| There are so many things to take into | | | | Though your child may gain a modicum of pride |
| consideration when you're buying a house. Will | | | | from attending a high ranking school, this isn't the |
| your furniture fit? Will your life fit? Is the | | | | stuff that memories are built on. One of the most |
| foundation sound? But if you have children, finding | | | | important things to children is the quality of the |
| a house near a school that's a good fit is probably | | | | relationships in their lives. Above all else, kids want |
| the single most important consideration you have. | | | | to spend time with their friends and families. |
| Let's do the math: American children spend an | | | | Probably the simplest way to give them this is to |
| average of 6 hours per day, 5 days a week in | | | | live within walking distance of whatever school |
| school. Once you take the various holidays out of | | | | they go to. Long commutes whether by bus or |
| the mix, you're left with approximately 185 | | | | by car might be the only way to get your child to |
| instructional days per school year. That's a total of | | | | the school of your choice but it also creates a |
| 1116 hours a year! Multiply this by 12 years and | | | | disconnect when it comes to their day to day life, |
| you get a whopping 13,392 instructional hours by | | | | the life of the family and their social relationships. |
| the time prom rolls around. Let's hope it's a | | | | Leadership |
| positive experience. | | | | The quality of the leadership at any school will |
| Forget everything you know about choosing a | | | | define the quality of the education at that school. |
| school. The secret to choosing the right | | | | A school principal sets the tone for the staff the |
| elementary school for your children has very little | | | | staff take this into the classroom and to your |
| to do with fancy grading systems, elaborate | | | | child. If you don't care for the principal's |
| facilities, technology, high grades, high tuition or | | | | methodology, you probably won't like the school. |
| whatever may be the academic flavor of the | | | | Schedule an interview or meeting with the school |
| month. You can't look at a static report on the | | | | principal and find out. |
| Internet and be able to effectively evaluate | | | | 1. What it means to be a successful student at |
| whether or not that school has what it takes to | | | | this school |
| nurture your child's heart and soul. | | | | 2. What sort of children do well here and what |
| Things like school spirit; level of emotional | | | | sort of children don't |
| intelligence amongst the staff; the school's ability | | | | 3. Does the school favor any particular educational |
| to bring out the best in all their students and the | | | | philosophies? |
| level of tolerance for differences (whether they | | | | 4. What kind of support does the administration |
| be different learning styles, different abilities or | | | | have? A strong PTA? Vice Principal? |
| physical differences) aren't found in the numbers. | | | | 5. What kind of arts, technology and sports |
| Yet, all of these factors will have a profound | | | | programs do they offer? |
| effect on the experience your child will have at | | | | 6. What sort of stance does the school take |
| school. | | | | toward issues and values that are important to |
| A few things to look for: | | | | you as a parent? |
| Flexibility | | | | The Hidden Report Card |
| Does the school have a one size fits all approach? | | | | Take some time to discover what it is that you |
| Even a gifted child may not excel in every | | | | value in a school as a parent. Make a list of |
| subject. Find out if the school is designed to | | | | must-haves and put them in order of priority. |
| accommodate differences or if they expect | | | | Then go about finding out whether or not the |
| children to conform to their needs. Chances are | | | | school in question makes the mark on each point. |
| that your child has a special ability that needs to | | | | Investigate the schools in the area you're planning |
| be nurtured or that they would benefit from | | | | to buy a home in by finding out what kind of |
| enriched or flexible programs that give them | | | | marks they get from students, parents and staff. |
| access to the right tools and information at the | | | | Visit the school and observe whether or not the |
| right developmental stage. When you're looking | | | | students are happy. Talk to a few teachers and |
| for a school, look for flexible programs that will be | | | | find out how they feel about the school. An |
| able to serve children who need help in some | | | | education isn't just a bunch of marks. It's an |
| areas and enrichment in others. | | | | experience, a collection of memories and a |
| Proximity | | | | foundation for the future. |