Feature/General
Choosing a Quality School - 5 Questions You Should Ask
Jan/Feb 2007

Once you have a school in mind for your child, you need to ask some important questions. How do you cut to the chase? Well, if you start with these, you'll have all your bases covered.

Elementary School

1. Do teachers and other staff seem welcoming? If you're made to feel as if you're disrupting their precious time, they've got an attitude problem.

2. How is progress measured? Does the school rely solely on test scores?  What about other ways of evaluating kids, such as journals, portfolios of completed work and artistic or musical accomplishments? Test scores can tell only so much about children's abilities. Where else do teachers get feedback to help them evaluate individual strengths and weaknesses?

3. Do you see kids working together in small groups? That's a good thing! If students are interacting solely with the teacher, you could be witnessing the onset of mass boredom.

4. Are computers available to all students? Are they wired for the Internet?

5. What provisions are there for after‑school programs? Who supervises them and what's the routine?

Middle School

1. Are the principal and teachers willing to discuss the curriculum? Are they working with the new national standards?

2. Is there an opportunity for eighth graders to take early algebra?

3. How is progress measured? Does the school rely solely on test scores? What about other ways of evaluating kids, such as journals, portfolios of completed work and artistic or musical accomplishments? Test scores can tell only so much about children's abilities. Where else do teachers get feedback to help them evaluate individual strengths and weaknesses?

4. Are computers available to all students? In what ways is technology integrated into classwork?

5. Are parents involved in meaningful ways? Do they come along on field trips? Volunteer their expertise in the classroom? Are they active in fundraising?

High School

1. Are the principal and teachers willing to discuss the curriculum? Are they working with the new national standards?

2. Have any teachers gotten individual classroom grants? They themselves have to initiate the effort, so it's a good way to evaluate commitment and enthusiasm.

3. Is there an Advanced Placement program?

4. What percentage of graduating seniors go on to college?

5. Are teachers computer literate? How is technology integrated into classwork? 

From familyeducation.com