Raise Your Hand
If You Have Any Questions...

There is no secret recipe for determining which school is best for your child. Every family will have its own set of values, resources and expectations which will determine your taste for the ingredients found in each school. Before you can arrive at your own decision, you will have to think about what matters most to you, and try to discover which schools best match your priorities.

The questions below may help you in your process of sorting through the choices. This list, or your own version of it, can be taken along on school tours, information evenings, or when speaking to a director of admissions, school information officer, or another parent. (Select "save as text" from your browser.)

Do try to talk to as many people as you can. Try to go beyond common phrases by asking further questions. What is meant by a "challenging" curriculum? Just how do they "celebrate diversity"? Why does your friend think that a school is "unfriendly"? In weighing the value of the information you obtain, consider whether the speakers have first-hand knowledge (rather than reporting a story or rumor), and whether you know that they share your values and expectations.

There are many more questions to ask...if we've missed some that have helped you in your decision-making process, please share them with other parents in need. Write to the NMs Web Mama...

GENERAL QUESTIONS
(Ask of Teachers, Administrators, Parents, Students)

Curriculum and Philosophy

• What is the school's philosophy about how children learn?
• How is that philosophy reflected in the curriculum and teaching methods?
• Are there schools that you think of as "sister schools," with similar philosophies?
• How is the school unique? What are its special strengths?
• Has the school been through any significant changes lately (key personnel, organizational change, facilities modification...). Is the school planning any major changes?
• Do you parallel the California curriculum?
• Is your approach "accelerated", "academic", "developmental", "montessori"...please explain...
• How are reading and writing taught? Do you use worksheets? Textbooks? Literature?
• By what chronological age (rather than grade) are most of the children reading?
• How is math taught?
• How is science taught? How are computers used?
• Tell me about your (music, foreign language, art, athletics) programs.

• Do children work together in groups? On what types of projects?
• Do you have multi-graded classrooms? What do you think they offer?
• How many children are in each grade? How many teachers or assistants?
• How experienced are the teachers? Do they have credentials? Advanced degrees?
• How much homework do children have in the various grades?
• How are differences in learning styles accommodated?
• What happens if a child is reading ahead of grade level?
• What happens if a child is having difficulties keeping up, or has a learning disability? Is there assistance available at the school, or are families to find tutors/specialists themselves?
• What are the students' test scores? How important are standardized test scores in evaluating a child's progress?
• May I see an example of a typical student evaluation/grade report?
• Where do most of the students go to junior high/middle/high school?

• What percentage of your teachers are credentialled?
• How many of them have advanced degrees?
• On average, how long have your teachers been at the school?
• Are your teachers' salaries higher or lower than area averages?
• Do your teachers have opportunities for pursuing additional training?
• Are the teachers involved in making curriculum decisions? Policy or admissisions decisions?
• What kind of teacher fits in well with this school's approach to learning?

After-School and Extra-Curricular Programs

(Don't forget to evaluate the after-school program, as it is where some children spend many hours)

• What do the children do in the after school program? Who are the staff?
• Is there an early morning and/or late afternoon program? What is the cost? Can it be used on a "drop-in" basis?
• Are there guided activities, electives, sports, music, etc. available after school?
• Is there a summer school program? What is it like? What percentage of the kids sign up?
• Tell me about the school field trips.

Social Issues

• What type of child fits well here? (In terms of temperament, academic ability, etc.)
• What type of child has had difficulty fitting in here?
• What kind of child are you hoping to help "produce"?
• What kind of values does the school wish its students to learn?
• What have you done to address issues of gender equity (girls and boys experiences in school)?
• What kind of physical disabilities/challenges can the school accommodate?
• How do you deal with issues such as a child being excluded from other children's play?
• How does the school help kids deal with conflict?
• How does the school handle disciplinary problems?

• Can you generalize about the types of families at this school?
• Are parents involved in the classroom? What do they do?
• Does the school foster a sense of community among families? How?
• How socioeconomically diverse are the families? What percentage are lower/middle/upper income (however you choose to define those categories)
• How is socioeconomic diversity achieved? (Lower tuition for all, scholarships, outreach, etc.)
• How ethnically diverse is the student body?
• How many African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, etc.?
• How many foreign-born?
• Is the school supportive of non-traditional families, single parents, gay and lesbian parents, etc.? How so?
• What percentage of families live in my part of town?

• How much cross-grade interaction is there? Are there older "buddies" for the younger kids?
• What is your community service component?
• Do the students interact with the neighborhood in any way?
• How and when is sex education taught?

• What is the age range in the kindergarten? Last year how many children turned six before they entered kindergarten or during the first fall? Is my child on the young side for your typical kindergarten class? (Despite stated private school admissions cut-off dates, you may find that certain schools tend to prefer children who turn 5 in the early or late spring before school begins.)

• What percentage of kindergartners remain through the elementary years? Beyond?
• Do alumni keep in touch with the school? How?
• Are there regular newsletters or other publications which the school uses to communicate with parents, or that the parent associaton publishes? Could I see one?
• Are there school fairs, fund-raisers or other events that I could attend to get a feel for the school?
• Is there a parent association at your school? What are its activities?

Nuts and Bolts

• Are there changes being contemplated for the site?
• Are there major capital campaigns underway or planned?
• How structurally sound are the site and buildings? Who has evaluated them for you?
• What are your earthquake safety, fire and disaster plans?
• How safe and secure is the school yard? The neighborhood?
• Is there a nurse and/or counselor on staff?

   

• Can the school accommodate changes in the family's schedule (extended vacations)?
• What transportation is provided by the school?
• Where are the bus stops, what is the charge and at what age do children take the bus?
• Are car-pools facilitated by the school?

QUESTIONS TO ASK OF PARENTS

• Why did you choose this school?
• What has your experience been?
• Is there anything you wish you could change or improve about the school?
• Tell me about the teachers...
• Tell me about the headmaster/principal and administration...
• How responsive is the administration when issues or problems arise?
• Has the school been through any significant changes lately? How has that been?

• Tell me about the families at the school. How well do you know them? Can you generalize about them?
• Does the school do anything to help create a sense of community in the school?
• Has anyone you know left the school? Why? Do you feel like you know the whole story?
• How does your child like the school?
• How long did it take your child to feel "at home" at this school?
• How does your child like the after school program?
• How would you compare your school to other schools you know of?
• Your school has a reputation for being (academic, creative, snobbish, unfriendly, disorganized, etc.) Is it deserved?

QUESTIONS TO ASK OF PRIVATE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

Admissions Process

• What kind of child are you looking for?
• How do you evaluate the child?
• Are you conducting academic or intelligence testing as well as developmental readiness assessment?
• What will happen to my child on the day s/he is evaluated? How should I prepare my child for the evaluation?
• Are siblings automatically accepted?
• Are there parents of children at the school whom I could call to ask about the school?
• How many openings do you anticipate this year? How many applicants?
• What percentage, if any, of your kindergarten kids turn 5 after September 1? How many turn 5 after June 1?
• If we decide that this is the best school for our child, what can we do to increase our chances of acceptance?

If you were accepted at more than one school, or are waitlisted, call the Admissions Office to say:

• "It would help me in my thinking about your school to know more about what you thought about my child, and why you thought she or he would/would not do well at your school."

Tuition and Costs

• How much does tuition tend to increase each year?
• What are the additional costs (materials, fees)?
• What is the cost of the after-school program?
• Is there an expected annual donation?
• What are the fundraising activities?
• Is financial assistance available?
• Is there a tuition reduction for siblings?
• What percentage of students receive financial assistance?
• What percentage receive substantial financial assistance?

© Natasha Beery 1999

http://home.earthlink.net/~natashab/NMquestions.html
Questions about Elementary Schools, revised 4 November 1999

Number of questioning parents since 4 Nov 1999: