Florida Living | Nocatee Blog

The Holidays Are Bright At Nocatee!

Good Schools Important to New Home Buyers

Posted by Donna Lundgren - Nocatee Welcome Center Manager

3/21/14 5:00 PM

As another school year draws to a close, families in the market for a new home are ramping up their search with an eye toward being settled in their new house before school starts in the fall.

The connection between house hunting and schools is a strong one: Realtor.com’s Back to School survey found that three out of five homebuyers said being within the boundaries of a particular school district was important to them. So much so, in fact, that a majority of homebuyers said they were willing to pay up to 10 percent more than they had budgeted for their new home to live in a particular school district. A survey by real estate site Redfin, meanwhile, found that buyers were willing to pay $50 more per square foot just to be in a well-regarded school district.

St. Johns County Schools

St. Johns County is recognized as having the top-rated schools in the state of Florida, placing the county high on the list of many Northeast Florida homebuyers.

“Many visitors to the Welcome Center say they were drawn to Nocatee because of the excellent school system,” said Donna Lundgren, manager of the Nocatee Welcome Center. “Families are also very excited to learn about the brand new K-8 school opening right here in Nocatee in the fall.”

The nationally recognized Nease and Ponte Vedra high schools also serve St. Johns County Nocatee families.

Selecting a School District

So, how should prospective homebuyers go about evaluating whether a school district is right for their child? Parent engagement websites recommend:

Do your homework: Many states and school districts post school data online, enabling parents to review objective measurements of a school’s academic performance. For comments from past and present students and parents, visit websites such as GreatSchools.org.
 
Consider the facilities: How old are the school buildings? Are they equipped with the latest technology? Are the buildings in compliance with all safety codes?
 
Review school policies and procedures: What is the school’s policy on discipline? What about safety procedures? How will parents be notified in the event of an emergency?
 
Look beyond textbooks: What extracurricular activities does the school district offer? Are the offerings a good match for your child’s interests?
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For more information on schools serving the Nocatee community, visit the Nocatee Welcome Center or call 1-800-NOCATEE.

Topics: St. Johns County School Board, Nocatee Schools, Single-family Homes, Master Planned Community, Benefits of a Master Planned Community, Growing Families