A recent survey has confirmed what Lake Oswego parents already know. Lake Oswego schools are top-notch.

In April, ZipRealty announced the results of a national survey identifying the best school districts with the most affordable housing. Lake Oswego ranked third.

Test score data and student teacher ratios comprised the School Score, which for Lake Oswego was 9.6. That was factored in with the $167 median price per square foot for housing in the district to earn it the third place spot behind Westonka Public Schools in the Minneapolis area at 9.6 and $112 and Geneva School District outside Chicago at 9.4 and $123.

Numbers only tell half the story, however. Case in point. This past year Lakeridge High School failed to make U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools ranking because its test results were too high. Since over 95 percent of Lakeridge students met or exceeded state standards in reading and math in 2010-2011, the Oregon Department of Education, as a matter of policy, did not provide the exact percentages to U.S. News & World Reports so as not to violate the Federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. Without Lakeridge data in a format that lent itself to the analysis they needed, the news agency was unable to rank the school. So it was left off the list even though the other high school in town, Lake Oswego, ranked second in the state despite having lower state assessment test scores than Lakeridge.

The school district’s reputation is what brings many potential buyers through my doors. I encourage them to look at the numbers but to also visit the schools and talk to the teachers, parents and students.

My kids will tell you that the schools prepared them well for college. They felt like they hit the ground running while many of their peers were still trying to figure out how to do a research paper. And as a parent, I am grateful for the AP courses that transferred in at public high school rates, saving me thousands of dollars in college tuition.

Let me know if you’d like to cash in on that successful formula Lake Oswego has: affordable housing plus great school district. I’d love to show you around.