![School zones and home prices](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 720"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ritu Sharma and Vikram Tejpal purchased a home in Vermont so their kids Avi (left), 8, and Adi (right), 13 could go to the local primary and secondary schools. Picture: Wayne Taylor
Ritu Sharma and her husband Vikram Tejpal moved 50km to get into the coveted Vermont Primary School catchment area.
And they’re about to sell and make another home move with school zones in mind.
The couple’s first child, son Adi who is now 13, was attending a private school in Melbourne’s west before the relocation, but with the prospect of ongoing fees, they decided they wanted a way to connect Adi and, later his younger brother Avi, 8, with the best education possible at a public school.
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They homed in on Vermont Primary School, which is among the most highly ranked schools in Victoria, and in 2017, they purchased their abode at 98 Boronia Rd off market in the suburb for just over $1m — 50km from where they had been living.
“You want to send your kids to the best schools, but most of the time you can’t afford to send them to private schools,” Ms Sharma said.
“So we wanted to look at buying a home in an area where we would get the best schooling opportunities.”
The two kids Avi (right) and Adi go to Vermont Primary School and Vermont Secondary School, respectively. Picture: Wayne Taylor.
The teachers at Vermont Primary School quickly picked up on a number of things that those at her son’s prior school had not brought to their attention, making the family instantly glad they made the move.
Now with their second child close to finishing up at the school and their oldest having moved on to the also highly regarded Vermont Secondary College, they’re getting ready to move again with plans to relocate to Mitcham — still in the college’s catchment zone — to upsize.
One of Mr Docking’s Vermont listings at 7 Hayward Court
The three-bedroom house is listed for sale with a $1.75m asking price.
Docking Real Estate’s Adam Docking, who is managing the upcoming listing of the family’s home, said it was a very community-orientated area where most kids went to the esteemed primary school and then on to the high school.
“Vermont and Vermont South have one of the longest tenures of owners staying in properties as well, because it’s such a community atmosphere here,” Mr Docking said.
“The vast majority of people that inquire on any property we have in the 3133 postcode, the first question they ask, is it in the zone, more so than about the quality of the property.
“It is that powerful.”
Ms Sharma added that many families sought to buy into the area, but others were also looking to rent homes there to access the schools.
— with additional reporting by Sarah Petty
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