Developers often buy land in school districts with good reputations because the houses are easy to sell. MGM Development Co. The company builds homes in southwest suburban Orland Park , where two new schools opened this year even though the town's growth rate has slowed. Home buyers with children want a house near the school so their kids can enjoy that vanishing American tradition of walking to the same school for eight years. But kids in overcrowded schools sometimes get reassigned to other buildings. In a growing district, the idea of a student starting and finishing in one school just doesn't happen very often.
Parents have to remain more flexible in terms of kids changing buildings.
Perhaps the most difficult challenge is finding the money to build new schools. Municipalities often encourage new home building, figuring more homes will provide more property taxes to support services, including schools. But before property taxes kick in, school districts usually ask voters for money. Towns also ask developers to ante up. This fee is generally passed on to the home buyer.