GreatSchools Now Has Maps with School & District Ratings

GreatSchools now has maps of school districts, complete with locations of schools and the ratings for both.

Type in your home address (or the address of where you’re planning to move) and voila. You can also type in a zip code, but it won’t be able to pinpoint a district, as zip codes often cross district lines.

Not only do you get a listing of the schools you’re likely zoned to, you see boundary lines for the district, and GreatSchools ratings for schools in that district.

Ratings are color-coded: green for above average (8 – 10), yellow for average (4 – 7), and red for below average (1 – 3).

Here’s how GreatSchools compiles ratings. Yes, achievement scores are part of the rating, but parent ratings are also considered.

Principals are offered an opportunity to complete an official profile of the school as well. Folks increasingly rely on these types of ratings to find schools for their children, so encourage your school officials to complete the profile so ratings will be more accurate.

When you click on a school, a “Homes for sale” link is displayed. When you click that link, you’re sent to Zillow’s home listings within the boundaries of the school district.

The ability to visualize the perceived quality of the schools around your current or prospective home is certainly of value, but please remember to keep these types of rankings and ratings in perspective.