# We paid more for top schools, then chose differently

> A parent who sacrificed space and money for a highly-rated school district pulled her daughter out anyway, finding that test scores don't measure what matters most.
- Title: We paid more for top schools, then chose differently
- Summary: A parent who sacrificed space and money for a highly-rated school district pulled her daughter out anyway, finding that test scores don't measure what…
- Keywords: school choice, standardised testing, charter schools, school district, parenting decisions, education quality, title i schools, Business Insider
- Source: Business Insider — https://businessinsider.com/paid-more-house-live-top-schools-kid-goes-elsewhere-titlei-2026-11
- Author: Jamie Davis Smith
- Published: 2026-11-13T16:47:01.238+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: school choice, standardised testing, charter schools, school district, parenting decisions, education quality, title i schools, business, technology
## The premium for a good school
Jamie Davis Smith and her husband paid more than planned for a smaller house to live in a top-rated school district for their four children, believing good schools were vital to their future success.
## The neighbourhood school disappointed
The elementary school's reputation rested on improving standardised test scores. It lacked economic diversity, instituted silent lunch policies, cancelled recess for rain, and ended classroom parties, creating a culture where children weren't excited about learning.
## The middle school was worse
The neighbourhood middle school had more than one thousand four hundred students spread across three grades. Teachers didn't know her son; some gave her information about another student with a similar name instead.
## The easy choice wasn't right
When her daughter wanted to attend the same neighbourhood middle school, Smith knew she needed a change despite it being close to home, familiar, and considered the best school in the city.
## Looking beyond the numbers
Smith applied to charter schools that seemed less desirable on paper, with lower test scores and higher poverty rates.
## Teachers who know their students
Teachers and administrators at her daughter's charter school promptly answer emails and clearly know who her child is. The community runs grab-and-go markets for families needing food and creates walking trains for children without transport.
## Her daughter is thriving
Her daughter has risen to the challenge of a difficult International Baccalaureate academic program, has fantastic friends from all walks of life and around the world, and seems genuinely happy and challenged.
## Test scores don't tell the whole story
Smith now knows that schools are more than statistics on websites and that a school great for one child might not suit another. She would make the same decision again without hesitation for her daughter.

> I now know test scores don't tell the whole story and that a school that is great for one kid might not be the best for another.
## Key takeaway

A parent who paid a premium to live in a top-rated school district withdrew her daughter to attend a lower-performing charter school, finding the neighbourhood schools prioritised test scores over genuine learning and student wellbeing.