The Best Websites For Researching Schools

Whether you're moving across the country or just down the street, one of the biggest questions for families is: “What are the schools like?”
And as a real estate agent, I hear this one a lot.

To save you from the Google spiral of outdated rankings, conflicting reviews, and endless school board websites, I’ve rounded up the best (and easiest to use) websites to help you get the full picture of a school—without opening 27 tabs.

Here’s your go-to list:

🎓 1. GreatSchools.org

Best for: Overall ratings, test scores, parent reviews, and equity info.

This one’s a classic for a reason. GreatSchools gives each school a score out of 10, breaking it down by academic performance, equity, and environment. Bonus points for the real parent reviews, which often tell you way more than just the stats.

🔍 Tip: Look beyond the number—click into the details for insight on programs, diversity, and school culture.

📍 2. Niche.com

Best for: Comprehensive rankings + school vibe.

Think of Niche as Yelp-meets-school-report-card. It grades schools A–F across academics, teachers, clubs, college prep, and more. They also factor in things like student/teacher ratio and district quality, making it great for comparing schools side-by-side.

🍎 Bonus: You can filter by public/private, charter, religious, and boarding.

📚 3. SchoolDigger.com

Best for: Side-by-side comparisons and test score data.

If you're into charts and maps (and who isn’t when school shopping?), SchoolDigger is clean, straightforward, and all about the data. You can easily compare multiple schools or districts on everything from math scores to enrollment numbers.

📈 Good for families who want the numbers in black-and-white.

🏫 4. The Texas Education Agency (TEA)

Best for: Official accountability ratings and state report cards.

If you want the real tea 🍵 on Texas schools, head straight to the TEA website. They publish annual performance reports that include detailed accountability ratings, demographics, and more. It’s a little more technical—but solid, verified info straight from the source.

💡 Tip: Use the “Texas School Report Card” tool for an easy summary.

💬 5. Facebook Groups + Local Parent Forums

Best for: Honest feedback and community vibe.

Once you've narrowed it down to a few schools, join a local Facebook group or parenting forum. Search the school name or post a question—you'll often get thoughtful, candid responses from real parents. (Plus, the tea spilled is phenomenal.)

👂 Just remember: one parent’s negative experience may not reflect the whole picture.

👀 Final Pro Tip:

Check out the school or district website itself! You’ll often find calendars, newsletters, teacher bios, and upcoming events. You might even get a peek at that Friday spirit day energy that no ranking can really capture.

Whether you're a data lover or just want to know if a school has a solid music program and nice teachers, these tools will help you feel informed and confident. And if you're house hunting too? I’m happy to help you find the perfect fit for your family, your lifestyle—and yes, your future reader’s school library dreams. 😉