A family looking at properties in Closter asked, "If the school scores are high, does that mean the home prices are also high?" It's a natural question. The answer is generally yes. However, if you don't understand what the scores mean, your judgment can be swayed.

The school ratings you see on Zillow and Redfin are assigned by a nonprofit organization called GreatSchools. They are given as a number between 1 and 10. A higher score gives the impression of being better, but you need to look at how the score is constructed to read it correctly. Even with the same score of 8, different schools may have varying strengths and weaknesses.

According to GreatSchools' official explanation, the ratings combine four factors: test scores, academic growth, college readiness, and equity. For high schools with complete data, achievement, growth, and college readiness each account for 33%. College readiness is based on SAT and ACT scores, graduation rates, and participation rates in AP and IB programs. Equity looks at whether results are evenly distributed among various groups, such as low-income or disabled students.

If you search for a school name on the GreatSchools site, you will find detailed scores for these four categories below the overall score. By looking at several years of data, you can also see whether the ratings are trending upward or downward. If you only look at the overall score, you might miss these important details.

Growth is particularly important for a reason. Schools with many high-achieving students can easily receive high ratings based solely on test scores. In contrast, growth measures how much students have improved compared to the previous year, so a school that started with lower scores can still receive a good rating if it shows consistent improvement. Two schools with the same overall score can have very different compositions.

Closter's Tenakill Middle School received an 8 from GreatSchools. The percentage of students reaching the minimum proficiency level in math is 70%, and in reading, it's 83%. It is considered one of the top middle schools in New Jersey, according to GreatSchools.org and SchoolDigger. This school is part of the Northern Valley school district, and students from nearby Demarest and Haworth also attend the same high school.

A high score often reflects in property prices. However, you should not make judgments based solely on one score. You also need to check whether the ratings have been trending upward in recent years, the student-to-teacher ratio, and parent reviews. Even within the same school district, the detailed metrics can vary by school.

The most easily overlooked aspect is checking the assigned school. School boundaries can vary within Closter based on roads or subdivisions. This means that the school listed on real estate sites may differ from the actual assigned school.

New Jersey is known to have a relatively high property tax burden. Families moving from other states should not budget based solely on school ratings but should also factor in property taxes and insurance to get a true sense of their monthly expenses. Tax rates can vary by county and town.

Towns like Closter, which have high school ratings, tend to see properties sell quickly when they come on the market. Instead of rushing based solely on school ratings, it's better to first check the detailed composition of the ratings and recent trends to reduce mistakes.

Here are the items to check in practice:

• Recent trends in GreatSchools ratings over the last 3-5 years
• Student-to-teacher ratio and parent reviews
• Actual assigned school based on property address

Since the entire Northern Valley school district, including Closter, is considered among the top in New Jersey, comparing school ratings among nearby towns to find one that fits your budget is also a good strategy. Even within the same school district, there can be price differences based on property type or size.

Scores are a starting point, not a conclusion. School district boundaries change frequently, so be sure to verify the assigned school for the specific address before signing a contract. This article is not investment or legal advice, and it is recommended to consult with a professional before making any actual agreements.