sarah and Heather Koontz
MONTPELIER — Taxes are skyrocketing and consolidation talks are stressful, but when it comes to the quality of central Vermont’s public school system, take it from someone who knows — you get what you pay for.
Eighteen months ago, my family moved 1,700 miles from the only home we’d known. While my friends and family did not understand our decision, the goal was simple: our children deserve more opportunities for connection and broader access to quality education.
After all, the south central state we lived in consistently ranks as one of the weakest public school systems in the country, and the Network for Public Education (NPE) gave it an “F” in its 2026 report of states most committed to public education.
When we started looking for a new place to call home, quality education was a top priority. In addition to other factors we care about — such as happiness, inclusivity, and safety — Vermont consistently ranks at the top for its public school systems. In fact, that same NPE report only awarded two states with an “A” rating: Nebraska and Vermont. Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools (MRPS), in particular, boasts lower than average student-teacher ratios and high state testing scores.
With no prior connection to the Green Mountain State and no support network nearby, we made the frightening leap of faith. Now that our children have completed a full academic year at both Union Elementary and Main Street Middle schools, I can definitively say it was the right move. From sledding club to foraging for mushrooms in Hubbard Park, my middle schooler has enjoyed incredible after-school enrichment opportunities. Meanwhile, my youngest son is wrapped in a strong network of teachers who are passionate about helping him fill the gaps left by his previous learning.
Of course, I am not suggesting that teachers in our previous state care less about children or the quality of their education. Those teachers also deserve a mountain of praise, but the truth remains: they are forced to do a lot with decreasing budgets, programming cuts, low teacher salaries, and extremely high turnover.
Strong School Community Drives Families to Montpelier
Though warned by locals that our status as transplants may not be appreciated by native Vermonters, my family has always felt welcome here. And I have spoken with other Vermonters-by-choice who feel the same.
Dani Smith, another parent who moved from out-of-state, experienced a warm reception when her children joined the MRPS district in 2018. Smith said the schools welcomed her family and made the transition as easy as possible, especially when Smith’s son Peyton was diagnosed with pediatric cancer. (See story on page 1).
“We have stayed because of the community we formed while here, and a big part of that is the relationships we have and had at the schools here in Montpelier,” Smith said.
Another parent (and former City Councilor) Adrienne Gil, moved to Montpelier when her children were in elementary school.
Through her work with schools around Georgia, Gil gained first-hand insight into various educational systems. In the Atlanta area, for example, the ability for parents to choose specialized schools tailored to their children’s interest is unique, but it also has its downsides — long commutes, logistical challenges, and friends spread throughout the city.
“I realized that I wanted something very different for my own children,” Gil said. “I wanted them to attend school with the children who lived in their community. I wanted them to know their neighbors, have consistency in their teachers and schools, participate in activities without spending hours in a car, and eventually have the independence to walk or bike to school.”
Gil says the MRPS system continues to play a central role in her family’s connection to the community.
“Montpelier gave our children something that is difficult to quantify on a test score or school ranking: a sense of place,” Gill said. “Their school community became part of their neighborhood community. They grew up with many of the same children. They developed relationships with teachers and other adults they would see year after year. They could participate in sports, theater, clubs, and other activities while still having time to simply be kids.”
This sense of community is strengthened by the size of the MRPS district — a sweet spot right in the middle. While I moved out of a district with 19,000 students spread across 26 schools to give my children an opportunity to stand out, Kaj Samsom moved from a smaller town in search of larger classes.
“While there is a lot of charm and benefit to a small school, ultimately it becomes too difficult to offer the choices kids deserve,” Samsom said. “A larger school is able to offer much more diversity, social opportunities, and academic options, and Montpelier did just that.”
High Taxes, High Reward?
It goes without saying that no school system is perfect, and all districts — including MRPS — have challenges. Taxes, for example, remain a consistent topic of discourse across Vermont. Like me, Gill initially experienced the sticker shock of moving from a state with low costs of living to a very highly taxed community. But our past experiences afford us a different perspective.
“That experience taught me that the cost of education doesn’t disappear simply because taxes are lower,” Gill said. “Sometimes families pay for it in tuition. Sometimes they pay for it in transportation and time. Sometimes communities pay for it through fewer opportunities or services for children.”
While the families I spoke with believe Vermont should look for ways to make education more affordable, there is a shared sentiment that preserving strong schools and strong communities must go hand-in-hand. Put simply: if Vermont wants to continue bringing in new families and strengthening communities, the school systems need to find balance between innovating and protecting what makes them stand out.
“There will always be things we can improve in our schools, and I think parents, educators, students, taxpayers, and policymakers should continue having those conversations,” Gil said. “But as Vermont considers significant changes to education, I hope we don’t undervalue what we already have: strong neighborhood schools don’t just educate children. They help create strong communities.”
For my family, the quality of education in central Vermont was enticing enough to move across the country and start fresh with absolutely no support system nearby. It was enough for us to significantly increase our cost of living and learn how to shovel snow.
And sure, there’s always the fear that the grass is greener on the other side. But for us — and many other families who have taken the leap — it really is greener in Vermont.
The material presented here represents the opinion of the author and does not reflect the opinions of The Bridge. Commentaries may be submitted to editor@montpelierbridge.com. Preference is given to submissions by those who live in central Vermont. Submissions are encouraged to be 500 to 750 words in length.
