Joe Houlihan: Online Resources to Check Out Local Schools when House Hunting
By Joseph Houlihan, Managing Partner, Houlihan & O'Malley Real Estate
Nov. 18, 2015: When you're looking for a new home, finding a community with schools that can best meet the needs of your family may well be on the top of your list. It is critical to check out the schools both in person and online in the communities you are considering, especially if you are moving to a new area.
While you'll want to tour the schools you are interested in and to interview faculty, administrators, and parents, there are also some very helpful online resources that can give you a head start in your search for schools that can best meet your children's needs.
For starters, visit the U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences' National Center for Education Statistics, which offers publications, reports, statistics, and other data that can help you find the best school for your child. Its School District Demographics System (SDDS) enables you to view snapshot reports and district profiles and to download data so that you can compare different school districts.
In addition, there are a number of websites that compile information about school districts and specific schools, from preschools to colleges. Some free sites to consider include www.SchoolDigger.com, www.GreatSchools.org, and https//k12.niche.com. Also visit the websites of the school district in the communities you are considering.
When evaluating and comparing school districts, be sure to examine such indicators as class size, student-to-teacher ratios, standardized test results, number and range of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, average SAT/ACT scores, and college matriculation results.
One last tip--find online support groups and discussion forums composed of parents in the cities or towns you are considering. A great place to start is www.City-Data.com, which has more than 70,000 users and numerous discussions about school districts and neighborhoods.
Pictured here: Joseph Houlihan, managing partner at Houlihan & O'Malley. His office is at 133 Parkway Road in Bronxville and he can be reached at 914-337-7888 or on his cell at 914-645-6640 or by email at
Photo courtesy Joseph Houlihan's office
