There was a family looking for a house in Ann Arbor. They saw a house in Zillow, and the assigned elementary school score on the map was 9. They felt relieved and almost signed the contract. However, when they asked a friend who already lived in the neighborhood, they received a lukewarm response. They heard that although the score was high, their child was just average, which made them reconsider the contract.

This kind of discrepancy occurs more often than you might think. The school scores listed on real estate websites do not always match the reputation felt by local residents. Scores are numerical indicators, while reputations are stories mixed with personal experiences. Both are worth considering, but it's important to recognize that they are different in nature.

The scores seen on Zillow or Redfin are mostly assigned by a nonprofit organization called GreatSchools. They are rated from 1 to 10, showing the relative position compared to other schools in the same state. A score of 7 to 10 is considered above average, 5 to 6 is average, and 1 to 4 is below average.

To simplify how these scores are calculated: test scores carry significant weight, along with academic progress, which measures how much students have grown over the year, and equity indicators that assess how well schools perform for students from disadvantaged backgrounds or with disabilities. For high schools, college readiness is also factored in. In other words, the score is not based solely on test results.

This calculation method underwent a major change in 2020. Previously, the weight of test scores was excessively high, leading to concerns that scores were heavily influenced by family income. Therefore, the emphasis on growth and equity indicators was increased. The scores you see now reflect a wider range of factors than before.

In fact, there are clear disparities even within the Ann Arbor public school district. According to GreatSchools, Martin Luther King Elementary School has a score of 9, Logan Elementary School has a score of 8, and Burns Park Elementary School has even received a perfect score of 10. This means that even within the same city and school district, schools can vary significantly. (As of 2026, greatschools.org)

If you actually open the school page, you will see the student-to-teacher ratio next to the score, star ratings from parents and students, and graphs showing grade changes over the past few years. It's advisable not to close the page after just looking at one number; make it a habit to check these detailed items as well. Especially for schools with few reviews, it's safer not to judge the overall atmosphere based on just a few comments.

However, remember that these scores are updated annually based on the test data released by the state education department. This means that a school with a score of 9 this year does not guarantee a score of 9 next year. Judging solely by one grade could lead to a situation that differs from the actual circumstances at the time of enrollment. Additionally, this score is only a relative ranking within Michigan. Comparing it directly with scores from other states can be confusing.

• Trends in grades over the past few years
• Student-to-teacher ratio
• Reviews from parents who actually attended
• Confirming that the desired address is indeed assigned to that school

School district boundaries change more often than you might expect. Even within the same neighborhood, it's common for assigned schools to differ across a single road. So, if you have a house in mind, don't just trust the school district map; directly input the address into the district's website to verify the assigned school.

Especially for families moving to Ann Arbor from outside Michigan, it's important to check not only the school ratings but also the property tax rates in the area of the school district. Property tax burdens can vary significantly by county, so estimating based on where you previously lived could lead to budget planning issues.

This article is not investment or legal advice, and it is recommended to review the assigned schools and grade trends with a real estate professional before making any contracts.