LACEY - About 20 people involved in real estate in South Sound toured North Thurston Public Schools on Friday, a chance for the agents to learn more about the district, its schools and future growth.

North Thurston Public Schools is the largest school district in Thurston County and encompasses Lacey and Hawks Prairie, areas that remain popular spots for homeowners.

Many of those homeowners have ties to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, a sector that has helped fuel the district’s population growth.

The district has 14,000 students, about 10 percent of whom have ties to the military; that percentage is even higher for some schools in the district, Superintendent Raj Manhas said.

Agents and brokers on the tour said they wanted to learn more about the district so they can share the information with clients. Prospective buyers often decide where to buy homes based on where they would send their children to school.

Military families often don’t have the time to research a school district before they buy, so an agent can help fill in the blanks, said Woody Hill of Windermere Olympia.

After the morning reception, the agents and brokers boarded a school bus to visit Timberline High School and Chambers Prairie Elementary, the district’s newest school, which opened in September 2009.

At Timberline, the tour group was shown around the school and treated to a performance of the school’s symphonic choir. At Chambers Prairie, the elementary students took over, show- ing the adults around the school and pointing out its features.

Friday’s tour was the second of its kind offered by the district, Schrieve said.

The district would like to schedule a tour this fall with businesspeople, she said.

Rolf Boone: 360-754-5403 rboone@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/bizblog