Ensuring your child’s growth and development goes as you want is not always so easy. The right school for your child can make a massive difference in their academic career and further on into their lives. And while there are many options than the standard public school, the variety of choices can make it an overwhelming process. What do you need to consider when choosing the right school for your child?
Should You Focus on Statistics?
It’s easy for us to fixate on statistics so we can weed out the “bad” schools, but when we dig deeper into the stats, we might overlook so many important factors for our children. For example, while Winnetonka High School is placed in the bottom 50% of all schools in Missouri for overall test scores, does this mean it is a bad school? Instead, think about finding the right fit overall. This means you have to consider your child’s learning style, their social needs, as well as what you want your child to learn. Test scores don’t tell you everything about how effective school is.
Make a List of the Features You and Your Child Want
Some of the basics to look for include:
- Great teachers
- Strong parent-teacher association
- A welcoming environment that answers your questions
Visit the School
Before you visit the school, prepare some key questions to ask the teachers and principal. You could enquire how teachers are trained and supported. You may also want to address how behavior issues are handled. The level of homework is another thing to consider, but the important thing is to prepare your questions before you visit.
Speak to the Students and Their Parents
Visiting a school is a great way to get a feel for the place, but if you want to get a more comprehensive opinion, you should speak to parents and students to find out if they are happy with the quality of the education. You need to find out if the staff are responsive to any concerns, and if the parents are involved with the school in some way.
o to a PTA Meeting
You could sit down with the principal who is open to meetings with parents, but if you want to go one step further, visiting a PTA meeting can give you a real insight. PTA meetings are an amazing way to network with parents who you can speak to at a later date. PTA meetings are usually available to all parents and the general public, so you should have no qualms about visiting.
How Does it Feel?
Once you’ve gathered all of the information you should choose a school that you feel good about, but one that your child is happy with. Of course, we can’t always be 100% perfect, and it’s important to check the data so you have a good place to operate from. While the right school will make a big difference to your child’s academic future, you have to remember that it’s your child that is attending, not you. It is not easy, however, it is one of the best approaches to guarantee your child a strong academic future.
