Buying a home is a big decision. It might be one of the biggest decisions of your life, due to all the factors to keep in mind. Other than the house itself, there is one outside determining factor that most drives the decision-making process of the location of a home for those with young children or who hope to have young children. School zoning.
“As realtors, we’ve seen couples fall in love with a house, but completely change their mind when they find out the school zoning,” said Jeff Shaw, Swann & Associates agent and assistant head of school at St. Barnabas Episcopal School.
If school zoning is a major factor for you, there are a few things to keep in mind before you purchase. First, it is important to know the current zoning for public schools in respect to the home you are interested in. That information can simply be found by entering in your address information here.
Second, you should be aware of the variance process. If there is a particular home that you are partial to, but you do not care for the schools you are zoned for, you can complete a variance form to have your child moved to another public school in the area. Variances are not guaranteed, however it is a good possibility you can obtain a variance, providing proper reason. It is important to keep in mind that variance you receive may not be the school you prefer. Variance information can also be found on the Volusia County School website.
Third, if private school education is in your budget, then it is important to be aware of current private schools in the area, their differences, curriculum, etc. DeLand is home to several great Christian schools in the area including, St. Barnabas, Stetson Baptist, St. Peters, and Lighthouse Christian.When considering private education, contact each school for a meeting to learn more information and learn about the admissions process.
Finally, if you currently live in an area and want to explore other schooling options, that is okay. You do not have to move in order to find the best education for your children. The variance and private school options are viable choices for those families that are already established. Another option is the Florida Virtual School, an online school that is available and is operated by the public school system.
For information about listings in a particular school zone, please contact our office today.