We have all heard that old saying that, when looking for real estate, the three most important things to consider are location, location and location! And, while that is definitely true, people with children know that the three most important things are really schools, schools and schools!
While many people once debated between public and private education for their children, in today’s economic climate, the choice between public school districts within an area has become an even greater consideration than before as people choose their housing options. The Bay Area of Northern California is no exception; whether one wants to live in a city center or in more rural outlying areas, the quality of the local schools is nearly always at the top of a family’s list.
One excellent way to gather this information is to take a look at the website for the cities or areas you are considering. Most cities provide comprehensive information about all aspects of their community including housing, schools and other important community services.
For example, on the website for Pleasanton, California, a small community situated in the Tri-Valley Region of the Bay Area, one can learn about the community as a whole and can also research Pleasanton apartments and homes. In addition, information is available about the Pleasanton Unified School District which has not only been named a National District of Character, but also has 12 out of 14 schools designated as California Distinguished Schools. If a family were interested in living in a smaller Bay Area community, this certainly would be one excellent reason to look for housing in Pleasanton.
On the other hand, if one were interested in a more urban area, the website for the city of Oakland, California is a good example of that type of community. In addition to information about the Oakland Unified School District (and their 13 California Distinguished Schools), one can find information on everything from housing to recreation…there is even a link which describes the city’s 2006 “pothole blitz” project whereby 922 potholes were filled in 3 weeks! The ability to research the school district school-by-school in one place is certainly valuable to any parent when considering such a large community.
In fact, we are all very lucky that we live in a time when we are given access to so much valuable information at the click of a mouse! Without a doubt, looking for housing and, more importantly, reviewing schools for our children has never been easier. Furthermore, taking into consideration that the Bay Area is so large and that there are so many wonderful and diverse housing markets to choose from, it is amazing how much information we can gain before we even meet with a real estate agent! Being able to narrow our housing choices in advance is very helpful and, while selecting a neighborhood is still a very personal experience that most people make first-hand, prior knowledge about the community and schools can only help all of us to make more informed housing decisions about Pleasanton, Oakland and everywhere in between!
As parents, we make choices every day which impact our children to one degree or another and there is noquestion that choosing an area to live in the Bay Area, and subsequently, choosing the best school for our children, is one of the most important and lasting choices we can make for them.
