Schools & Education Resources for Chicagoland Families
Choosing the Right Home Often Starts with the Right School Plan
Finding the right home is about more than bedrooms and bathrooms. For many families, it's also about finding the educational environment where their children will thrive.
Whether you're considering public schools, private schools, gifted programs, special education services, Montessori, language immersion, STEM academies, or specialized learning opportunities, it's important to understand your options before making a real estate decision.
At Busby Group, we've found that the families with the smoothest transitions begin by identifying their educational priorities first. From there, we help them narrow neighborhoods and communities that align with those goals.
Because while you can remodel a home, it's much harder to change the educational opportunities available after you've moved.
I am invested in knowing and understanding the Chicagoland school systems not just as a real estate broker, but as a mother of two young daughters.
- Julie
Planning Ahead
Julie sits down with Chicagoland Education Consultant Lauren Hammer to discuss why school planning should be one of the first conversations families have before beginning a home search.
Together they discuss:
Why every child's educational needs are unique
Public versus private school considerations
Gifted programs and specialized learning opportunities
Special education resources
School districts and attendance boundaries
Why planning ahead helps families make more informed real estate decisions throughout Chicagoland
Chicago Schools
Chicago offers one of the country's most diverse educational landscapes, including neighborhood schools, selective enrollment schools, magnet schools, private schools, and parochial schools.
In this video, Julie and Grace Lee Sawin from Chicago School GPS discuss navigating the many educational options available throughout the city and what families should consider before purchasing a home.
North Shore Schools
The North Shore is home to many highly regarded public and private schools, each offering unique programs, cultures, and opportunities.
This conversation explores what makes each community different and how families can evaluate schools alongside lifestyle, commute, and long-term goals.
South, Southwest & Western Suburban Schools
As more families relocate to Chicago's surrounding suburbs, understanding school options has become just as important as understanding neighborhoods.
Whether you're considering communities in the South, Southwest, or Western suburbs, it's helpful to research:
School districts and attendance boundaries
Public and private school options
Gifted and accelerated learning programs
Special education resources
STEM, arts, athletics, and extracurricular offerings
Commute times and community amenities
Enrollment timelines and residency requirements
Every family's priorities are different. Taking time to evaluate these factors before purchasing a home can help create a smoother transition and greater confidence in your decision. Along with our trusted school consultants, we can draw on our experience to help make the right decision for your family.
Our Approach
Busby Group doesn't recommend one school over another. Instead, we help families ask the right questions, understand their options, and connect with trusted education professionals who can provide guidance based on each child's individual needs.
Whether you're relocating from across the country or moving across town, our goal is to help you align your housing decisions with your family's long-term educational goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose a home before deciding on schools?
We generally recommend evaluating both together. School district boundaries, enrollment requirements, specialized programs, and private school options may all influence which neighborhoods best fit your family's goals.
What types of schools should families consider?
Depending on your child's needs, families may explore:
Public schools
Private schools
Parochial schools
Selective enrollment schools
Magnet schools
Gifted programs
Montessori programs
Language immersion schools
Special education programs
STEM and arts-focused schools
Can Busby Group recommend schools?
Rather than recommending specific schools, we connect families with trusted education consultants and provide local resources so they can make informed decisions based on their own priorities.
Do school district boundaries matter when buying a home?
Yes. Attendance boundaries and enrollment policies can affect which public schools a child may attend. Understanding those factors before purchasing a home is an important part of the planning process.
Do you help relocating families?
Absolutely. We regularly assist families relocating to Chicago, the North Shore, the South, Southwest, and Western suburbs by providing local guidance and connecting them with trusted educational resources.
Additional Resources
NEIGHBORHOOD PARENTS NETWORK
This website and community is full of resources, and I love it so much that I joined the board. Check out their annual school fair, online school directory, virtual school tours(!), childcare classifieds, events and much more.
Click here
CPS.EDU
Tiers: According to CPS’ website, a student’s chance of gaining admission into a particular school depends on where he or she lives. CPS charts every part of the city into one of four socio-economic tiers. Typically Tier 1 areas have lower household incomes, and Tier 4 areas have higher household incomes.
Click here to locate your Tier
School search: Read in depth about all CPS schools including test performance, ratings, demographics and more.
Click here to search
Address lookup: Every Chicago address is tied to a CPS school, so that every student in Chicago is guaranteed admission to their “neighborhood school.”
Click here to search your address
GREAT SCHOOLS
A national website that rates school based on a combination of standardized test scores and student progress.
Click here
CHICAGO SCHOOLS GPS
Founded by three Chicago moms, who help other Chicago families navigate the process of finding the right school through lectures, events and consulting.
Click here
HOW TO WALK TO SCHOOL
A book by local mom Jacqueline Von Eddinburg outlining her process of invigorating her neighborhood school, Nettelhorst.
Click here
CHICAGO EARLY LEARNING
A great resource for information around preschools — search for schools, rankings, and explanations around the different preschool options.
Click here