Alabama Babies

Kinda BR but not completely: How important is school's in relevance to where you live?

Okay where I live has some really good school districts surrounding it.  However, we have found a neighborhood we'd like to build a house in, but the only thing I am iffy about is the school system it is zoned for.

The schools themselves are pretty new and probably have some great things about them.  But I have heard about overcrowding due to some rezoning issues and I checked greatschools.com and I wasn't too impressed.  Besides I have heard the system itself has some issues due to the superintendent and such, but she's about to be out of the position so some changes could come.  

Fortunately, I have some options other than that particular school system.  One is private school, the other is that I am going back to work when Aubrey starts school.  For those of you that don't know I have a degree in elementary ed.  You can send your child to the school you teach at.  So it's not like this one school system is my only option.  Plus there is a possibility that the issues of the school it's zoned for will be cleared up by the time Aubrey starts school.  

So to get to my point...if you had these particular options would you  let what school system the neighborhood is zoned for deter you from building/buying in the neighborhood? 

Re: Kinda BR but not completely: How important is school's in relevance to where you live?

  • Candi  - the school systems in Auburn are all good (fortunately).  But when we were looking at homes this spring, we definitely had 2 districts we wanted to stay in.  If this is going to be your forever home, I would take schools into account. What is so great about the neighborhood in the iffy districts? (not wanting to sound snarky....realized that could be read snarkily)
  • Well we like the privacy of the neighborhood, the  fact that every street is a cul de sac is a positive for us...we like the location (extremely convenient to everything we do), and the fact that it has a community pool/clubhouse is a nice bonus.

    Normally, I'd say the school district would have to be a strict factor.  But I have those other two options...which I know not everyone has.  The private school I am looking at is a fabulous school, and there is the possibility I'd get into a district that would be a great one for Aubrey to go to...but of course I have no way of knowing that right now.  The district I have connections with is really good, but it's not a 100% guarantee that I'd get in there.

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  • If it were us, I'd probably keep looking. The uncertainity of where you would end up teaching would weigh heavily.  My mom taught in a different school district than where we lived (but only 20 minutes from where we lived).  We went to her system until I was in the 5th grade.  We switched bc it just got to be too much driving for activities, sleepovers, etc.  My sister and I were kind of juggled, and honestly, it sucked. I felt out of place at church since all those kids went to school together and it was just a lot to expect my mom to cart me back out to the county for stuff. That's just my take from the kid's point of view.
  • From a Seller's POV:

    We've got 2 houses on the market right now- 1 is in a somewhat coveted school system but the other is just so-so {not known for being bad, just not outstanding}. The 1 in the good school system has had 7 showings in the past 2 months; the other 1 has only had 1 showing total.

    From a Buyer's POV:

    Our goal is to sell both & then find a new house together. For DH, I think he'd ideally like to build just wherever we can afford or just get a bigger newer house in general, but for me the school system will dictate where we even begin our search. The school system is important for our kids {since I don't teach and probably can't afford private school} and then also for future resale value.

  • I would wait and try to find a house/neighborhood in a better school district.

    We live in a historic district and in a neighborhood that we love. We know most people in the neighborhood, which is tight knit, the sitter that K goes to lives next door, plus our commute to work is only 5-7 minutes. If our house was only bigger, it might be our "forever home".

    BUT, I say this to add that I'm not thrilled with the school district we are zoned for. We are zoned for the best high school in the area but the elementary/middle school is not that great... Basically our only option is either sending K to private school, or hope that she gets into a special city-wide magnet school by 1st grade.

    Basically our plan is to sell before K gets to school age. No matter how much we love our neighborhood, we can't afford $4,000 to $8,000 a year in private school tuition PER child. We hope to have more than just one child.

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  • DH and I are trying to get moved back to the Tuscaloosa area (from Mississippi). Originally I wanted to buy in the area/school district I grew up and went to school in. But after doing some reading, talking to other parents, and even some students from that particular area, my elementary school is still pretty great, but the jr high and high school are "just horrible." that being said, we have started looking for a home in a school district that has great reviews and testing scores. After we moved from AL to MS, the school I attended in MS was bad...very bad. The teachers/principals didnt care about the students, no parent involvment, ect...I don't want that for my child. 

    IMO-I would keep looking. Unless you knew 100% you were gettin to teach in a great school and LO would be going with you, I'd keep looking. Good Luck!

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  • Gregg and I are in thissame situation when we decide to move. But with him a teacher and me going to be one before Byrant starts school I'm not too worried about where I move as far as school systems. He will just go to whereever one of us are teaching.

    So for your question if I loved where I wanted to build I would do it. If it's in Madison County you never know what will happen in the next few years due to the overcrowding. I know one new school that is being talked about now. If Gregg and I stay where were are right now I don't think I would send my child to the school I am zoned for. HTH!

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  • I think school system is probably the biggest factor when buying a home.  For us, the schools where we live have already gone down hill some during the five years we have lived here, and we already see the affects on the market in our area.  As resale value, that is very important for you.

    I am also a teacher, so I understand what you are saying about bringing your child with you to a system.  However, you don't know where you could be teaching by then.  For me, I love the school I work at.  It fits me, and I work with the types of students that I was meant to teach, however, I do not plan to send my own children to school there (I hope that does not sound awful.) 

    Allie ~ 01/26/09 ~ 7 lbs, 9 oz ~ 20.75 in. & Amelia ~ 03/16/11 ~ 8 lbs, 1 oz ~ 21 in.

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