In general, your children will attend the local school for which they are zoned. If you live outside the zone of your preferred school, your children might not get a place there – particularly if the school is a popular one with a good reputation. Spare places at popular schools are allocated by ballot. There are exceptions to zoning rules, for instance, schools of a particular religion or that have other special characteristics. The Education Review Office regularly publishes reports on all schools which can be read online at www.ero.govt.nz.