How to choose the best school for your child

Published: January 25, 2017

By Vernell Bowen
Superintendent of Schools

Vernell Bowen

This is the time of year when many parents begin to think about choosing a school for their child, whether it is their child’s initial entry into formal education in kindergarten or making a change in the child’s educational setting. As the superintendent of 27 Catholic schools across the state, I am sometimes asked by parents, “Which school is the best school for my child?” Although I feel that all our Catholic schools provide quality education, I always tell parents they need to go and visit each Catholic school in the area and decide which school seems to fit their child’s needs.

The best way for parents to determine the right school for their child is to contact the schools in your area and make an appointment for a visit. A good way to have your questions answered is to make the appointment with the principal. If possible, tour the schools during regular schools hours when students and teachers are present. Try to avoid visiting the schools during the first or last week of a term. Parents will get a more realistic sense of how the school operates after school has started.

The culture of the school plays an important factor in determining if the school meets your child’s needs. Prior to visiting a school, it is helpful to visit the school’s website. Most schools have their mission and philosophy statement and a wealth of other information about the school’s programs on their website. Websites can help parents get a feel of the school culture.

When visiting the school, here are some things to consider about the culture.

Are the people at the front desk helpful and friendly?
Is the school orderly and neat?
How is students’ work displayed? Does the work give a feel of the mission and purpose of the school?
Do the students appear to be courteous, happy and disciplined?
Is the school able to provide for diverse learning needs?
Do the teachers appear to be helpful and friendly?
Is there evidence in the halls or classrooms that the school is Catholic or does it look like any other private or public school?
Are there measures taken to ensure the safety of the students?

The academic as well as the extracurricular activities are important factors in finding the best fit for your child. Many parents want to know how well students score on standardized tests. This is only one aspect of what makes a great school or a good fit for your child. The principal of each school can let parents know about the specifics of testing.

The more important factor is determining if the curriculum will challenge your child and meet your child’s specific needs. Does the school have the capability of providing opportunities for children to get extra help when they need it? Does the school keep parents regularly informed of their child’s progress? When students leave the elementary school for high school are the students well prepared to have academic success? Do exiting students from the high school score well on college entrance exams?

Catholic schools provide a well-rounded education. It is important to note that challenging academic subjects are balanced with additional instruction and activities that are an integral part of the educational experience. Parents need to ask about the opportunity to participate in the arts, music, sports and community service projects.

As you prepare to choose a school for your child, remember hundreds of thousands of families send their children to a Catholic school each day. A Catholic school is more than a place to gain academic knowledge. While providing a strong educational program, Catholic schools are special because they are communities of faith as well as knowledge.

Click for the Catholic Schools Herald, January 2017 index