As REALTORS, we are often asked by buyers, "Are the schools good here?"

Also, as REALTORS, we know to be careful in responding to this question. We adhere to a strict Code of Ethics, which understandably prevents us from saying anything that may hint of steering a buyer toward or away from a community based on race, color, religion, gender, disability, familial status or national origin. Further explained by the National Association of REALTORS, "Referring to a school system as 'good' or 'bad' could be code for racial or other demographic differences."

As a mother, I understand why someone searching for a home in a new area might ask this question. Before I had my first child, I established four objectives for my job as parent, and one of those was to ensure my children had the best education possible. To that end, I committed myself to volunteering in their schools, ultimately leading to service on the Board of Visitors (BOV) of The University of Virginia. After eight years of service on the BOV, I can tell you there is one school system Roanoke REALTORS should be talking about with their clients because it is really good, and it is all around us - Virginia's System of Higher Education.

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, we are blessed with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to colleges and universities with sizes and fields of study for every student. And, from Roanoke, we can reach most every one of the Commonwealth's great public universities in under five hours (and most in under four)!

In an hour or less, you'll arrive at:

• Virginia Tech. "Tech," located in Blacksburg, is known for outstanding engineering and agricultural schools as well as extraordinary school spirit. A recently established school of medicine in partnership with Carilion Clinic in Roanoke fuels area growth.

• Radford University. Radford is a liberal arts college in a city of the same name. It has a reputable nursing school affiliated with Roanoke's Carilion Clinic.

• Longwood University. Longwood is an intimate liberal arts college located in bucolic Farmville.

• Virginia Military Institute. VMI is located in historic Lexington and offers a rigorous academic and military program. They boast the largest ROTC program in the nation.

A few more hours south, you'll reach:

• The University of Virginia's College at Wise. UVA Wise is a higher education gem located in the beautiful mountains of Southwest Virginia.

A couple hours north and east, you'll find:

• The University of Virginia. UVA is the Commonwealth's flagship university founded by Thomas Jefferson. Don't get me started on how great this university is (biased author here). In addition to being a Public Ivy, affordable to families, and having a world-class health system, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• James Madison University. JMU is a medium-sized, liberal arts university in Harrisonburg where the students bleed purple. Go Dukes!

A little further east, you'll reach:

• Virginia Commonwealth University. VCU is located in the heart of Richmond for the student looking for an urban setting. The university also has an affiliated health system.

• Virginia State University. Virginia State is one of two public, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in Virginia. Located in Ettrick, it was founded in 1882 and serves just over 5,000 students.

• The College of William and Mary. Also considered a Public Ivy, William and Mary is the second oldest institution of higher education in the country (Harvard wins). Established in 1693 by King William III and Queen Mary II, it resides in historic Williamsburg.

• Christopher Newport University. CNU is one the youngest colleges in Virginia founded in 1960 in Newport News. Under strong leadership, it has experienced tremendous growth.

• Old Dominion University. ODU is one of the largest universities in the Commonwealth. Located in Norfolk, part of the Hampton Roads area, ODU uniquely offers marine science-related curriculum, in addition, to a full compliment of liberal arts courses.

• Norfolk State University. Norfolk State is the Commonwealth's second public HBCU. It was established in 1935 and has a student population of about 5,000.

And, finally, make your way to Northern Virginia and you'll find:

• George Mason University. Located in Fairfax, GMU became an independent four-year university in 1972. It has grown from a sleepy commuter school to a thriving university of nearly 40,000 students.

• University of Mary Washington. Mary Washington is a small liberal arts university located in Fredericksburg on a beautiful campus.

In any discussion of higher education in the Commonwealth, it is important to include the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). With 23 colleges throughout the state, they offer Associates (two-year) degrees and various specialty training and certifications. In addition, the VCCS has agreements with all of Virginia's public colleges (except VMI) to accept community college students as transfers once they complete two years of study and achieve the required grades for the prescribed courses.

All Virginia residents will benefit from in-state tuition at these exceptional schools and many students receive scholarships, financial aid, grants, and discounted (or even free) tuition in some cases. For example, at the University of Virginia, students whose combined family income is $50,000 or less will receive grants or scholarships to cover all tuition, fees, room and board, and families with $100,000 combined income or less will pay no tuition or fees.

In addition to these incredible public universities, Virginia has a wealth of private colleges and universities, small and large, including two in our neighborhood – Hollins University and Roanoke College.

So, in addition to beautiful mountains, abundant outdoor recreation, low cost of living, a vibrant restaurant scene, and an expanding health system, add easy access to an extraordinary statewide higher education system to the reasons Roanoke is the place to live.