I have rented three times sight unseen in cities (2 HCOL 1 LCOL)I had never been to with 3 children and having to deal with schools. It can be done. We have saved some serious cash doing this. For this, we have rented 2 houses and one rowhome.
First, if you are going this route, get to know the ins and outs of zillow.com. Zillow now has the school "rating" (via greatschools.org) of the school typically assigned to that particular home. Sometimes, however, it uses a different school in the same district with a better rating, so cross check. even though the scores are dated, they still give a good starting point for quality of area. Trulia is also a good site.
If possible, rent a place that is managed by a property manager, just to lessen your chance of getting screwed. Google your city and property management companies in that area. Talk to people in each company to get a feel for the area.
I like spreadsheets. Zillow has a huge wealth of info in it that I can track # of beds/baths, sqft, neighborhood quality, distance from work, etc. By the time I am done, I really know the rental market and know what is a good deal and what isnt.
Be flexible. If you dont really care about saving money, you can rent sight unseen with relatively little risk. If you like to save money, being flexible helps you appreciate the "quirks" of each place you rent. But things to ask (in email to get the answers in writing): is there mold; is the home up to building and zoning code (do all bedrooms have appropriate windows, etc); how old are kitchen appliances; how is the plumbing (can all toilets flush, sinks drain); does the house have a history of bugs (bedbugs, roaches, ants, silverfish, etc); do all rooms have electrical outlets; how old is the carpet. Also, if you share walls with neighbors, how is the insulation? What is the parking situation like? If street parking only, are there days where the road is closed for street cleaning?
On google maps, do the street view and explore the neighborhoods. Are the nearby homes rundown? Is it near a bunch of pawn shops or kwik ca$h places?