Elementary SchoolPicture

Selecting a school is a wonderful opportunity to match your child's personality and abilities with just the right environment. Figuring out the elements that go into this decision can be challenging. Here is a common-sense checklist...

 

1. Assess the needs of your child.

Structure How much structure does your child need?
Challenge How challenging of an environment does your child need?
Environment Are there environments where your child does better than others?
Language Does your child have special language requirements?
Special Needs Does your child have special learning, social, or emotional needs?
Learning Style How does your child learn best (e.g., hearing, reading, doing)?
Social Interaction How does your child interact best (e.g., individual, small groups, big groups)?
Activity Level What activity level does your child need?
Special Interests Does your child have special interests (artistic, musical, mathematical, etc.)?

 

2. Determine the child's grade.

LevelGradesAge 
High School 9-12 14-18  
Middle School 6-8 11-13 It can be a separate school or part of an elementary school.
Elementary School 1-6 6-10  
Kindergarten K2 5 Kindergarten as preparation for school
Pre-Kindergarten K1 4 Prepares for Kindergarten
Pre-Kindergarten K0 3 Like pre-school

 

3. Select the type of school you would like.

Day School Students live at home and attend school during the day.
Boarding School Students live at school.

 

4. Decide about unique styles of education.

Montessori School Emphasis on independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child’s natural development.
Waldorf School Emphasizes the role of imagination in learning and integrating the intellectual, practical, and artistic development of pupils.
Religious School Integrates education with religious values such as Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Islamic, and other religions.
Special Education School For students with special needs

 

5. Other important factors

Tuition Tuition range you are willing to pay
Academics What kind of academic level do you expect?
Size What size of school would be ideal?
Distance How far from your home is the school?

 

6. Visit schools and observe

Facilities The type and quality of the facility
Athmosphere Are students happy and courteous?
Welcoming parents Are parents welcomed by the staff?
Books and supplies Quantity and quality of books and supplies.
Security Is access controlled?
Class Sizes How large are the classes?
Student Work How is student work displayed?
Respect Is there a sense of mutual respect?
Orderly and Neat Is the environment orderly and neat?
Parent Communications How does the school communicate with parents?
Parent Involvement How are parents involved in school?



 

  

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