Choosing the BEST school for YOUR child

Choosing the BEST school for YOUR child

When determining which private school is best for your child, you first must do the advance work. Perform your research. Search the school’s website. Do a general search for reviews online of the school. What are other parents saying online? A preview of the school’s online presence will give you a good idea of what they offer and if it is right for your child.

Ask your friends, neighbors, and colleagues where their children attend and why. What is the culture of the school? There are a variety of good schools out there, but each school has something different to offer. What are your values? What environment do you want for your child? Do they offer extra-curricular activities, character building opportunities, etc.? Remember, you know YOUR child best!

Now it’s time to visit campus. Observe the students when you visit. Are they smiling? Do they appear to love their school? If the children are engaged, they will learn. If they are being appropriately challenged, they are more likely to be happy and not suffer from the “I’m bored syndrome” at school.

Have your child spend time visiting the school to immerse them in the school’s environment. If they don’t want to leave, find out why. It’s possible that they learned something new in the short period of time of a visit! Maybe they have already begun to make friends. After all, children should learn at school, but it is vital to the child that they do so with friends!

Always trust your instincts. If, after you’ve done your research, visited the campus, spoken with faculty and staff, and discussed it with your child, you probably know if the school is a fit for your family. Remember, the school you choose will have your child more waking hours during the academic year than you will! Pick the place where you trust that your child is safe, loved, and challenged to be the best person they can be.