looking for a new elem / I don't to make a wrong decsion. What ?'s are the most important??
Read all 4 answers >
|
|
Parent Answers to "looking for a new elem / I don't to make a wrong decsion. What ?'s are the most important??"
View 4 answers: Newest-Oldest,
Oldest-Newest Display all answers
The International School has the best elementary program in town, but it is a private school and you have to pay for the quality. "TeacherParent" does not go far enough - you MUST visit a school before choosing it. Don't let any school make you think they choose you.
Helpful tips from the two previous responders. Here are a few additional ideas to consider.
1. What do you value as parents and as a family? Although friends and the forum posters here can share what they consider to be characteristics of a great school, you and your child need to feel comfortable with the school you select.
2. How accessible are the school's teachers and principals? Consider leaving a voicemail or sending an email to the school's principal expressing your interest in joining their school's community. If your attempt at communication is met with a reply inside of 24 hours you have found a school and administration that values the school to home connection. Given that we are in summer months the response time could be slower. However, return responses that linger over a week could be quicker.
3. Drive by the school and look inside the classrooms. Does the classroom environment look like a place where your child would be comfortable. Your child may actually be a better judge so don't forget to bring him/her along.
4. Another way to begin is by looking for a home and community that feels comfortable. If the families attend their home school in your community you win and so does your child. With school friends scattered around the neighborhood and the ability to walk to school everybody wins.
Best,
Joe Bruzzese
1. What do you value as parents and as a family? Although friends and the forum posters here can share what they consider to be characteristics of a great school, you and your child need to feel comfortable with the school you select.
2. How accessible are the school's teachers and principals? Consider leaving a voicemail or sending an email to the school's principal expressing your interest in joining their school's community. If your attempt at communication is met with a reply inside of 24 hours you have found a school and administration that values the school to home connection. Given that we are in summer months the response time could be slower. However, return responses that linger over a week could be quicker.
3. Drive by the school and look inside the classrooms. Does the classroom environment look like a place where your child would be comfortable. Your child may actually be a better judge so don't forget to bring him/her along.
4. Another way to begin is by looking for a home and community that feels comfortable. If the families attend their home school in your community you win and so does your child. With school friends scattered around the neighborhood and the ability to walk to school everybody wins.
Best,
Joe Bruzzese
Class size is very important - what's the average class size? What is their 'cutoff' for class size - 25? 30?
How large overall is the school? A smaller school is a very different place than a larger school.
Do they have teachers' strikes? My home district has a strike every three years - peaceable districts are better than such volatile districts.
I don't much like detention as a punishment for young children - if it were me, I'd ask how they handle discipline issues and if they use detention. These days I'd want to know if the school still had recess - more and more schools are sadly doing away with recess.
What's the homework policy? Is homework required by the school? What are the limits on homework - are there limits on homework?
Those are some questions that would be important to me but what's most important to me is the tone and temper of the school and when possible, I like to visit the possible schools to gain a sense of each.
Good luck with your decision.
How large overall is the school? A smaller school is a very different place than a larger school.
Do they have teachers' strikes? My home district has a strike every three years - peaceable districts are better than such volatile districts.
I don't much like detention as a punishment for young children - if it were me, I'd ask how they handle discipline issues and if they use detention. These days I'd want to know if the school still had recess - more and more schools are sadly doing away with recess.
What's the homework policy? Is homework required by the school? What are the limits on homework - are there limits on homework?
Those are some questions that would be important to me but what's most important to me is the tone and temper of the school and when possible, I like to visit the possible schools to gain a sense of each.
Good luck with your decision.
Hi. It's really hard to answer your question, because we don't know what's prompting you to leave your old school. If you have a child with special education issues, that may be your primary consideration. If you have a very bright child, you might be more interested in whether there's a gifted program. I think it would be good for you to join and repost your questions, with more background information, in Greatschools Elementary School Parents Group at community.greatschools.net/gro
Any contributed content above is the subjective opinion of that member or external author, and not of
GreatSchools. GreatSchools does not check for accuracy in community posts or verify the contributor’s
identity. If you are searching for health-related advice we strongly suggest you seek professional medical
support. View our Community Guidelines for more details.
Local Q&A
Top cities
Browse questions about
Local Q&A is brand new! What do you think? Give us your feedback in our feedback forum.
Read our community guidelines and FAQ
