| The Top Ten Things to Consider When Selecting an Elementary School |
By: Mary Lee Shalvoy, Education Columnist
On 1/11/06
Did you know the decision on where to send a child for elementary school is usually made when the child is about three years old?
| "Observe a day in the life of the school. Bring your kid along. Do the children seem happy and engaged? What does your child think?" |
According to the consulting firm, Catholic School Management, three is the age parents start thinking about pre-school and the rest of a child’s academic career … including college!
Choosing an elementary school seems just as daunting as choosing a pre-school. Taking a step-by-step approach alleviates the pressure and makes the process more manageable
Unless you are automatically enrolling your child in the school across the street because it’s a) excellent and b) within walking distance from your home and c) you went there and you turned out fine, you might be in the throes of deciding where you and your child will be spending the next six to nine years of his or her life. Here are just a few things to keep in mind:
- Consider the kid.
Just like children, elementary schools come in all shapes and sizes. While private schools have specific organization and educational philosophies that separate them from the pack, public schools have personalities and ratings, too. One size does not fit all. Where to start? A good place is with your child. Understand your child’s learning needs and abilities as well as temperament and personality. Your child may be better suited to one academic environment (public or private) and you want to put her in an environment that will build strengths and encourage growth on all levels.
- Do your homework.
Get a list of all the schools in your area. As my twins approached school age, I went online to www.greatschools.net and found a list of all the schools in our town. My ultimate goal was to be within walking distance, but I did not let that be the only criteria. I wanted a smaller community, but also a K-8 school. I admit that since I grew up in the Catholic school system, it was the most comfortable place for me to start. However, I researched all of the schools in town and discovered many important things, like: which public schools had the highest test scores; where the K-5, K-6 and K-8 schools were located; where the junior high schools were located and which elementary schools acted as “feeders” to those (an important consideration if your child is going to move after fifth grade); as well as similar data for the private and parochial schools.
- Scope out the competition.
When you have narrowed your choices down to a few schools, go back to www.greatschools.net and set up a comparison chart. This site offers a phenomenal opportunity to rate schools in your district or area (including private and parochial schools). Next, go to each school to actually see the site. What do your instincts tell you? Perhaps you and your child can walk around the grounds or the neighborhood just to get a feel. Make a call to each of the schools and find out when you have to apply. Find out if your town has open enrollment for public schools and when it is. You might not be tied to the school in your housing district.
- Listen to the talk on the playground.
When you take your kids to the park, start talking to the other parents. (The nannies and sitters might have some valuable insights, too.) Get the “buzz” on the neighborhood public school, or any of the nearby schools, for that matter. You will hear the best and the worst; the best if they are happy, and the worst if they’re not. When we first moved to this town, I brought my girls to every park to get to know the lay of the land. (In the beginning, I would have to ask people “What’s the nearest park?” when asking for directions.) There was a method to my madness. By actually talking to a Mom (or Dad) who’s older kids were enrolled in the school across the street, I got firsthand information on the school, its teachers and faculties, and its strengths and weaknesses. If we were in the park after school hours or on the weekends, we often met some of the school kids themselves.
- Go to the Head of the class.
In the business world, the trickle down effect exists: the CEO/President sets the stage for the rest of the company. It’s the same in the academic world. A school may be much more than its principal, but I stand by the fact that he or she drives the momentum and shapes the character of the school. Set up a meeting with the principals of your chosen schools and see what you think. Find out about academic goals and curriculum for each grade level. If a school has an open house or an information night, attend.
- Meet the teachers.
While the principal acts as a president for the school, the teachers certainly carry out the message and act as ambassadors. I know that many schools tout the number of masters’ degrees and the length of tenure for their teachers. That’s certainly important. However, we have all experienced anomalies. Meet the teachers any way you can. Sit in on classes; go to assemblies. Get a feel for the people who will spend more time in a day with your kid than you will.
- Meet the students.
I have this test that may not be right for judging a school, but I can’t seem to shake it. When I meet a kid in another school, I judge how they greet me. Do they look me in the eye? Do they talk to me or to the floor, or not respond at all? I have visited many schools and the places with kids who know how to greet a visitor usually have the highest academic standards. I try to save this test for when I am actually meeting kids on campus. I figure that’s their turf, where they should feel comfortable and confident. If the school inspires that self-assurance, then they must be doing something right in the classroom.
- A school day is not just 8 to 3.
What happens after school? Does the school have a program that accommodates working parents? Check to see if there are enrichment programs (language, art, music) that supplement the fundamental education in the classroom. Although we all want our children to speak multiple languages and play many instruments, it’s tough to fit that into a school day. Many schools offer additional programs starting when the final bell rings.
- It takes a village.
Ask how much family involvement is required and expected at your chosen schools. What is the community beyond the teachers? How does the school work in the general community, town or region? In our school, there are service projects for every grade and the older children have “service hours” they must fulfill each year.
- Visit and Observe.
Again, this is the most important advice of all. Observe a day in the life of the school. Bring your kid along. Do the children seem happy and engaged? What does your child think?
Finally, I am going to repeat the caveat that I wrote in the column about finding a pre-school: No matter what anyone says, go with your instincts. The school might seem perfect on paper—you found the pre-school with the “best” reputation, in the right location, with excellent credentials and teachers – but if it still doesn’t feel right for you and your child, then don’t sign up.
Here’s an additional point: nine years is a long time. Although you don’t want to enter a school thinking that you will pull your child if things get tough, many circumstances and timing can offer a chance to switch to a new school. It’s not the end of the world.
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