When you’re moving to Dallas there are so many choices to make regarding neighborhoods, communities, amenities, activities and more. One of the most important factors if you have children is likely the quality of the schools in the area. How can you make sure you’re choosing the best location in terms of the school district and school your children attend? We have a few helpful tips.
First, look at community. You can learn a lot about what you can expect in a school by chatting with parents in the neighborhood you’re considering, attending a PTA meeting or by going to a school board meeting. Does the school provide a variety of opportunities for a diverse culture? Music, sports, art – there is a lot more to consider than math and English.
Tour the school. When you find a neighborhood you really like, consider taking a tour of the schools in the district. Talk to some of the students to get their take on the school. Check out what’s hanging on the walls and bulletin boards, and whether students’ work is featured. Take note of how administrators and teachers interact with the kids, and how the kids respond. You can learn a lot simply by observing or even taking notes during class. If a school is hesitant to your desire to take a tour and learn more about it, it isn’t a good sign!
Check out the school district’s report cards. You can find a lot of data about specific school districts and individual schools by looking online. Some of the information you can glean from these reports include teacher-to-student ratios, school test scores, etc. While it’s important to know how a school scores academically, you shouldn’t base your decision solely on this one factor. It’s important to choose a school your child will enjoy, one that offers great music, arts and other programs depending on what your children need.
Think about the future. If you intend to stay in your new home for years to come, you’ll also want to consider what high school your child will attend if he/she is currently in middle school, or what middle school and high school it will be once your child’s moved on from elementary school. Glimpse the future, but don’t dwell on it too much. Life is full of unexpected changes!
These are a few of the things you can do to learn which schools are the best for your children, thereby helping to narrow the field in your search for the perfect home.
At Team Nelson our Dallas real estate professionals can help you not only with finding your ideal home, but enlightening you regarding the various schools and districts in the DFW area. Give us a call today, and make your life easier.