A family was looking for properties on the east side of Detroit. They had a set budget. Two potential locations were within a ten-minute walk of each other. However, the assigned school scores varied significantly.

One location was in downtown Detroit. The other was in the Grosse Pointe area, just across a road called Alter Road. Despite being separated by just one road, the assigned school districts were completely different.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District has 49,413 students and 111 schools. Among them, Renaissance High School received a score of 9 according to GreatSchools. It is a magnet school that offers the International Baccalaureate program. Given the size of the district with 111 schools, it's good to know that there is considerable variation in scores among the schools.

Across the road, Grosse Pointe South High School has a score of 10. Since the 2017-18 school year, it has received college readiness awards seven times, and its regular attendance rate is 84 percent, higher than the Michigan state average of 72 percent. On the surface, both schools have decent scores. However, the point of confusion for the family was different.

The property in Detroit was not assigned to a magnet school like Renaissance High School. The actual assigned school based on the address had a lower score than Renaissance. They realized too late that the school mentioned in the property description might not be the same as the actual assigned school.

The reason for this confusion is simple. Real estate websites show several nearby schools for reference, but that does not guarantee they are the actual assigned schools. Especially for magnet or specialized schools, students must go through an application process to be admitted, so they are not assigned based solely on the address.

Understanding the score composition can clarify things. The GreatSchools score is a result of combining test scores, academic growth, college readiness, and equity indicators, weighted differently based on school level and data. Schools like Renaissance, which are application-based, often have a more selective student body, making them favorable in these metrics, while general assigned schools accept local children, resulting in different score trends. For investors looking for rental income, it is safer to verify the actual assigned school rather than assuming demand based solely on proximity to a magnet school.

• Check if the school mentioned in the property description is application-based or address-assigned
• Directly input the actual residence address into the school district boundary map to verify
• If there are two adjacent school districts, accurately determine where the boundary lies
• Check recent grade trends along with overall scores

Areas like Detroit and Grosse Pointe, where school districts are divided by just one road, require extra caution. Before visiting a property, it is necessary to verify the assigned school with the county education department's website using the exact address.

For families moving to Michigan from out of state, it is also advisable to review property tax and insurance conditions. Since these can vary by county, be sure to check each property individually. For investors looking for rental income, the Detroit area may have lower purchase prices, but tenant demand can vary significantly based on school scores, while Grosse Pointe may have stable demand but higher purchase prices and property tax burdens. It is important to consider these factors, as it cannot be assumed that prices will always rise or that profits are guaranteed, so it is wise to also assess the risks involved.

School district boundaries are defined by a line on a map. If you do not verify where that line is, the school you like may actually belong to someone else's district. This article is not investment or legal advice, and it is recommended to consult with a professional before making any actual contracts.