The Peninsula must be a great place to raise a family: cute neighborhoods filled with streets of bungalow-style homes, lot sizes large enough for shade trees and gardens, many public parks, mid-century-style downtown shopping districts, and some of the top-rated public schools in California.

It is for this reason that school scores (API scores) seem increasingly more important, whether my buyers are 19 or 90, the school district always seeps into the conversation. 

The API rating of the local school can greatly affect the pricing and value of a home, as competition for esteemed schools keeps residential addresses within the highly acclaimed school’s district buoyant. 

According to the 2009 Academic Performance Index, San Mateo County boasts several top-rated schools in the state. Citing just a few of those schools:

• Sandpiper Elementary Foster City with an API of 935
• Lincoln Elementary in Burlingame with an API of 925
• West Hillsborough Elementary in Hillsborough with an API of 987
• Oak Knoll Elementary in Menlo Park with an API of 940
• Baywood Elementary in San Mateo with an API of 946

The API is an annual rating of California Public Schools conducted by the California Department of Education. Check the site for specific school scores throughout the state by clicking here.

And to see how schools affect a specific property’s value, feel free to drop me a line.