A family that consulted in Rochester a few years ago expressed a desire to move closer to the school. They wanted to reduce their commuting distance. From that point, we began to go through the items to check one by one.

First is the school. A well-known institution in the Rochester area for a long time is Allendale Columbia School. It serves 355 students from preschool through 12th grade, with one teacher for every six students. The tuition is $25,560 per year. Eighty percent of graduates go on to four-year colleges, with 32.22 percent attending top 50 universities in the U.S. and 24.44 percent entering the top 25. The percentage of students going to schools like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT is 3.33 percent. Nearby is Harley School, which has a similar tuition of $26,325 per year and is just 0.4 miles away from Allendale Columbia. In the past, one of these two schools was often mentioned, but now they are frequently compared side by side.

When looking at the college admission statistics, there is one thing to keep in mind. The terms "top 50" or "top 25" can vary slightly each year based on the college rankings released. It is more accurate to request the latest data from the school's website or admissions office for confirmation.

The fourth item to check is the academic calendar. Private schools in the U.S. typically start accepting applications in the fall of the previous year, closing in winter, with the new school year beginning in September. For families moving mid-semester from Korea, it is advisable to coordinate the timing of transfer with the school's admissions office in advance.

The second item to check is the neighborhood where the school is located. Both Allendale Columbia and Harley School are situated near Brighton. The median home price in Brighton as of January this year was about $305,000. According to Redfin data, homes sell quickly, often within two weeks of being listed.

The third area is a broader scope, which is Pittsford. As of July this year, the median listing price in this area was $549,000, and the median sale price over the last three months was $707,000. Zillow estimates the housing value at $534,140. The differences in numbers can feel significant due to varying calculation methods from different sources, but simply put, the listing price and actual sale price can differ, with many properties selling for more than the listing price. In fact, the ratio of sale price to listing price in April this year was 1.105, and 79.7 percent of listings sold for higher than the listing price. In such a market, it is common for multiple offers to be submitted to secure a spot in the desired school district, so it may be wise to have some budget flexibility.

Lastly, it is also necessary to compare with the overall city of Rochester. The median sale price for all of Rochester as of July this year was $199,000, and the average housing value was $252,192, which is significantly lower than Brighton or Pittsford. This indicates a substantial school district premium.

Some families may want to try renting first. Brighton and Pittsford have fewer rental listings compared to downtown Rochester, so if you want to find a rental within the desired school district, it may take some time to search. From an investment perspective, areas with a clear school district premium tend to have lower vacancy risks, but the initial purchase price is higher, which can affect yield calculations. It is advisable not to make decisions based solely on the figures from school websites. Visiting during open house or campus tour dates and requesting the last three years of college admission statistics from the admissions office for confirmation can be beneficial.

In summary, the four items to check are the school's admission statistics, tuition, real estate prices in the neighborhood, and rental demand. School district boundaries have changed over time, so please verify the assigned school for the specific address before making a purchase. This is not investment or legal advice, and it is recommended to consult with professionals before finalizing any contracts.