Anonymous wrote:My thought is that the best schools, even in an otherwise low performing state, are equal to or better than the schools that people move to in DMV. Even if the test scores are the same, often the ability to have a say in your local district, or have the local district respond to parent input on everything from curriculum to re-opening plans after Covid 19, is worth its weight in gold. Having done public and private in DMV and now public in another state for 1 year before Covid and 1 year during Covid, we are getting the DC private experience (cost = $40,000) at our local public. Also, whenever folks on DCUM discuss other states' schools, they go to the state wide rankings and school data. I live in a "flyover" state near a big city. Our town numbers surpass the stats of the DMV and we have been in hybrid since fall, about to go back full day in a few weeks. Overall, my state isn't as high as Massachusetts or New Jersey, but my own school district is. It's light years better than my DMV public, and slightly better than my DMV private. The cost savings and QOL is 💯
Anonymous wrote:No, but only if in other respects your quality of life would be about the same or better.
Anonymous wrote:Yes. Everyone knows you can have the same, if not better education experience, in front of a computer screen.
Personally, I’m thankful for this experiment, because it’s convinced me, we don’t need teachers in high cost of living areas, and instead should out source it to places with less overhead, but the same effectiveness.
Anonymous wrote:OP - I grew up moving often for my father's job. It really is not that hard to move. Though it can be more expensive than you may think unless you plan to use U-Haul method.
If you or DH are not happy where you are living now, it is worth looking into a new location. Schools would top the list for a new area but so would availability of the activities of interest to us, economics, retirement opportunities, etc.
Live boldly!