Choosing a School for Your Child

What To Look For:

High Expectations: Schools that establish high expectations for all students, and provide the support necessary to achieve those expectations, have high rates of academic success.  There is considerable improvement in rates of behavioral problems, attendance, and academic attainment in schools that have high expectations.  Successful schools share certain characteristics: an emphasis on academics, clear expectations and regulations, high levels of student participation, and alternative resources such as library facilities, vocational work opportunities, art, music, and extracurricular activities.

Busy Students: Students who are busy in school are more confident in their relationships with others, more comfortable as leaders and have more confidence in what they are able to achieve.  They are more likely to feel connected and a part of the school and less likely to be disruptive.

Great Teachers:  Positive relationships between teachers, other school staff and students is important in academic and social success.  A student who is comfortable in the classroom, who sees themselves as part of the process is likely to be more motivated to learn.  Humor in the classroom is a great tension reliever. Students look forward to participating in a class that is enjoyable and more likely to pay attention. Also, a teacher who has a positive outlook, is fair and consistent with students along with being flexible is more likely to have earned the respect from students.  Students' creativity comes through when the teacher emphasizes the fun in learning and in life.

Great Principal:  An effective principal is necessary to make a successful school.  When the leaders mobilize action by declaring a focus on learning and then lead from a set of fundamental values and beliefs about learning and about students' ability to achieve, their schools are more likely to identify, set, and achieve ambitious goals for student learning.  A good principal understands how students learn and creates an environment that is devoted to social justice, high expectations for all, and equity in students' opportunity to learn.  Risk taking and innovation are supported.  A principal needs to understand the needs and assets students, parents, staff and the local community bring to the school community, and develops a strong relationship with all.

Vibrant Parent-Teacher Organization:  A strong parent group can actually energize an entire school year.  It can be done by building on the enthusiasm that naturally occurs at the start of a new year. Working closely with the administration and staff, an organization can help keep kids excited about their school.  Activities and projects sponsored by the organization can also instill pride, promote a positive attitude and get parents involved.

Children are not invisible or scared to come to school:  Students who are educationally or socially neglected in school respond inadequately, if at all.   Their needs are not being met.  Those who feel comfortable in the school environment will flourish, often being an asset to the school program.  Along with this thought, a school is expected to provide an emotionally and physically safe environment.  A student who is anxious attending school will have a difficult time concentrating and focusing, resulting in poor school performance.

Inside reaction:  Trust your inner thoughts and feelings.  Does the school give you a positive impression?  How is the school regarded by parents and the community?  Can you see your child happy attending the school?  Would your child be comfortable and at ease?

Rigorous curriculum:  A curriculum should be an exciting, meaningful learning experience that challenges all students to use their minds well, regardless of ability.  Concerned less with getting the right answer, good middle schools care more about how a student got the answer in the first place.  Children are taught to think critically, research, and analyze so they can problem-solve and interpret rather than memorize facts and tables and regurgitate them back on a test.  Classes and after school curricula in art, music, technology, drama, foreign languages, and careers offer students opportunities to explore new areas and pursue interests.

Families are welcome:  Parental influence has been identified as an important factor affecting student achievement and success.  A strong program includes parent support and input in the education of their child.  The more the family is involved in their child's school, the more the child will value and be actively involved in their education.

School report card:  No Child Left Behind requires school districts to provide a report card on how its schools are doing in a variety of areas.  Included are achievement scores, attendance/truancy rates, programs and activities available, suspensions and expulsions, graduation rates, and teacher qualifications. For West De Pere go to: West De Pere School District Report Card

Information provided is compiled from a variety of resources, including Greatschools and the United States Department of Education.