Public School Rankings
While there are pros and cons to both renting and buying,the long-term benefits of purchasing your own home greatly outweigh those of paying rent.
Florida, public schools receive grades from A to F, which are based on three main factors:
- 1. Overall student scores on the FCAT* in reading and math in grades 3 through 10, in science in grades 5, 8 and 11, and in writing in grades 4, 8 and 10.
- 2. Improvement in students' reading and math scores during the past year.
- 3. Improvement in reading and math among the bottom 25 percent of students in the school.
Schools get points based on how well they do in each category. The state's 800-point grading scale requires a certain amount of points for schools to get A’s, B's, C's, D's and F's.
The state also links grades to the percentage of eligible students who are tested each year. Schools earning an A must have tested at least 95 percent of their students. B, C and D schools must have tested at least 90 percent.
Because a school's grade is determined in part by how many students scored better or worse than the prior year, some schools may earn B's or C's even though their FCAT scores were better than those of some schools that received A's.
House Hunting with Young Kids
By educating and entertaining while we hunt for new homes, I make the home buying process fun for children. For boys, I’ve created a fun treasure hunt any pirate would envy, complete with a secret map in a bottle and plenty of pirate’s bounty. Girls get their own map to a secret garden, along with a pail, garden gloves and seeds for planting when they move into their new home. Both maps include real estate terms with simple definitions to help them understand the home buying process. At each home, kids will have tasks of their own, leaving the parents to thoroughly look through and evaluate the houses. I have even been known to hide treasures in a potential home.
Moving as a Family
Moving is a big deal, especially for kids. They may be concerned about losing friends, starting at a new school and being out of their comfort zone. To help curb fears, start your home buying process with a family meeting. When you get close to choosing a home, let kids choose their bedroom. Watch home shows on HGTV together. And go through IKEA magazines so they can redecorate their new rooms. Making kids a part of the process makes the move easier for everyone.
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Heather & Families
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Heather & Investors
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