As our third child Nate gears up to graduate from Woodinville High School in June, our family is wrapping up a season of being actively involved in the Northshore School District. We are grateful for all it has offered our kids, and can attest to how it provides “a world-class education,” as its mission states, that “assures each graduate is career and college ready.”

Our positive experience reminds me about how school districts are high on the list of what’s most important to many homebuyers. It’s not uncommon for buyers to start their search based solely on the school district. Parents want their kids to go to the best school, and people without children desire living in an area where homes hold their value, which comes in large part from being located in a good school district.

I’ve seen over and over again how the Northshore School District is a top reason people choose Hollywood Hill and other Woodinville neighborhoods as the place to live. The most recent statistics report “Of the 1,498 Northshore School District graduates in 2010, 78% entered higher education directly from high school, compared to a statewide average of 62%. Over 80% of those college-bound students enrolled in a Washington state college or university with 37% entering a public 4-year institution, 6% entering a private 4-year institution, 38% attending a public 2-year institution, and 1% attending a private 2-year institution. The remaining 18% enrolled out-of-state, with the vast majority of those entering a public or private 4-year college or university.”

These numbers support one more reason why Woodinville is a choice place to live. Visit www.nsds.org to check out school locations relative to neighborhoods, or give me a call. I understand how the “location” in real estate also means “school district!"