I once heard the story of a family who bought a house in Savannah a year ago. They signed the contract believing they were in a district with a GreatSchools score of 9, but after moving in, they found out that the school boundaries had been redrawn, and their assigned school was different. The score listed and the actual assigned school were not the same. They were upset to learn this too late.

The reason this happens is not so much a problem with the GreatSchools score itself, but rather with how the scores are verified. The score is a value that combines test scores, college readiness, academic growth, and equity, rated on a scale from 1 to 10. This number is useful, but it is based solely on the most recent data for that school. The school boundaries are adjusted separately based on district budgets or student numbers. Therefore, even if the score listed is accurate, the assigned school at the time of moving can differ.

Looking at the Chatham County school district that oversees Savannah, this discrepancy is evident. The Chatham County school district has 62 schools with 34,957 students enrolled. Among them, Savannah Arts Academy has a GreatSchools score of 10, while Savannah Early College High School has a score of 9. In contrast, Savannah-Chatham E-Learning Academy only scores a 3 (according to GreatSchools). This district includes specialized schools that require applications and selections for admission, which can make the score gap feel larger than it actually is when compared to regular assigned schools.

While there are advantages to signing a contract based solely on scores, there are also aspects that can be overlooked. The advantage is that it allows for a quick assessment of the district's level. Conversely, what can be missed are details such as when the score was last updated, whether the boundaries have changed recently, and what the student-to-teacher ratio is. Therefore, after checking the score, three additional factors must be considered: the score trends over the last 3-5 years, the student-to-teacher ratio, and most importantly, the actual assigned school for that address. The assigned school can be directly checked on the Chatham County School District's website using the address.

For investors considering rental income, like this family, school scores should be viewed from a slightly different angle. For families living in the home, the assigned school is an absolute standard, but for those approaching it for rental purposes, it is worth noting that areas with higher school scores tend to have more stable rental demand. However, this does not guarantee absolute price increases, and other variables such as vacancy rates and management costs must also be considered. In areas like Savannah, where the tourism industry is significant, short-term rental demand and long-term rental demand can behave differently, so it is advisable to approach it according to your purpose.

Ultimately, what this family learned too late was that they should not accept the listing score as a confirmed fact at the time of signing the contract. The scores and assignment boundaries are updated on different schedules. Scores are adjusted based on new academic data released each year, while boundaries change more irregularly based on decisions made by the school board. Assuming both are based on the same timeframe can lead to misunderstandings. The family regretted skipping the step of double-checking the assigned school before signing the contract.

To summarize the items to check before signing a contract:

• Reference point for the GreatSchools score
• Score trends over the last 3-5 years
• Student-to-teacher ratio
• Distinction between regular assigned schools and specialized schools
• Actual assigned school based on the address (check with the county education office)

Scores are useful as a starting point, but there is more to verify before using them as the basis for a contract. This article is not investment or legal advice, and it is recommended to double-check the assigned school through the Chatham County School District before finalizing any contracts.