When you first look at the data for New Haven public schools, it can honestly be a bit shocking.

This is because the average math proficiency in city public schools is about 13%, and reading is around 25%.

You can't help but wonder why the public school performance is like this in a city with Yale University.

However, it would be a mistake to conclude that all schools in New Haven city are bad. There is a significant difference between schools. For example, there are schools like Worthington Hooker School that receive relatively good evaluations, and New Haven offers various magnet school options.

So, if your workplace is Yale or Yale New Haven Hospital, it might be a good idea to first look into the available schools and assignment methods before moving to the suburbs.

Still, when prioritizing school districts for children, many end up looking at Woodbridge and Orange.

Woodbridge is a region with a very good school district rating in New Haven County. According to Niche, it ranks 2nd in the county and 14th overall in Connecticut. Notably, Amity Regional High School is well-known in the high school curriculum. It receives a rating of around 9 from GreatSchools and is highly preferred by families preparing for college.

Orange cannot be overlooked either. It has an A- school district rating from Niche and is not very far from downtown New Haven. For parents commuting to Yale or the hospital, the advantage is that they can manage their children's schooling without sacrificing much commuting time.

In fact, when Korean families start looking for homes, the dilemma begins here. Living near Yale makes commuting very convenient, but the schools for the kids are a concern, and moving to Woodbridge or Orange means the schools are satisfactory, but home prices go up. The saying that nothing is free in this world fits perfectly here.

Especially when comparing the prices of single-family homes in Woodbridge to those in downtown New Haven, the difference is significant. Ultimately, you end up paying more for housing to get into a good school district. If you have two kids and plan to live there for more than 10 years, some families may be willing to bear this cost and move to the suburbs, while others with younger children or those who might move to another area in a few years may think differently.

Just because the budget is tight doesn't mean you have to give up on New Haven. There are options to choose relatively affordable city housing or rentals and actively look into magnet schools. Especially if you plan to do research or study at Yale for a few years and then move to another city, this approach might be more realistic than buying a home in an expensive school district right away.

However, when signing a contract for a home, you shouldn't just rely on the school district maps available online. A common mistake when buying a home in the U.S. is assuming which school your child will attend based solely on the address. If the house is near the borders of Woodbridge, Orange, or New Haven, it's safer to inform the school district of the address before signing the contract and confirm the actual assigned school.

If possible, moving in May or June is convenient. This is when more listings become available as the spring semester ends, and if you complete the address change and transfer procedures during the summer break, your child can start the new school year at a new school.

Ultimately, if you're looking for a home while raising kids in New Haven, the choices are relatively clear. If you prioritize commuting and price, you should explore both downtown New Haven and magnet schools, while if you consider school districts the most important, you should compare Woodbridge and Orange. Rather than deciding based solely on the house, it's much more realistic to calculate which school your child will attend for the next few years as well.