, after all. Talk to the principal. You can tell a lot about a school based on the person who runs it. If he or she is too busy to meet with you (or at least to schedule an appointment), take it as a warning sign. A principal who is involved with parents and eager to show off their school is one you want in charge of your children. Don’t judge on appearances. Shiny floors and new paint can signal a healthy budget, but they don’t necessarily say anything about the quality of the teachers—and that's really what counts. Talk to parents. No one’s input is going to be more relevant to you than that of your fellow parents. If you’re uncomfortable about going door to door, stop in the school office during your visit and ask for a way to get in touch with a few PTA members. Test scores don’t always mean what you think they do. It can be easy to be lazy about researching your school options and just aim for the one with the highest scores. Generally, though, test scores correlate to income level. So if you can’t afford to live in the school district with the best scores, don’t panic. Good schools with good teachers will improve all students, regardless of where they start.