Different School District and Town

Maybe this is because I'm not from Long Island, but help me understand something:

Why are some houses in one town but in a different town's school district?

For example, a house's address is in West Hempsted but the school is Franklin Square?

Is there any chance this could change, in this example, the school district change to West Hempstead?

It just doesn't make sense why the school district isn't based on the town

Edited to add: does anyone know when they search for comps for a home like this, do they still base it on zip code? does school district play into it?

Message edited 3/8/2013 9:55:03 AM.

Re: Different School District and Town

More than likely it won't change. I don't know why this happens at all, it doesn't make sense. By me, East Massapequa goes to Amityville schools. Not only are they different school districts but different counties! East Massapequa is in Nassau, town of Oyster Bay and Amityville schools are in Suffolk, town of Babylon.

Re: Different School District and Town

I don't know why either.

We are in the Amityville zipcode, but our school district is Copiague.

Re: Different School District and Town

This typically doesn't change but it CAN happen once in a blue moon. When I was graduating from elementary school (6th gr. no middle school in my district, only 7-12), some students that lived in a certain area were given the option to attend 1 HS (in district) or another (out of district) because they were getting ready to change the district zoning lines (back in the 90's).

I grew up in Valley Stream but was in the Elmont School district. I now live in Malverne but am in the Valley Stream district 13 school district.

I just think that certain towns are larger then others (Valley Stream includes 4 different school districts) and therefore only have so much space for students.

Regarding comps, I could be wrong but I believe they include schools which are in your district. Otherwise it's not an accurate comp since school districts do have an effect on home prices and areas.

Message edited 3/8/2013 10:14:21 AM.

Re: Different School District and Town

When DH was growing up, his parents bought a house in N Bayshore and the Bayshore SD. It was rezoned a few years later for the Brentwood SD.

Re: Different School District and Town

Message edited 6/12/2014 5:33:44 PM.

Re: Different School District and Town

The school district lines can change at any time. They generally don't. But it's more common for elementary school zones within a district to change rather than the district lines themselves changing. I think it's based on population and school capacity. So if you want to be, not just in x school district, but also be zoned for y elementary school, you have to realize that the lines can change. It's far less likely that you will buy in A school district and then find yourself rezoned for B school district, but it is conceivable, esp. if you live near a border AND won't be sending your kids to school for awhile.

On Long Island - there are MANY layers of government at the local level. So having so many school districts is just part of that confusing mass of interrelated/overlapping government, in my view.

So yes - one town (or hamlet, to be more accurate) can be a part of many school districts. For example, if you have a Wantagh address, you may go to Wantagh schools, or Levittown schools, or even Seaford or N. Bellmore schools (although most go to Wantagh or Levittown). I grew up in Seaford, and went to Seaford High, but parts of Seaford are in Levittown, Island Trees, and Plainedge school districts.

It's very important as a buyer to verify the school district you are buying in, if that is important to you. Don't just accept what is on the listing.

Also, Adriana is correct that, for appraisal purposes and market analysis purposes, the school district drives the value. So ideally, you find comps that are in the same neighborhood (so same town/same school district). But if it's not possible to do that, or there aren't enough of those comps (because homes in that area haven't sold recently), then you would find other recent sales in the same school district to use as comps. For example, I recently did a market analysis on a home that is located in Wantagh, but in N. Bellmore schools. There are only a few streets that are in that area that falls into the category of Wantagh address/N. Bellmore schools. Because I couldn't find any comps in that tiny area within the last 6 months, I looked to recent sales of homes in the N. Bellmore school district (located in the same area as the subject house) instead of looking to homes that sold in Wantagh town. That is what a bank appraiser would do as well.

Hope this clarifies!

Different School District and Town

In the past it did not happen often but with the current climate in Albany our smaller districts may be forced to face some dramatic change on LI. Just my opinion but I think we will see some merger of neighboring smaller districts in the coming years.