|
From their article entitled, Factors to Consider in Selecting a School, Bennett Educational Resources explains, "The objective in school selection is to find the best possible match between the needs of the child and the education provided by the school. Each child has a unique set of social needs, interest and learning abilities, and each school offers a unique combination of teaching philosophy, size, curriculum, tuition, and student body composition. Because of the number of factors to be considered, and the difficulty in measuring these factors, the selection process can be a demanding exercise."
Bennett Educational Resources has developed the following checklist which many parents have found to be helpful in evaluating schools:
School Community
- Is there a sense of school community?
- Are there opportunities for students to participate in and contribute to that community?
- Do students feel a sense of loyalty and enthusiasm about their school?
- What is the social climate in the school?
- Is the student body homogeneous or diverse in terms of social, ethnic, religious, or national status?
- Do parents play an active role in school affairs?
Administration and Faculty
- What is the background of the head of the school?
- How long has the head served at this school?
- Has the head set a positive and consistent tone for the school community?
- Is the head accessible and responsive to the school community?
- Who are the teachers and what are their credentials?
- Do teachers challenge their students?
Philosophy of education
- Is there an identifiable philosophy of education?
- What are the educational goals of the school?
- Do faculty and students feel that these goals are being met?
Quality and Assurance and Performance
- How is the school accredited?
- How frequently is the school inspected and by what agencies, to insure that proper academic standards are maintained?
- Does the school undergo periodic peer review?
- Are the standardized test scores or college admission records to gauge academic performance?
- What are the student retention and attrition rates?
Other Characteristics
- What is the enrollment of the school?
- When was the school founded?
- What is the state of the school's physical plant?
- Is the school in a convenient location?
- Does the school offer the curriculum/activities that are desired/needed by the student?
- Does the school offer boarding facilities?
- Does the school provide transportation?
- Does the school provide food service?
Tuition, Fees, and Other Costs
- What is the school's tuition?
- Is financial assistance available?
- Is there an extended or deferred payment program?
- Are tuition insurance plans available?
|
