Interesting question
In my mind, schools change all the time. Great teachers retire or move. Or not-so-great teachers retire and are replaced by great teachers. A new principal can make a huge difference. Superintendents, too. Maybe looking at districts (rather than individual schools), states that support gifted ed, innovative programming (shows willingness to operate outside-the-box), and--sadly but often true--tax base/community make-up. The last one I mention with some trepidation, but it would definitely be better to be in schools in a university town (college resources) and where there's a good job/business base (a lot of professionals volunteer, contribute to schools, sponsor school programs, offer educational grants, etc.).
Personally, I love the charter school movement and all the amazing things that can be done in that arena. We only have one in my town, but it's the best-performing middle school (based on stupid AYP) in the state. I love feeling empowered to coordinate programs for them, like guest speakers, field trips, yoga or ballroom dance demonstration, poetry workshops, etc. Flexibility, devoted enthusiastic teachers--great! Will it always be a terrific environment? I don't know. Things change.
