Hi,
We are actively looking for a new home for our growing family. We have 2 kids under 2 so school is in our near future. We are torn between South Fremont (great schools) or Santa Clara -Rivermark area (OK schools). As you can imagine, S. Fremont is $$, but it is close to work and day care and Santa Clara about 20 minutes away and there's a home we like, price in our range, near park, etc but I just dont know if we should put an offer in if the schools are that well scored compare to Fremont. For our price range in South Fremont, we are looking at an old home, smaller and probably need fixing, but Santa Clara in Rivermark, its about 5 years old home, 2400 sq. ft and close proximity to everything.
So tell me what you gals think?
Re: How important is school district i.e. API scores?
My husband and I just bought a home (or, are buying...about to close), we won't be TTC for another year or so and great schools (API scores of 900+) were very very important to us.
While we definitely envision that that's where our children will go to school and where we'll stay, so we found it vitally important for that reason, I also really believe in the great value or your investment based on good schools. It was much more important to us to buy a small home with GREAT schools than a large home with okay (or anything less than great) schools.
Several people have told us we're crazy (in particular b/c we don't even have kids), but I have a friend who bought her house a couple years before getting pg, now has a 2 year old, and she is already starting to feel very nervous b/c of the schools they're near. She has already been investigating buying another property (to maybe use as a rental, but also be able to utilize location) in a better district just for schools...obviously, it would have been wiser to put her money into one house in the good school district than to have to buy a 2nd house JUST for schools, kwim?
Anyway, to us, schools were critical/crucial, and honestly our #1 prioritiy item when house hunting.
Ditto MrsJulieT...API scores are usually higher in more affluent areas. This doesn't mean that the teachers at schools with lower API scores aren't good. My school's API is just under 800 (800 or above is the goal) and there are lots of fabulous teachers at my school.
If you can, try to avoid schools that are in program improvement because they usually spend time only on math and language arts and cut out the other things like science, social studies, art, and music. I am a big believer that these things help students enjoy school and increase motivation, thus improving API.
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Also beware of schools which are growing. Ours is massively overcrowded and is more so every year. Overcrowding leads to stress and while it's easy to bring in portable classrooms, it's not so easy to fit more in the cafeteria, etc.
I don't think a top of the line school is super important (I've taught at them and it's been insane) but I'd want strong (and strong similar schools ratings) that have held the test of time.
That being said, I'd prefer a home I love in a neighborhood I LOVE with decent schools over a shed with the greatest schools.
Good luck