Bright Horizons | e.family News

District Public Schools - In certain school districts, there are choices beyond an assigned neighborhood school. You may have curriculum choices outside of the traditional neighborhood school curriculum: arts, language immersion, Montessori, open, fundamental (back to basics), or others.

Public Charter Schools - Charter schools are available in some areas of the country. They are public schools chartered by the state or district and run by a variety of organizations: nonprofit or for-profit, founded by parents, religious groups, entrepreneurs, or corporations. These schools may be tailored to a particular population (e.g., employees, ethnic groups), educational approaches, or content.

Private Schools - Private schools range from long-time established schools to brand new schools established by religious groups, for-profit organizations, or entrepreneurs. When most people think of private schools, they typically think of country day schools, academies, and independent schools. Most private schools are run by nonprofit boards, some are founded and run by individual owners, and a few are run by educational corporations. Their approaches range from very progressive (learning based and child centered) to very conservative (instruction based and teacher centered). The name of the school may be part marketing and part intent. "Academy" connotes serious academics. "Country Day" is often associated with a broad liberal arts approach, probably progressive (individualized and experiential), and perhaps a place for higher status families.

Parochial Schools - The majority of parochial schools are Catholic schools and run by a diocese, but there are also Lutheran and other Christian parochial school systems in some areas. Parochial schools typically emphasize the basics, respect for authority and traditional values – some focus more on religious instruction than others. Tuition is usually less than most private schools and there is often a discount for parishioners.

Christian Schools - These schools are the fastest growing segment of private schools and are usually run by a church, an organization, a group of parents, or an entrepreneur. Christian schools are typically more conservative and tuitions tend to be lower than other private schools.

Montessori Schools - Montessori schools are private schools that provide an individualized Montessori curriculum that emphasizes hands-on learning. Unfortunately, the term has become a "brand" and some schools use the name without having a real Montessori approach (check for Montessori teacher certifications). Tuition cost is usually comparable to lower-priced private schools.

Determinar las Necesidades Educativas

Every family has different priorities when choosing a school for their child. You may want a rigorous academic curriculum or a strong science curriculum for your budding inventor. Perhaps a top music program or Spanish or French language immersion is what you're after. Or, maybe the most important feature to you is simply a school with an enthusiastic faculty and strong leadership. It's important to spell out your interests and your child's particular needs before you set out to find the right school. Develop a simple profile. The questions below may help you get started:

What are your child's educational needs? Are they purely academic? Do you prefer a curriculum that is structured, child initiated, or a combination of the two?
What do you want the school to achieve for you and your child? A certain level of academic preparation? Discipline and respect? Greater appreciation for natural resources and environment? Appreciation of the arts? Certain social status and acceptance? After-school activities?
La ideología y los valores de las escuelas ¿son compatibles con los suyos?
What size school are you looking for? Some children may do better in a smaller school while others may benefit from a larger school with more options and more children to interact with. How important is class size to you

Family Logistics

What are you able to afford? Keep in mind that even public education entails costs beyond taxes, such as lunches, after-school programs, field trips, and supplemental costs for band or sports. Some parents believe that the early years of education are equally or more important than college and choose to invest accordingly.
¿Que tipo de transporte escolar necesita?
What child care support do you need? Does the school offer extended day programs or flexible early entry?

Develop a School Search Strategy

After creating the profile, start searching. Begin the search as early as possible. Organize your search with files and mark deadlines and appointments on a calendar. Here are some tips for organizing your search:

List all the schools that meet your profile. If you don’t think you can afford the tuition at a certain school, request financial aid information and scholarship forms before excluding it from your list.
Research the schools in your area. Call or e-mail the schools for catalogs, videos, and applications. Most important, locate and talk to parents whose children attend the different schools.
Seleccione aproximadamente de tres a cinco escuelas para explorar con más profundidad.
Visite sus elecciones prioritarias.

When you visit a school, be sure to ask questions, observe the environment, and talk to teachers. The sample questions below may help you get started:

¿Tiene la escuela una filosofía o misión educativa particular?
¿De qué forma la escuela alienta y monitorea el progreso de los estudiantes para cumplir con los estándares del nivel del grado?
¿La escuela individualiza el currículum?
¿De qué forma la escuela apoya a los estudiantes que tienen dificultades académicas, sociales o emocionales?
How does the school support special gifts or particular interests?
¿Qué tipos de recursos de biblioteca están disponibles para los estudiantes?
¿Cómo se usa la tecnología para apoyar la enseñanza y el aprendizaje en esta escuela?
¿Qué oportunidades extracurriculares están disponibles para los estudiantes?
¿Cuál es el enfoque de la escuela con respecto a la disciplina y la seguridad?
¿Qué estrategias se usan para enseñar a los estudiantes que no tienen fluidez en inglés?
¿Qué oportunidades de desarrollo profesional tienen los maestros?
¿Cómo enfoca la escuela la participación de los padres?
¿Cuáles son algunos de los mayores logros de la escuela ?
Pregunte en todas las escuelas sobre las calificaciones y la rotación del liderazgo y el cuerpo docente, cómo se autoevalúan y como los evalúan otros.
What is the school’s history, organizational structure, and financial stability?
¿Están disponibles las puntuaciones de las pruebas?
¿Cómo llegan los estudiantes a la escuela? ¿Hay transporte en autobús disponible?

Evaluar la Escuela

Look for the following when you visit the schools on your list to help you assess (Information adapted from GreatSchools.net):

¿Las aulas se ven alegres? Si se exhiben trabajos de los alumnos, ¿le parecen apropiados para el nivel de grado?
¿Los maestros parecen entusiastas y bien informados, haciendo preguntas que estimulan a los estudiantes y mantenerlos ocupados?
Does the principal seem confident and interested in interacting with students, teachers, and parents?
What are some highlights of the reading, math, science, and social studies curriculum?
¿Qué criterios se usan para determinar la ubicación de los estudiantes en las clases?
¿Cómo se informa a los padres sobre la información y las actividades de la escuela?
Is there an active Parent Teacher Association? What other types of parent involvement take place at this school?
Are child care/extended day programs available? What is the cost/quality?
¿Cómo se comportan los niños cuando se trasladan de una clase a otra o juegan afuera?
¿Cómo se mantienen las instalaciones? ¿Los baños están limpios y bien provistos y los terrenos se ven seguros y atrayentes?

Proceso de Solicitud

Consulte en las escuelas y distritos donde está solicitando para asegurarse de conocer sus fechas límites de solicitud.
Si está listo para tomar la gran decisión, solicite, inscriba y complete las solicitudes a tiempo.
Una vez que haya presentado la solicitud, manténgase al tanto del proceso y consulte en la escuela o distrito para saber cuándo puede esperar una respuesta.
Realice nuevas visitas según sea necesario a las escuelas que hayan aceptado su solicitud.
Devuelva el formulario de aceptación con un cheque para depositar.

Once again, it’s important not to obsess over which school to choose. For many of us without a lot of choices, school is like an arranged marriage that works if we put our energy and minds into it.

For more information on selecting the right school for your child and family, visit GreatSchools.net