Schools for Sale

In Mississauga, an enterprising real estate agent has ranked the schools in the neighbourhoods of the houses she is trying to sell, as reported here in The Globe and Mail (the comments are worth reading). Of course, the local school boards are opposed, consulting their lawyers in search of a way to stop her but, powerful as they are, it doesn't look as if there's much they can do.

So what's the problem here exactly? The parents want to find the best possible school for their children because they love their children and they want them to get a good education. The real estate agent is trying to help them achieve this goal (and, of course, make lots of money as well).

It's also easy to understand why the Peel District School Board would like to stop the above dynamic - they don't like comparisons that show up their failing schools. If the school board had its way, parents would proceed on the assumption that all schools are equally effective and ignore school effectiveness when deciding which neighbourhood to live in.  (more, and great commentary...)

Schools for Sale