The GreatSchools score for Fort Lee High School is 6. This number may seem puzzling at first glance. Given its graduation rate of 95%, an average SAT score of 1340, and an average GPA of 3.6, it feels low. This is where the numbers and impressions diverge.

To understand this difference, we first need to look at what the GreatSchools rating is based on. The school scores you see on Zillow and Redfin are assigned by a nonprofit organization called GreatSchools. They are rated on a scale from 1 to 10. A single representative figure cannot fully explain the entire rating.

According to the official description, high school ratings are composed of four elements: test scores, academic growth, college readiness, and equity. If a school has complete data, achievement, growth, and college readiness each contribute 33% to the score. College readiness includes not only SAT and ACT scores but also graduation rates, AP, IB, and dual enrollment participation rates. The equity metric reflects how evenly the performance, attendance, and disciplinary data of various student groups, such as low-income or disabled students, are distributed. Therefore, having a high average SAT score does not automatically raise the overall rating.

If you search for a school name on the GreatSchools site, you will find separate detailed scores for test scores, growth, college readiness, and equity displayed below the overall score. The growth metric is particularly interesting; schools with many high-achieving students may easily receive a high rating based solely on test scores, while growth measures how much improvement has been made compared to the previous year. Thus, even if the average SAT is high, a low growth score may result in an overall rating that is not as high as expected.

This point has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that it reflects the achievements of the entire student body, not just the top-performing students. The disadvantage is that for those who judge based solely on visible numbers like SAT scores or graduation rates, the rating may feel different from the actual experience. This is based on GreatSchools.org and the Fort Lee High School page.

Therefore, it is important to look beyond just the overall rating and examine the detailed components. Depending on which of the achievement, growth, college readiness, or equity metrics is low, you can determine the actual strengths and weaknesses of the school. It is also helpful to see if the rating has been trending upward in recent years.

The student-to-teacher ratio and parent reviews are also worth considering. They can somewhat compensate for the atmosphere that the rating may overlook.

In areas like Fort Lee, where property prices are high, it is also important to consider the burden of property taxes. Rather than budgeting generously just because the school rating is good, it is safer to first calculate the monthly out-of-pocket expenses, including taxes and insurance. Tax rates can vary by county and town.

Schools with a high percentage of international students or those that offer IB programs often show strengths in the college readiness category. By opening the detailed metrics next to the rating, you may discover strengths that are not visible from the average SAT score alone.

Here are the items to check:

• Detailed metrics that make up the rating, including test scores, growth, and college readiness
• Student-to-teacher ratio, parent reviews
• Actual assigned school based on property address

In Fort Lee, the nature of properties can vary within the same school district depending on commuting conditions or apartment complex configurations. Once you check the actual assigned school along with the rating, it becomes much easier to narrow down options within your budget.

You cannot definitively determine a school's quality based on just one rating. School district boundaries often change, so be sure to verify the assigned school for the specific address before signing a contract. This article is not investment or legal advice, and it is recommended to consult a professional before making any actual agreements.