As backpacks, glue sticks, No. 2 pencils and Sharpies overtake the aisles at your local department store, we are all quickly reminded that the summer season is quickly winding down. As parents, this time of year can be extra stressful as you make plans for coordinating everyone’s schedules, navigating driveline and arranging for after-school care. If your kids are new to the school scene and you aren’t too sure about the types of schools that are in your neighborhood, you might even be toying with the idea of moving to a better school district. If finding the right school for your children is keeping you up at night, consider the following three back-to-school basics to choosing a home in a school district and neighborhood that fits your needs.
School District Scores
Getting your kids started off on the right foot academically is an important stepping stone to raising successful kids. The days of just settling for the school closest to your family home are long gone and the different school options (charter, public, private, Montessori, alternative, etc.) throughout the metro Denver area can be quite a puzzle to navigate. When you have school-aged children, looking for the best home in the best neighborhood can rely heavily on where the best schools are for throughout your child’s academic career. To help you navigate through the metro Denver area school rankings, Colorado School Grades lists the following top three Denver area schools for the 2012/2013 school year.
Denver Metro Area Elementary Schools
- Bradford Intermediate School in Jefferson County School District, Littleton, Colorado.
- Cottonwood Creek Elementary School in Cherry Creek School District, Englewood, Colorado.
- Aurora Quest K8 in Adams Arapahoe School District, Aurora, Colorado.
Denver Metro Area Middle Schools
- Stargate Charter School in Adams 12 Five Star School District, Thornton, Colorado.
- Montessori Peaks Charter Academy in Jefferson County School District, Littleton, Colorado.
- Slavens K8 School in Denver County School District, Denver, Colorado.
Denver Metro Area High Schools
- DSST: Stapleton in Denver County School District, Denver, Colorado.
- Compass Montessori Golden Charter School in Jefferson County School District, Golden, Colorado.
- Arapahoe High School in Littleton School District, Centennial, Colorado.
Denver Neighborhood Busing Options
Getting your kids to/from school can take up a lot of your time. And, buses don’t just stop on every neighborhood corner anymore. At many schools in the metro Denver and surrounding areas, private transportation companies provide busing to schools, but they may only service neighborhoods with the most demand. The private busing services also can typically cost additional money.
Before you settle on the perfect neighborhood near the best schools, look for transportation arrangement options that best suits your family’s needs. Distance and location of your home from your school or bus stop can make a big difference when it comes to walking/biking to school or having to drive – whether using bus transportation, neighborhood carpools, after-school homework program vans or mom’s old fashion station wagon.
Local Area Sports/After-School Programs
Back to school not only means assessments, orientations and new teacher introductions. It also can mean the start of fall sports seasons and activities. What your kids do after school can be as important as what school they go to, especially if you are a two parent working household. To help reduce the carting around of kids to/from school and activities, the best case scenario is that your school offers academic or sports after-school activities on campus or they host these activities at your school through third-party providers. Either way, finding a home in a community that caters to your family’s before, during and after-school needs should be an important concern for families with school-aged children.
If you find yourself thinking about moving to a new neighborhood to get your kids closer to the school of their dreams, give the Denver real estate experts at New Era Realty a call. They can help navigate your search for the best Denver area home to meet your family’s academic and lifestyle needs.
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