Bigger house vs. better school district

[Chicago526]

Better school. Can always put on an addition later if needed.

DH and I had no choice, it was either rent an apartment in a good school district or buy a single family home in a bad one. We chose to buy in a bad one since we are still kid free, and hope by the time we have school age kids that we can afford to either move to a good one or put the kid in private school. We think we'll be able to do one or the other. But I just told DH the other day, that if we can't afford to buy in a good school district, then we'll just have sell the house and rent, because we are not staying here the way the schools are now.

 

[Kimberly]

School system. My parents gave up a really huge home to actually move to a smaller home, but with one of the best school systems in the state (out of public and private). The thing is, often with good public school systems, high property taxes come along with it. If it is a little better NOW too, the other school district could be better in the near future.

I would say better school, but just how much better of a school district is it?

 

[shamrock30]

We don't have children, and we chose the bigger house. Appreciation hasn't been a problem at all so far, but that probably depends on what other things your town has going for it.

 

[Stacey2grls]

My school district is considered very good. My daughter has special needs, and gets great services, so I wouldn't change this for anything. But, my husband and myself always find ourselves looking longingly at the sunday paper with all the beautiful houses. These towns are just 1/2 hour to 45 minutes away, but I have heard that the school districts stink. So, we are sticking it out in our old coloniol, dreaming of a stanless and granite kitchen.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Well, this issue is this. We rent now in the good school district. The high school is the "flagship" school for the district.

We can afford to buy something that is smaller than what we are renting which will require an adjustment in lifestyle.

My kids would be the kids in the "little house" and I am concerned about the snob factor. We are where some Astros and Texans live, not to mention a member of Destiny's Child. My daughter already feels some of the snotty attitude in the middle school and that is more economically diverse than the high school will be.

Or...

We could move a little further out of town to an area that is experiencing a lot of growth. I am not sure if that school district is able to handle it. Their scores are about 10-15% lower than the district here.

We could get much more house there and maybe not have such a snob factor to deal with.

Do I really have to grow up?

 

[Disney Doll]

In the real estate world, one of the biggest factors that "drives" home values is the quality of the school system for the district that the house is in.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Housing in the very best school district, or private school, either way, in many cases, a quality education COSTS!

For me, like everyone else, sure, I can dream of the beautiful mansionette with the state of the art kitchen, etc.. But, to me, those things are not what makes me tick. Isn't that kind of materialistic. And many people fail to adequately realize just what it takes to live in a house like that and to maintain that lifestyle. Heating and cooling, landscaping, domestic help (ie. a maid, cause I don't want to have to clean that whole huge mansion by myself! LOL!!!), etc... etc...

in the end, my sons well-being and education are what makes me tick.

I would choose less square footage.

When you send your child into that school every single day, that is what really matters.

 

[disykat]

We moved when my oldest was about to start Kindergarten to be in a better school district. One of the houses that was on the market was actually in our old district, but it had a killer view. I've always wanted a view, but we didn't even consider it. No regrets.

 

[Skatermom23]

Having lived this situation, I learned that a better school district doesn't always mean a better school. We bought a small house in what was supposed to be a great school district, only to find out that it wasn't a good fit for our kids at all. A few years later we had the opportunity to move and while we choose a really nice area to build we never even looked at the schools. Thankfully, they turned out to be good schools. They are not considered to be in the best county but all in all, they are good. So this isn't an easy question with an easy answer.

 

[raammartin]

Better school definitely!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I guess you will have to weigh "best school" vs school district you are interested in.
Is you kid a total brainiac, honors, gifted, has a serious talent in sports, band, choir, etc....????? Then I would choose the best school.

If your kid is average they can get lost in a "best school". My dd is above average but is catching up in Math, as we moved here last year.

My dd CANNOT graduate in the top 10%, even if she got all A's throughout HS. You have to be straight "HONORS" from Freshman Year on, which will give you a 5.0. It is completely insane how many graduate here with 5.0's. I just looked it up and it is 53% are in honors programs, pre/ap-ap classes.

Really LOOK into the High School and compare.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Wow, mysterymachine, good point!

Everything is relative....
I know in the Oprah segments this week, they mentioned one girl who was the top of her class, but when she actually got to college, she realized how much she was lacking.

This reminds me of the thread about the one private school that said the child would have to repeat Kindergarten if they were to enroll, and not go into First Grade.

Apparantly, this school, like the one MM just mentioned, has such lofty expectations and requirements that instead of making sure that their school is teaching kids to this lofty standard, they are just making sure that the kids are already there. (And then of coarse, the school retains all bragging rights....)

I would much rather hear of the everyday public schools who take a little initiative, and end up having their so called 'disadvantaged' students give the 'best schools' a real run for their money when it comes to comparing real test scores!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, after moving you really have to look at "best fit" for your kid, just like you do with college, I think.

I didn't know about the Texas 10% thing and those people from Texas know what it is.

However when we moved here we picked the school because it is new, so lots of "new" kids moving in this area, so dd will share something in common.
The HS policy of being able to take PreAp to AP without any prerequistes (except English & Math, need teacher approval), is what sealed the deal. She is able to take PreAp science, history, chemistry (next year). She loves to be in the PreAp classes.

So it is what is the best fit, not best school sometimes. Lots of factors to consider.