I heard from a Real Estate agent in the 'States about the fluctuating price of homes. While some the home prices of some neighborhoods are dropping, other neighborhoods have maintained and even slightly increased in value. When asked what the determining factor is in the differences, I was told that there is correlation with the quality of the neighborhood's educational system.

So in the 'States, we can see how schools perform according to certain matrices. It occurred to me that I wouldn't know where to get that kind information here in Switzerland. Are there rating systems for schools here in Switzerland?

I'm not even sure that teachers are rated internally within schools, never mind schools being publicly rated within Gemeinde/Canton/CH.

I don't know how it works in Switzerland - In the USA, schools are ranked according to the number of AP courses that are offered, AP scores, SAT scores, and the number of students who matriculate.

Switzerland doesn't have a federal minister of education, but maybe your cantonal minister would be able to give you some useful information. Here's a link for some Swiss education statistics. It's interesting (if you like statistics), but it won't answer your question. You might find something here. The Swiss education system.

I was laughed at by our relocation agent for asking for a list of school league tables.

'But they are all the same & teach to the same standard' - but she didn't know how she knew. I didn't believe her & still don't.

- There are no swiss rankings of public schools here.

In general, when real estate agents mention the "quality of education/ institutions" to justify (high) prices they mean the presence of a university or a federal institute of technology (ETH/EPF) nearby as institutions of tertiary level in general, not a particular one. And this is true.

According to surveys by foreign firms/enterprises about their choice of establishment in Switzerland, the presence of a university/university of applied sciences/institute of technology (skills available, possibilities of knowledge and technology transfer), good communication net, public transports are major reasons quoted.

If you really want to bemuse them, make them book you an appointment to go and view the local school. It's a toss-up who's most entertaining here, the 'the client made me do it' agent or the helpful but faintly confused teachers.

'After all,' they said, 'your children will come to this school regardless of whether you like it or not.'

'Not if we don't sign the contract on that house because the school's rubbish, they won't,' I explained. They sort of then understood, but clearly considered me slightly odd and picky.

kodokan