Choose a School for Your Child
How to choose a School for your child Choosing a school is a difficult task for parents regardless of their child’s age. While making the choice may not be easy, the good thing is that you do have a choice.
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Parents want the best for their children in all things. Where education is concerned some parents want the kind they had, for others they want the education they wish they had. Some parents want a school where their child may go from start to finish. Other families are mobile during their child rearing years, due to job requirements and the choice of a school may be a reoccurring process over the years. In either case, below are some guidelines to assist you in making your choice.
Initial Things To Look For:
- A good school will insist you visit their facilities. Never just rely on information received over the telephone.
- Give no advance notice when you visit a school for the first time. If you are not permitted to drop in unannounced, this will indicate the school has a "company’s coming" face and perhaps, a less pleasing everyday operation. Understand however, that the school head or admissions officer may not always be available with no advance notice. If you like what you see when you "drop in" then make an appointment to come back. Set up times to observe in the classrooms while school is in session.
- Check the school’s facilities. Are they clean and orderly? Are the classrooms set up in an attractive fashion? Do the children look involved in the activities? Are there sufficient materials for the children to use? Do the children clean up after themselves, which promotes independence or is this done by the staff? Is the staff attentive, warm and friendly?
- Check out the school at different times of the day – morning, afternoon and during transition times like lunchtime. How transitions are handled is an important part of the school day. Is there adequate staff supervising the students?
- Is the school’s location conveniently located to accommodate your daily routine? If not, are there school bus or public transportation options? Does the school have a car pool option?
- Now that you have addressed some very basic and general information on a potential school, it is time to look for the educational aspects, not only at the level you are immediately interested in, but also the other levels/grades as well. Just as you may prepare to go for the doctor visit, prepare yourself a list of questions for your interview with the Administrator/ Principal/Admissions Officer.
Some areas to consider are:
Questions to ask
- Find out exactly what the school offers in education, not only at the level you are immediately interested in, but the other levels as well. A good school teaches social, intellectual, emotional and perceptual/motor skills at all levels.
- Determine the education "style" of the school. Ask about the curriculum, evaluation periods, methods used for the evaluation process, testing and its priority.
- Determine the standards for class size. Programs vary greatly on this topic.
- Ask about accreditation. Also, a copy of the school’s Mission and Philosophy statements give you a good overall view of the school’s intentions.
- Ask about the library facilities. Are they available for both research and pleasure?
- Does the school provide lunch? If so, is there a fee? If not, how are lunches stored? Is milk provided? Do the students have access to drinking water?
- Ask about policies on picking up children, administering medication, emergency drills and dress codes.
- Ask about the school’s discipline policy. Many schools have student handbooks on standards of behaviors. These will be more and more relevant as your student matures. How does the school handle serious infractions of the school rules?
- Evaluate the Administrative personnel. Are they accessible to the parent? Are they responsive to requests for information or assistance?
- Find our about the school’s Parent/Teacher Association. Is it active? Is it pro-active?
- Ask about enrollment procedure and requirements. Each school will have specific enrollment procedures and requirements, varying from documents/transcripts necessary, health forms and immunization mandates, application forms and fees and deadlines to complete the process.
There are practical things to consider – hours of operation (ask for a school calendar), tuition, (always ask about any costs which are not included on the tuition fact sheet), financial aid program, (and eligibility for this), extra-curricular programs and space availability. Now that you have accumulated quite a bit of information about the physical components, educational standards and practices, any financial responsibilities, enrollment requirements, it is time to ask yourself and your student – Do you like this school? What is your intuitive, first reaction?
Final Points To Consider
Do your school research well ahead of the time that you want your child to start. Leaving it until the last minute may cause disappointment as the school of your choice may be full and have a long waiting list.
Try to attend a few school functions prior to enrolling your student. Open Houses, holiday programs, athletic activities – many of these events will be publicized in your local paper or on the radio. This will give you even more opportunities to meet other parents and children of your potential new school.
Ask your friends, who have children in the school, how they feel overall about the school, specifically how they like the educational approach and also how their children like the program.
A very important question to ask yourself is - would you be happy with this school? Would your child like this school?
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