If you are moving in the New Year, you’ll want to find the perfect
school for your kids before you settle on a neighbourhood to relocate
to. There are a number of ways that you can go about investigating your
schooling options.
Start by visiting
GreatSchools which gives the location and general description of each school as well
as a rating out of ten. GreatSchools will give you information on the
principal and teachers of the schools in your new area. The site offers
directions to the school as well as a listing of homes for sale in the
neighbourhood.
For a more objective review, consult the school’s annual report card.
These can be found on the state’s education department website and
will give you a more accurate view of the school’s performance.
Once you have chosen a couple of schools to choose from, ask each one for
a school handbook. This will give you all the information you need about
each school. Some schools allow you to sit in classrooms or take a walk
around the grounds to get a better feel for the atmosphere and the facilities
on offer. Not all schools will allow this, so check with the school secretary
before you arrive.
Things to consider when selecting a school for your K-12 student include:
- School culture; do the principals of the school culture fit in with those
you teach at home? Ensure that the school has an established system to
deal with social and emotional issues such as peer pressure or bullying.
- Social aspects; will your child fit in socially with the other students
that attend the school? Does the school have a warm, inviting atmosphere?
- Are there too many students in each class? Lower student numbers mean that
your child will receive more personal attention from teachers. Optimum
numbers are 17 per class or less.
- Is the curriculum balanced? This should mean that students get the opportunity
for academic, sporting and creative pursuits.
- What facilities does the school offer? Sports, lab, computer, library and
other facilities are essential for the development of a well-rounded individual.
- Consider the commute; if you have already selected a home, make sure that
your travel time is minimized to reduce stress and save time.
- Ask questions; make a list of all the questions you and your children would
like to ask prior to visiting the school. This will help you to gather
all the information you need to make the best choice for your children.
Involve your children in the decision making process so that they feel
empowered and excited about their new school. Moving schools can be a
difficult and intimidating process for younger students, so take your
children along on the school tour so that they feel confident and are
familiar with the school before they start their first day.
