Your first step is to narrow down your search by school district ranking. Its rating system includes common indicators of higher- versus lower-ranking schools such as college enrollment rates, academic rigor, and support for low-income. You may also wish to broaden your criteria with other metrics such as class and district size, recess time, and even the quality of the local pre-kindergarten schools in your desired areas. And of course, nothing beats an onsite visit for a real gut-check to determine what’s best for your child.

It may come as a surprise that property taxes in schools with high rankings aren't always greater. Property taxes are levied in most states, although how much varies considerably from state to state and even county to county. Local government funding is primarily derived from tax revenue, however the manner in which it is apportioned (whether for services or school districts)

Large businesses and highly-valued properties share the burden of educating children over a wide tax base in metropolitan areas. In contrast, school costs may be higher in more rural or outlying suburban regions with fewer corporate taxpayers