Choosing the Right School for Your Child When Buying a New Home
- Understand Your Options
- Consider What’s Most Important
- Visit Schools
- Research Schools Online
- Talk to Parents and Students
- Find Your New Home Nearby
Choosing a location for your new home can be difficult, given the many factors you must consider. If you have children, this becomes even more complicated as you think about where they will go to school both now and in the future. You want a school that not only encourages academic success but also offers an environment that enables them to thrive. With so many factors to consider, choosing the right school for your child is a complex task. Here are some tips on how to do your research to find the best school for your child when buying a new home.
1. Understand Your Options
Nowadays, there are many types of school options available. The first step in choosing a school for your child is to learn about all the options available in the area where you’re considering buying a home. These may include public, charter, magnet, private, and even online schools.
2. Consider What’s Most Important
Every child is unique, and every family is different in their priorities. Consider the following details to help you make a list of what’s most important to you and your family in finding the right school for your child:
- Focus areas of the school (such as dual language, technology, or liberal arts)
- Subjects offered
- Level of academic difficulty
- Learning styles
- Integration of technology into learning
- Extracurricular activities offered
- Accommodations for special needs
- Logistical considerations (such as school location, school bus service, and school schedule)
- Finances (if considering private schools)
Once you know about all the options available in the area and have decided upon what’s most important, you can explore individual schools to find one that is right for your child.
3. Visit Schools
Many schools offer formal and informal tours that allow parents to see the campus and meet the staff. Visiting a school also gives you the opportunity to ask questions about those factors that are most important to you and to discuss any concerns or special learning needs your child has.
4. Research Schools Online
You will find a wealth of valuable information online that can help you evaluate an individual school’s performance and quality. This includes test scores, rankings, student/teacher ratios, reviews by parents, and more. GreatSchools.org and SchoolDigger.com are some well-known websites you can use. Your local state education agency website may also be a good resource.
5. Talk to Parents and Students
There is no better way to learn about a school than by talking to current students and their parents. You may want to ask them about the school’s operations and learning environment, how regularly teachers communicate with parents, and how responsive staff members are to students’ needs and concerns.
Find Your Child’s New School and Your New Home
Once you’ve chosen an area where you want to live and a school for your child, you’ll want to start looking for homes nearby. If selecting a public school, you’ll need to ensure the house you buy is within the school’s geographical boundaries. If you’re choosing another type of school, you’ll want to make sure your new home is not too far away from the school.
When you’re ready to start your new home search, NewHomesMate is here to help. We provide industry-leading search tools and have dedicated new homes experts available to assist throughout the process. Learn more about us and start searching for your new home with NewHomesMate today.
