M.,
A subject near and dear to my heart having just gone through it choosing a Kindergarten for my son!!
First you need to determine what you consider to be "good". Some people think a school is "good" because it is located in an upscale neighborhood alone. I would encourage you to delve a little deeper into what kind of education you want your child to have.
We live in a more upscale area but sent our child into a more urban area because we wanted him exposed to diversity (we're white but guess what, the whole world isn't :)). The school has Spanish from Kindergarten on (all day Kindergarten) and advanced technology. Everything from the curriculum to the instructional methods is also very innovative and global. The students are VERY involved and engaged in their own learning.
However, if I told you where the school was, you would probably not want your child there because of the neighborhood reputation. The great news is that, because it's a magnet school, we don't have to live in that neighborhood though.
So really think about it. The Minnesota Dept. of Ed has all the school and district report cards mandated from No Child Left Behind. There is also a website called School Matters (www.schoolmatters.com) that is good for side by side comparisons. Be careful about using parents comments - like from the Great Schools website- because you have to consider who it is that takes the time to write reviews on sites like these. Take it with a grain of salt.
You can gleam some information from those but once you narrow it down, nothing beats pounding the pavement. Request a tour when school is in session. What's the vibe of the school and staff? Do people seem happy/excited to be there?
Also, I would encourage you to look beyond just the neighborhood schools into magnet and charter programs. Both are public schools and provide transportation for the student but are usually designed around a mission or theme (arts, science, community service etc.). That REALLY expands the housing market so you can choose the home you want instead of letting a specific neighborhood limit it.
Alot of people only want the neighborhood schools so the kids go on the same bus as their friends. In this day and age of playdates and activities, school isn't the only school outlet. Plus, it actually makes their social circle twice as large!
Good luck to you. Our research really paid off - we were amazed time after time at the school we chose where my neighbors say the neighborhood schools is "OK".