| So you're relocating and need to find a | | | | rural area,if you move often and want to |
| school in your new area for your children. | | | | maximize academic consistency for your child, |
| The hard part is that you want to make sure | | | | or if you work from home and can monitor your |
| it's the right school, and you might not yet | | | | children's activities. However they don't |
| know the local neighborhoods yet. Here are | | | | work well if your child is the type to spend |
| some things to research so that when you | | | | their day playing computer games. |
| decide on a school, you can be confident it's | | | | |
| the right one for your kids. | | | | City web sites are also usually a wealth of |
| | | | demographical information. If you want to |
| Whatever the region you are moving to, | | | | know the average income or racial profile for |
| chances are they have a city web site. These | | | | a city or sub-area within a city, this |
| usually have a list of local schools. If this | | | | information should be there. It can help you |
| isn't possible, ask your real estate agent if | | | | to understand the area you are moving to, and |
| they have any information about local schools | | | | in extension, the types of kids yours will be |
| or districts. | | | | going to school with. Perhaps you've chosen a |
| | | | home that's close to a new job, but the best |
| While public schools don't necessarily have | | | | schools are in another part of town. You'll |
| their own web site, school districts often | | | | want to know, and plan your routines in |
| do. Private schools, at least the good ones, | | | | advance. School District web sites should |
| will definitely have their own web sites. | | | | have contact information for individual |
| Many communities have more than one | | | | schools, allowing you to find information |
| denominational school as well as a variety of | | | | about available bussing, school start and end |
| specialty schools such as Waldorf, Montessori | | | | times, etc. |
| or those offering an advanced or university | | | | |
| prep curriculum. | | | | Waiting until you move to research local |
| | | | schools could mean your child misses more |
| Online schools are gaining popularity and | | | | school days than they have to. In addition,6 |
| many school districts now offer distance | | | | a.m. the Monday morning after your big move |
| education programs, which essentially act as | | | | is NOT when you want to be wondering whether |
| online extensions of their regular | | | | the local public school will suit your child, |
| curriculum. These allow students the | | | | or if a bus goes by the neighborhood of your |
| flexibility of studying from home at their | | | | chosen school. Planning in advance will save |
| own pace, while providing them with a teacher | | | | you stress at moving time, and considering |
| to email their questions and assignments to. | | | | everything that is involved in a move, the |
| These programs work well if you have an | | | | more stress you can remove, the better. |
| advanced, self-motivated teen, live in a very | | | | |