As you drive up Highway 15, the wide expanse of Victorville comes into view under the blazing sun.

More people are choosing to move here because home prices are nearly half as cheap as in LA, but if you take a look at the school environment, your neighborhood choice may change. There is a significant disparity in school districts within Victorville.

Victorville has a mix of the Victor Valley Union High School District (high school) and several elementary school districts. Schools that receive relatively high ratings at the elementary level tend to be concentrated in the northern part of Victorville and near Spring Valley Lake. Schools like Brentwood Elementary and Mojave Vista Elementary are typically rated between 5 and 7 out of 10 on GreatSchools, which is higher than the overall average for Victorville.

At the high school level, Liberty High School and Victor Valley High School are the main options. Liberty High School tends to maintain a relatively high rating (4 to 5 out of 10 on GreatSchools) within the Victor Valley Union, but it is difficult to compare directly with prestigious public high schools in LA County or Orange County. This is something that needs to be stated honestly. The overall rating level of the Victorville school district appears to be in the lower middle range among California cities, and if you prioritize your children's school district, you need to consider this reality.

So, how can you make a relatively better choice within Victorville? The area near the Spring Valley Lake gated community and the northwestern part of Victorville tends to have somewhat higher school ratings and a more stable living environment compared to other areas. The median price for single-family homes in this area is expected to be around $400,000 to $550,000 by 2025 according to Zillow, which is slightly higher than the overall median for Victorville (around $380,000 to $420,000).

When Korean families choose Victorville, the primary consideration is often the affordability of housing and living costs, with the school district being a secondary consideration. Some Korean families supplement the limitations of the public school district by sending their children to nearby charter schools in Apple Valley or Hesperia. Victor Valley Charter School and Mojave River Academy are frequently mentioned as examples.

Compared to nearby cities, the Apple Valley Unified School District tends to maintain a slightly higher rating than Victorville within the High Desert area. Home prices are also similar, so families that prioritize school districts may want to consider Apple Valley. Hesperia appears to be at a similar or slightly lower level compared to Victorville.

When choosing a neighborhood in Victorville, it is advisable to also consider charter school options. Even if the public school district ratings are somewhat low, there are several charter schools that can be applied to regardless of district boundaries, and these schools often have higher ratings than regular public schools. However, charter schools may have enrollment limits and operate on a lottery basis, so it is important to check application schedules in advance before moving.

From my perspective after observing California real estate for decades, Victorville clearly has strengths in terms of living space and area relative to home prices. However, if your child's school age is a critical time, I recommend carefully considering school district ratings and charter school options just as much as home prices before making a decision.