Schools - inter-district transfers (Seattle, Kent: house, neighborhood, to buy)

[jjandia4]

We are planning a move to Seattle in July with two kids and in looking for a house to buy schools are coming in to play. We are hoping to spend less than 500k on a house and it looks like there are some, but, I won't stress as much if inter district transfers are granted. I don't mind driving the girls to/from school.

Anyone know how likely we are to get a transfer into a better school if we live in a district with low scores?

[Neerwhal]

They are hard to get because of population growth.

But King County is one of the most economically mobile places in the US. The schools are very good if you put in effort and take advantage. And there is always private school if you feel your kids will not be leaders in a mediocre school.

[Ira500]

If you live in a district with low scores, there are often schools within that district that have high scores. So you don't necessarily need to look for a transfer into another district, unless it's your belief that you only want your children in a school district where every school has high scores. For instance, within both the Renton and Kent school districts are some very highly rated schools, and also schools with low schools. Couldn't you just buy a house in those places where your kids would go to the best schools in a district where not all the schools are great?

[Neerwhal]

Ira, some districts don’t allow inter-district transfers either.

[carroll4628]

Lake Washington SD doesn't allow intra-district transfers due to the serious overcrowding. (Unless you are an employee of the school, then your children can attend.) Take the time to call/email the school/districts you are looking at NOW. Call the actual schools, not just the district office.

(Side note: 2 years ago our neighborhood could request a variance and attend Redmond HS instead of Eastlake HS. The district shut down this option due to the over-crowding.)

[CrazyDonkey]

How are you determining what is or is not a "good" school? If Great Schools, their rankings here are 100% based on test scores, which are heavily correlated with family income.

[Neerwhal]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

How are you determining what is or is not a "good" school? If Great Schools, their rankings here are 100% based on test scores, which are heavily correlated with family income.

They do include equality of test scores in the ranking. So for example, if a school has an 85% grade level test average, but 50% for white kids, it will rank lower than a school with 80% grade level test average but equality for all kids.