For many, that sole reason is our schools.
Why are Madison City Schools so good?
3 Reasons Madison City Schools are Top-Rated
1. The superintendent and school board members are all appointed, not elected.
Neighboring school systems, such as Madison County and Huntsville City, have elections for their school board members, but Mayor Paul Finley is quick to say that Madison City’s system of appointing these positions is a leading contributor to the system’s success.
“It takes the politics out of it completely. Nobody is pushing for their district to do better than others,” he shared. “Everybody is on the same team working towards the betterment of our system as a whole.”
2. The schools are all socioeconomically balanced.
Magnuson shared that “Madison City Schools is dedicated to ensuring that every student has equal advantages.”
“We keep schools as equal as possible so that there are no haves and have-nots,” says Pecks. “Keeping schools socioeconomically balanced is best for everyone and better prepares students for the world they will encounter.”
Mayor Finley says that the percentage of students that receive free or reduced lunch is nearly equal across all of our schools.
In order to maintain equal schools, rezoning occasionally takes place. It’s not uncommon for students to be zoned for schools that are further away from their homes than others. In fact, my neighborhood is currently zoned for an elementary school that is further away than three other elementary schools.
[Personal note: Would I love for the school my children attend to be the one that is right around the corner. 100% with a doubt. But do I also like that our home value has increased exponentially in the last few years? OH, YES. I would like my kids to go to the school around the corner and have sky-rocketing home values, but if I had to pick, I’d take the higher home values and drive the extra mile to my kids’ school. Just my opinion; I know others who feel differently.]
“As for proximity to schools, Madison is relatively densely packed with schools not that spread out,” shared Peck. “So if there is a neighborhood zoned to a school further than the closest one, it’s not likely to be much further as in a rural system or a sprawling metro area like Huntsville that has over 200 square miles.”
Families can expect a big rezoning shuffle in the next two years due to one small elementary school closing at the end of this school year (West Madison Elementary will turn into the new Pre-Kindergarten center in August 2021) and one brand new, large elementary school opening in August 2021 (Midtown). In August 2022, a brand new middle school is expected to open, bringing the total number of middle schools to three.
Though Mayor Finley acknowledges the occasional discomfort with being rezoned, he is adamant that this is a necessary step in maintaining our top-notch schools, quality of life, and equal opportunities for all.
3. Employee retention is high.
Peck says that “everything starts with great teachers and principals, so there is great emphasis on hiring the best and then supporting them with ample resources and professional development.”
Magnuson, the child of an educator, shared that she believes teachers are happier knowing that any school they work at in the city limits will perform well.
“This ensures employee retention and also keeps one school from falling behind another.”
Property Values
On Appealing to Demographics Without School-aged Children
Mayor Finley shared an interesting perspective on appealing to demographics who do not have school-aged children. He says that it’s absolutely necessary that Madison provide desirable options for those who are nearing retirement as well as our elderly community.
“We have a lot of young families moving here and picking Madison to plant their roots because of our schools. Then we have the grandparents who want to be near their grandchildren, so they decide to stay here or move here too,” says Finley. “And having family nearby means that multiple generations are likely to stick around and call Madison home.”
His overall message is that Madison is a community that he wants to be an ideal place to live for all demographics and that he truly believes our top-notch school system reaps benefits for all.
To learn more about Madison City Schools, visit their website.
Meet the October Sponsor
of “Moving to Madison Mondays”
KEYFINDERS Group
KEYFINDERS Group understands that buying or selling a home is more than just a transaction: it’s a life-changing experience. That’s why our team of highly-seasoned real estate professionals is dedicated to providing exceptional, personalized service for all of our clients. We take great pride in the relationships we build and always work relentlessly on the client’s behalf to help them achieve their real estate goals.
To inquire about using KEYFINDERS Group for your upcoming real estate needs, please email Katie or find them on Instagram.
More from Madison
Moving to Madison Mondays: #1 | 9 Reasons People Love Living in Madison, Alabama
A List of New Construction Neighborhoods in Madison, Alabama
