Short description
Marissa Crimoli, Steve Koumoulis, and Gene Crimoli have spent their careers inside Monmouth County classrooms — Holmdel, Middletown, and Union Beach. In this episode they answer the questions buyers actually ask before choosing a town: how districts really differ, what a rating doesn't tell you, and what to look at beyond test scores. If schools are driving your move, start here.
Full show notes
Most people looking at homes in Monmouth County start with the schools. They pull up a rating, compare two towns, and make a decision that shapes the next twelve years of their family's life — usually based on a single number.
I sat down with three educators who see the other side of that decision every day. Marissa Crimoli teaches at Holmdel High School. Steve Koumoulis teaches at Middletown High School South. Gene Crimoli is Director of Curriculum and Dean of Students in Union Beach. Between them, they've spent decades in Monmouth County classrooms, and education runs in the family — which means they talk about this work the way people talk about a hometown, not a job.
What we get into:
Are school ratings accurate? Steve makes the case that the data points buyers rely on don't always tell you what you think they do. Gene's answer to that: go visit. Walk the building, meet the people, and judge it yourself.
What actually makes Monmouth County schools different. Marissa gets into the academies and county vocational programs — options a lot of families moving here don't even know exist.
Middletown North vs. Middletown South. The question I get more than any other from buyers looking in Middletown. Steve went to school in Middletown, taught at both high schools, and has family who taught at both. His answer isn't what most people expect.
Structure questions buyers miss. Some Monmouth County towns are K-8 districts that send students to a high school in a neighboring town through a sending/receiving relationship. Union Beach, for example, is a PreK-8 district whose students attend Keyport High School. These arrangements are set by agreement between districts and can be reviewed over time, so confirm the current status with the district before you buy.
What parents should ask, and who to ask. What to bring up on a school tour, when to call the district office, and why a conversation with a guidance counselor tells you more than an afternoon of scrolling.
Timing. Enrollment deadlines, registration paperwork, and how a spring closing versus a summer closing affects a child starting mid-year.
I'll always tell you what I see in the market. These three can tell you what happens after you get the keys, and that's the part most buyers never hear.
About the guests
Marissa Crimoli teaches at Holmdel High School in Holmdel Township. Steve Koumoulis teaches at Middletown High School South in Middletown Township and is a Middletown schools graduate himself. Gene Crimoli serves as Director of Curriculum and Dean of Students in Union Beach. All three are Monmouth County residents and longtime educators.
Connect
If you're weighing towns and want to talk through what fits your family, reach out. I'm happy to walk you through the practical side while you do your own homework on the districts. Follow All Things Monmouth County and Real Estate on Spotify and YouTube so you don't miss the next conversation.
A note on doing your own research: the best primary sources are the New Jersey Department of Education School Performance Reports (rc.doe.state.nj.us), each district's website, and the district registration office. Every family's fit is different, and the right district for one child isn't automatically the right one for another.
Nicole Rabbat Levine | NRL Group | Heritage House Sotheby's International Realty
