What data should I look at to compare school districts before picking where to buy?
Answered by Allen Markel, REALTOR®, Texas Premier Realty ·
Short answer
Start with the Texas Education Agency website for accreditation status, state accountability ratings, and financial management ratings (FIRST). Look at what matters to your household: test scores, graduation rates, campus-level reports, and whether the district meets state standards. School choice, special programs, and extracurriculars vary by campus. Visit schools, talk to current households, and compare what fits your needs and budget.
Where to find official school data
The Texas Education Agency publishes accountability information for every public school district and campus in Texas. You can find accreditation status (Accredited, Accredited-Warned, Accredited-Probation, or Not Accredited-Revoked), state accountability ratings, and financial management ratings through the TEA website at tea.texas.gov.
The TEA also publishes school report cards and Texas Academic Performance Reports that show test results, graduation rates, and other metrics by district and campus. This data is public and free. Start there to narrow down which districts meet your baseline expectations.
What specific data points matter
Different households care about different things. Some focus on standardized test performance and graduation rates. Others prioritize whether a campus offers a particular program, language immersion, career training, or athletics. Some look at class size, teacher experience, or campus discipline records.
Accreditation status tells you whether the state has concerns about the district's overall performance. Financial management ratings (FIRST) show how well the district manages money and allocates resources to instruction. Neither of these alone determines whether a school is right for you.
Beyond the state data, visit campuses, talk to households who live in the district, and ask about programs and policies that matter to your household. School choice options, magnet programs, and special services vary by campus within a district.
How to use the data in your decision
Comparing districts means weighing what the data shows against what your household needs. A district with strong test scores may not have the program you are looking for. A district with lower ratings may have a specific strength that matters to you. The right choice depends on your priorities, your budget, and where you can afford to live.
Do not rely on state data alone. Visit the schools, ask questions about class sizes and teacher turnover, and find out what current households say about the experience. Talk to us to find the right option for your circumstances as you weigh location, schools, and your home purchase.
Common follow-up questions
Where do I find Texas school accountability ratings?
The Texas Education Agency website (tea.texas.gov) publishes accreditation status, state accountability ratings, school report cards, and financial management ratings (FIRST) for every district and campus. The data is free and public.
What does accreditation status mean?
TEA assigns districts one of four accreditation statuses: Accredited, Accredited-Warned, Accredited-Probation, or Not Accredited-Revoked. Status reflects the state's assessment of the district's overall performance against state standards.
What is the FIRST rating?
FIRST is the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas. It rates how well districts manage their finances and allocate resources to instruction. It is one data point among many to consider.
Should I only look at test scores?
No. Test scores are one metric. Also consider graduation rates, programs offered, campus visits, what current households say, and whether the district offers what your household needs.
Do all schools in a district have the same rating?
No. Individual campuses have their own performance data. A district may have campuses with different performance levels, and programs vary by campus.
Sources
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