In a simpler era, children walked to school jostling with friends, laughing, and swinging lunch boxes. In most neighborhoods, this is a vision far in the past. Now the norm is carpools, harried parents dropping children at school before rushing off to work, and juggling acts to pick up children for after-school activities. Many families make long drives outside their neighborhood to give their children a quality education. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Hillwood Communities plans each of our new home communities to be walkable, and to provide all the benefits and charm of a thriving small town. This includes a good education at a neighborhood school.
At Hillwood, we believe children should have access to quality educational experiences, and that ongoing learning is essential for a well-balanced life. In fact, enrichment and empowering lifelong learning is one of our guiding principles. This is why, as we develop a new home community, we do so with education in mind. Each property we consider for purchase must be located within a strong school district. (Many of the school districts our communities are in are among the highest rated in their region.) And, we make every effort to ensure that the school district builds an onsite school as soon as possible so our residents have access to quality education within the comfort of their neighborhood.
We also intentionally design all our communities to be walkable. This is one of the reasons many children living in our communities frequently walk or ride their bikes to and from the neighborhood school.
How does Hillwood design our communities to make them walkable? The short blocks, sidewalks, and dedicated paths found throughout our Texas communities offer safe routes to school for children and their parents. This encourages not only walking to school, but also walking to community amenities, walking for exercise, walking to neighbors’ houses, and just walking for enjoyment. All this walking through the community puts people outside and on the sidewalks and paths, which helps them meet and get to know each other, spontaneously.
With a neighborhood school close by, it’s not unusual to see children and their parents walking to or from school.
There are multiple benefits of walking to school.
Walking to a school that is just a few blocks away from your home takes less time than driving to a school that is miles away. Parents and children get back the time they would have spent on the road, waiting at traffic lights, and sitting in carpool lines. This time can be spent sleeping a little later, engaging in activities, getting an earlier start at work, or just spending more time together after school.
Many of us live a mostly sedentary lifestyle these days, spending much of our time at desks and computers. Even our leisure time is spent watching TV, scrolling on our phones, or playing video games. Walking or biking to and from school adds physical activity to the day which is good for our bodies and minds, as is spending time outdoors. It’s a refreshing change to be able to walk to school while enjoying a little fresh air rather than going from the house to the car to the school building/office.
Walking to school brings us out of our suburban silos and into a true community. Children get to know classmates on the way to school and back, and parents can walk with kids and get to know other parents. What child doesn’t want to walk to school with friends? Parents can enjoy this socializing, as well.
When children walk or bike to and from school, this saves money and energy, and reduces emissions caused by gas-powered vehicles.
When parents are present and active in their children’s school, the result is a better educational environment for all children and a stronger family connection with the school. Having the school close by makes it much more convenient for parents to get involved, shape policy, and interact with teachers and other parents.
We all need to know how to get along with others in a diverse community, and children learn by watching their parents’ example. When you participate in their school and its community activities, they see that you care about their education: that it’s important. They also see you interacting with their teachers and other parents. Understanding their interests and taking an active role in their school demonstrates to children how we support each other and our community.
It’s just as vital to build your own strong and supportive community as it is to help your child develop theirs. Getting involved in school events and decisions is an excellent way for you to get to know other parents and simultaneously create a robust community safety net that benefits your child.
Neighborhood schools act as an essential community hub, putting on community-wide events that are open to anyone. These simple, enjoyable activities allow those in the neighborhood to get to know each other and to act as a community for a common goal. Some examples include canned food drives for local food pantries, first responder appreciation events, scouting activities, concerts, homegrown carnivals, and other fundraising activities.
When parents and community members work together to support children, local schools, and the greater community, bonds strengthen, and great friendships are born. Neighbors develop lifelong relationships that continue long after their kids have grown up and graduated.
Think of having your child’s school close by and the convenience of getting your child to and from school, meet-the-teacher events, PTA meetings, and community events. If property values are any indication, others feel the same way. In several studies, local school performance and home values had a direct positive correlation.
Homes located in good school districts or near good neighborhood schools often experience greater appreciation in value due to increased demand. Families with children prioritize quality education, making homes in these areas highly sought after. This high demand creates a competitive market, driving up prices and leading to faster appreciation compared to similar homes in less desirable school districts. Even buyers without children often recognize the long-term investment potential and resale value associated with properties in good school districts.
Yes. Multiple studies see a correlation between school performance and property values. Even buyers who do not plan to have children consider the reputation of its school district prior to purchasing a home because this is known to affect resale value.
Kids should be about 10 before walking to school alone. Younger children may be ready to walk to school without an adult if they are in groups and the route is short and simple. This is particularly true if they are accompanied by an older sibling. However, this should be determined by parents based on the individual needs of their child.
Kids can walk to school at any age in the company of a trusted adult. Kids are likely ready to walk to school unaccompanied at around age 10 or slightly younger if with an older sibling or in a group of other children. Again, parents should make the decision on what is best for their children.
Hillwood Communities firmly believes in the value of neighborhood schools and a quality education. And we go the extra mile to place neighborhood schools within our communities so our residents can enjoy all their benefits. Explore our current communities in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin, or one of our future communities and learn how our commitment to education and neighborhood schools helps deliver lasting value to homeowners.
Discover how Hillwood Communities can enrich your family’s life – find your perfect home in a HIllwood Community today!
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