Realtors say a school zone influences where parents choose to live
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Realtors say a school's quality can influence where parents choose to live in a particular area.
According to the National Association of Realtors, 53% percent of buyers with children in the home under the age of 18 years said the quality of the school districts is an important factor when deciding on a home.
The Jefferson City School Board voted to approve a scenario to redraw school boundary lines at its meeting Monday night, which will move 536 students from their original schools.
Leslie Davis, with Keller Williams Realty in Jefferson City, says schools have been very important to buyers and they'll do research on the schools and have specific schools that they want to buy in that area.
"The people that are in Jefferson City and who have grown up with their schools and have their favorite schools have always been more picky about where their kids are going to school," Davis said.
Realtors say a lot of families look into specific websites that rank area schools.
"They usually do so research beforehand so they already have what they're looking for and have what's on their mind looking for a home," said Blake Werner with the Jefferson City Board of Realtors and RE/MAX Jefferson City.
The scenario will go into place next school year. It will put students who attend West Elementary school in a feeder system. Some kids will move to Lewis and Clark Middle School, and some would move to Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
The Jefferson City Board of Education makes changes to the school's boundary lines every three years to prevent extreme overcrowding. Realtors say this is something they have seen impacting families for almost 30 years.
"There has been some boundary changes and I will say there's some movement of sales," Davis said.
"This redistricting started in 1993 and so it's happened in the past and so they know that it can happen and they work with it. You know, you have to you don't have a choice unless you want to put your kids in private schools," Davis said.
Davis said she knows that the boundary line process is disruptive to families, and it's something that they have to adjust to, but at the same time she says it's necessary.
Students who wish to transfer to a different district school, or their parents/guardians, must submit a transfer request to the district school prior to the beginning of the new semester. Granting of THE transfer requests will be contingent on available space and eligibility as determined by the district.
Students who have begun attendance at a school cannot transfer to another school until the next semester begins unless their residence changes to a new attendance area or unless otherwise required by law. Transportation will not be provided to students transferring to schools outside their designated attendance area unless required by law.
For more information on the changes for the 2022-23 school year, you can use the Jefferson City School Locator.
