Your child's education is the most basic foundation for them to be successful in life.
By choosing a good school district as a guide to moving your family, you will have peace of mind down the road because your child will be able to have the best possible education from the public school system.
Therefore, before moving to a new house, and a new neighborhood, it is always a good idea to check out the school system in the area first.
Start with online research. The Nation's Report Card provides information on state performances in the essential learning areas, such as reading, math and geography. If you're moving to a new state, this is the place to start. www.greatschools.net has a lot of good information to get started.
Also go to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to obtain facts such as student/teacher ratio, number of students and enrollment by gender and race.
Most schools will accommodate parents for a school tour. All you need to do is to call ahead and ask for a staff person to show you the facilities.
It is best to try to book a tour when school is in session, so you can observe some classes and speak with students. Ask if you can bring your child with you so they can observe and provide their input as well. Involve your child in this process will help them make an anticipated transition into the new school environment.
In the end, you and your child should feel good about the school that you have chosen in the new area where you want to live.
Observation: Were most classrooms being taught or were students engaged in group projects or working on their own? It's a good idea to keep track. It isn't important that a teacher always teaches; likewise, you don't want in-class projects or group work to be the standard teaching method.
Observation: How is the classroom set-up? Is it conducive for teaching?
Observation: Are the buildings, classrooms, blackboards, gym look clean and well-maintained? While this isn't necessary important for a good education, the way a school is kept speaks volumes on school pride. The school should feel warm and inviting, with student displays and obvious signs of student participation.
Observation: Depending on the needs of your child, importance of activities can range from crucial to "nice to have". Ask specifically about the activities your child likes to do and note what kind of activities your tour leader emphasizes.
Observation: Is it a well-rounded curriculum? What are the optional classes? Does the school provide more classes in particular areas than in others? Is there an art program? A music program? How much time do the students spend exercising? Is there an online component? If so, how much of the curriculum is taught this way?
Observation: Is there an overall approach to teaching these subjects? How structured is the curriculum or are the teachers allowed to teach what they feel is important? Are students encouraged to participate? Ask specifically for a list of books being used by your child's current grade. Is it challenging enough or too challenging? Make sure you obtain a list for the core subject areas so you can do some research after the tour.
Observation: Does the school have televisions, VCRs, computers and other media tools to assist in the classroom? Will your child have access to a computer and if so, how often and is your child monitored?
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