ATLANTA – A new academic study reveals that parents are willing to pay more for houses in order to increase the chances of their children attending charter schools.
The report from an economist at Georgia State University is likely to add ammunition to both sides of the debate over school choice. Pro-choice advocates say it demonstrates the importance parents put on having a say over how their children are educated while supporters of traditional public schools can argue it backs their claims that many charter-school initiatives are intended to create exclusive schools with taxpayer money.
“The results suggest households are willing to pay a premium for the increased probability of admission to charter schools in priority-one admissions zones,” the report said.
The study’s author, Assistant Economics Professor Carlianne Patrick, found that parents are willing to pay about 10 percent more for charter-school access. She reached that conclusion after looking at historic sales-price data for homes along the borders of attendance zones in Fulton and DeKalb counties
“Unlike most charter schools in the United States that have diffuse attendance areas, 13 metro-Atlanta charter schools have priority-admission zones within their designated attendance zone,” Patrick wrote.
All of the schools were initiated by parents: three were existing schools they converted while the rest were started from scratch. While they are public schools with open admissions, they all draw students who live in specific zones.
Of the neighborhoods studied, most are considered lower- to middle-income.
Real estate agents have always known parents search out good schools when given a choice.
“So, it makes sense, that they would value homes located close to these schools,” said Tony Roberts, president of the Georgia Charter Schools Association. “It would also explain, in part, why we are seeing a growing number of small cities in Georgia both encouraging and sponsoring the birth of new charter schools within their borders. It is good for the community and, thus, for the economy.”
The increased home values mean higher property taxes, Patrick notes, which will benefit all public schools within the county.
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