Are your looking for a Pittsburgh on your lot builder this spring to build your new home? If so and you have kids, finding the right location where you can ensure your kids will go to great schools is probably at the top of your “must” list for your new home. So what are the best practices to ensure you find a new home with great schools? Parry Custom Homes shares tips to put in place that will help you find the best new home and the best schools for your kids.
To no surprise, the neighborhoods with the best schools also have the priciest homes. When the demand is high, as it is now in the housing market, you can expect the home prices to go up even more. Avoid sacrificing too much for a quality school district, because you need enough bedrooms, baths and space in a new home to live comfortably.
First, be sure to do your research. There is plenty of information online that will allow you to get started with an online search to determine the best school district, or even a specific school, you would like to send your child. There are several sites that offer test scores, rankings and demographic information that can be really helpful in determining what schools will be the best fit for your kids. There is even information to let you know the student-teacher ratio, student diversity by race and gender, and whether or not the school has a free lunch program.
Before you get too caught up on test scores and how the school rates in math, science and social studies, make sure you take your own child’s needs into account first. Just because one school has slightly lower scores than another, doesn’t mean that it wont be a great fit socially for your child. Examining a school from a wider range perspective can help you avoid ruling it out based on one single data point, especially if that school happens to be in a neighborhood you can more comfortably afford.
Lastly, before you buy a home be sure to visit the school. A tour of the school will give you and your child the opportunity to sit in a class, visit with the staff, and see if that school is the right environment for your child to learn. Also make note of the PTA participation, after-school activities and opportunities you as a parent have to be involved in the school to make it better.
These simple guidelines can help you pick both the perfect new home and perfect schools, for you child to attend with no worries.
Parry Custom Homes is an established homebuilder in the Pittsburgh area. Call or contact us today for more information about this floor plan option, or to view other homes in our portfolio that may suit your new home needs.