Well one strategy I’d recommend is to rent in an area that you might want to buy someday. In our case, we don’t necessarily have to buy in Cardiff, but as the kids get older the area from which we can buy homes gets larger and larger. At some point in a couple of years we can probably cover all of Encinitas, and my kids will still have a large group of friends. Whatever area you are targeting do not simply look at the elementary schools, but look at MS, and HS that the area feeds into. In your case your child is quite young, but remember you can rent for a few years, and if you like the schools you are in, and will feed into, then great.

I actually go straight to the High schools. If I don’t see my kids at San Marcos high, then I could care less what the local elementary that serves San Elijo Hills is rated.