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Post date: Mar 16, 2016 3:24:18 PM
Choosing the right school for your child can be an overwhelming prospect.
Here are 8 things parents should consider when deciding on the right K–12 school for their child:
1. Read the school's mission statement.
Does it use words like "nurture" and "support," or words like "discipline" and "organize"? A school conveys a lot about its ethos in its mission statement — listen to what schools communicate, and take their messages to heart.
2. Look at the numbers — all of the numbers.
You'll want to see how schools stack up on standardized tests like the Board Exams. But student test scores are just one piece of the numerical puzzle. You'll also want to consider factors that are important to your family — whether those are graduation rates or student-to-teacher ratios.
3. Understand the curriculum.
Ask about what your child would be learning, and about whether there are gifted or other programs that meet her needs.
4. Consider a school's capacity to serve students with learning disabilities.
Especially if your child is still in preschool, you may not yet know whether she has a learning disability like dyslexia, which affects one in five people. Ask each school about the supports and accommodations that are available for students with learning disabilities — and about whether the school is equipped to provide those services, or whether it typically sends students to nearby institutions.
5. Inquire about educational pathways.
Ask about where students go after they graduate. Do most fifth-graders progress to a particular middle school (and is that school a potential fit for your child)? Do high schoolers graduate — and at what rates — and what are their next steps? Asking these questions will not only give you a sense of your child's prospective educational track, but also about the level of stability she's likely to experience. Some students do best when they are surrounded by a core group of classmates throughout the course of their K–12 education; others thrive on change. Greater stability may also correlate with higher levels of parent involvement.
6. Ask about parent involvement.
A school has to be a great fit not just for your child, but also for your family. Ask each school about its levels of parent involvement. If you can, talk to families who send students to the schools you're considering. Ask about their experiences (both good and bad), and about what makes the school a good fit (or not) for them.
7. Observe the environment.
Is there a dress code? What are class sizes like? Do students get lots of individualized attention? Do students sit in rows or in circles? Are they encouraged to raise their hands, or to speak freely when ideas occur to them? Each kid will benefit most from an environment that suits his/her temperament and academic needs. Consider whether your child thrives in a structured setting or when given the freedom to explore.
8. Investigate teacher satisfaction.
Teaching is a calling — but it's also a job. Consider how administrators treat teachers, and how teachers view administrators. Look at the school board, and consider how active it is. For public schools, you may be able to find out whether teachers are well-paid. Also look at turnover — does a school have many teachers who have been there for five or more years, or do teachers tend to stay for a year or two before moving on? When teachers have high levels of job satisfaction, they tend to stay on at schools, to be active participants in extracurricular activities, and to serve as mentors for students throughout their K–12 education. In short, happy teachers often correlate with happy students and families.
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