How common is it for school districts to change boundaries?

Question

We are purchasing a home in a new town. It’s in a great school district, but just barely. A few blocks over is a less than stellar school district. Schools are very important to us. 
How often do school district boundaries change? Is that common? Is it difficult to have happen? Additionally, does it make it more difficult since they are two separate school districts and not just school boundaries?

Answer

Very rare between two different school districts.  What is more common is adjusting lines within one school district if there are multiple elementary schools to help balance numbers in each elementary school.

Answer

In our state, it’s rare and would be quite the process because no school wants to give up property taxes by moving boundaries. Oftentimes, people who live near but not in the district they want petition to open enroll. Our district has more students open enroll in than out because they like our district more than the ones they’re in. We don’t provide transportation for those students though. Parents have to get their kids to school, but most don’t have a problem (some just bring their kids to a neighbor in district to get on the bus). You could also reach out to the district superintendent, school board, or principal and ask the likelihood of boundary changes before purchasing the home.

Answer

Not sure about the boundary thing, but in many places you can ask the district for a transfer to another district if you really need to, my parents did that with me when I was in high school.

Answer

It would be very unlikely, not saying impossible, but it would be a very long drawn out process too. It involves one district giving up the property taxes to another and no district ever wants to give up their taxes.

Answer

When I was in high school, the three elementary schools in our town switched boundaries, but that’s because one school was overwhelmed and running out of room. 
I don’t think it’s very common between different districts though.

Answer

So I can’t comment on districts because we only have one giant district for my whole province now. But they do change school zones (the area a physical school services) relatively frequently, like once every 5 years if there’s a need. For example, my husbands family didn’t move while they were growing up, but he and his brother went to different high schools even though they were only born two years apart. 
My advice would be to not buy a house with the main attraction being the school zone. If you otherwise love the house and neighbourhood then that’s fine.

How common is it for school districts to change boundaries?

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