Photo by: iStock

Finding a School After a Move

Photo by: iStock



You’re already stressed out because you’re moving and have a million things to do, all of which seem monumentally important. And some of them probably are, especially if you want to move into a good school district. You want options for elementary, middle, and high schools so that you don’t have to bounce around every time your child needs a new school, but because you’re new to the area, you don’t have much information. Unfortunately, a real-estate agent is prohibited by law from telling you anything—good or bad—about schools. It’s a violation of the Fair Housing Act and it presents a particular challenge to families with school-age children who are moving to a new area.

So, how do you find out what those who already live in the community know?

One of my favorite resources, GreatSchools, can help. Go to the site and punch in a zip code. Under the Report Card tab, you can look at the End-of-Grade test scores and compare them against potential schools and even see if a particular school is trending up or down. Under Details, you can look at what languages schools offer, their demographics, and more. All of this provides helpful objective information.

But subjective information really tells the whole story and gives you insight into what locals know. Read the parent reviews and pay particular attention to the last year or two. It’s a given that many people like to complain, so you’re going to have to take with a grain of salt those who seem as if they have an ax to grind. However, patterns matter. Do a few reviewers rave about a particular program or teacher? Are there repeated references to a bullying problem? And if it’s a charter or private school, is it growing? Weigh patterns carefully and think about what is important to your family and your child.

Another helpful resource is to find the Facebook Group for the area you are targeting. In Huntersville, I recommend Huntersville NO RULES Online Yard Sale. It is so much more than a yard sale. People ask for recommendations all the time, particularly for doctors, handymen, and schools. If you join a group and ask for help, dozens of people will jump in and tell you the best charter schools, public schools, and private schools. Recently, when someone asked for help with local schools and colleges, she received more than 200 responses. By and large, the comments were very positive and people rarely complained about a school. That’s a lot of feedback from people who have a stake in this community.

Once you’ve narrowed down your search, take a tour of your top two or three schools while they’re in session. Ask the admissions counselor about teacher certifications and turnover. As a general rule, it’s usually best to avoid schools with high turnover. Good schools attract great teachers and know how to retain them.

With good information in hand, you should be able to find the right fit for your child.



Elisabeth Richardson loves yoga, dogs, travel, and reading; she is currently going through withdrawal because her only son is a freshman in college.

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