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Sunday, March 13, 2011

On the Market: The Country's Best High Schools Offer Prime Real Estate to Match

× Like us and you'll find top breaking news in your Facebook newsfeed. Sign up for our daily email newsletter and get top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Monday, January 31, 2011, by Rob

In this country, one of the perennial desires of family-oriented homebuyers is a prime school district. The best of the best offer talented students the chance to thrive and penny-pinching parents the opportunity to save some cash on private school tuition. That said, real estate in the most favored districts often fetches a premium. So when we set out to find a house within the purview of each of the top five high schools in the country, it wasn't surprising when the results included some primo listings. When you're saving up to $35K a year per kid on tuition, that should leave plenty of cash left over for the house, right? Well, not when you're shelling out $9.5M for a riverfront brick colonial. That's how much this 12-acre property in Virginia's Fairfax County is asking (above). Then again, the buyer will be getting a lot more than just potential enrollment for the little brainiacs in the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, the country's No. 1 public high school according to U.S. News and World Report. The 7,200-square-foot main house features six bedrooms, five bathrooms, a swimming pool with a pool house, pre-war craftsmanship, and direct access to the Potomac River. Yes, of course there are cheaper options, but proud parents deserve some swanky digs, too.

? Five hundred miles from the rolling hills of Virginia, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. is home to the International Academy, No. 2 in the U.S. News ranking. Traditionally called home by the wealthiest Detroit-area residents, Bloomfield Hills features demanding schools and some familiar architecture, including this $2.95M "exact replica of Westover," a sprawling Virginia plantation." Let's hope that tradition of plagiarism doesn't carry over to the classroom.

? Next, we head out to the relatively anonymous SoCal community of Cerritos, home to No. 3 Whitney High School. A less rarified town than the frontrunners, it won't take more than a million dollars to score some of Cerritos's prime real estate, like this four-bed, four-bath spread with a classy address on Bogart Circle. Though we're certain ol' Humphrey had little to do with it, this house is still asking almost $900K. Glamorous it's not, but a good choice for the family nonetheless.

? Not far away, in Cypress, Calif., this four-bedroom is one of the priciest gateways to nearby fourth-place Oxford Academy. Though the curb appeal is a bit wanting, the interior is well suited to a growing family. For those raising a large brood—say, six kids—the $720K to be saved on private school tuition brings the price of this $925K home to just $205K. Now, just start convincing the kids to bunk up.


? Finally, near No. 5, TAG Magnet in Dallas, comes the greatest deal of the lot. For $135K, once can score this brand-new 1,400-square-foot home with three bedrooms. Not only that, but it's set to be built to LEED-certified standards. The only potential hiccup is in, well, the building stage. Right now, it's just a Sims-style rendering. Hard to deny the deal, though!
· America's Best High Schools: Gold Medal List [US News]
· 9500 Ferry Landing Court, Alexandria [Washington Fine Properties]
· 1099 Orchard Ridge Road [Real Estate One]
· 18900 Bogart Circle [Trulia]
· 9859 Carrara Drive [Zillow]
· 1115 Claude Street [Zillow]

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