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judging schools
We're working on a list of possible places to move to. I'm trying to
come up with important specific attributes for Futureville, such as climate, a nearby university, etc. One quality we want is "good public schools," but how can they be judged? We're talking kindergarten, first grade -- things like college admission stats aren't relevant. Any suggestions? -- Sara, accompanied by the baby barnacle |
#2
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judging schools
"Sara" wrote in message ... We're working on a list of possible places to move to. I'm trying to come up with important specific attributes for Futureville, such as climate, a nearby university, etc. One quality we want is "good public schools," but how can they be judged? We're talking kindergarten, first grade -- things like college admission stats aren't relevant. Any suggestions? Visit the schools. You can get a lot on the general climate just by seeing and observing. Things I'd look for: 1) Programs like art, music and PE classes (often the first things cut in budget crisis) 2) Do the schools have playgrounds? 3) Homework policy (if any) 4) Gifted programs 5) Class size 6) Electives at the elementary level-clubs and after school groups. 7) District or school-wide discipline policy 8) The school library-if a school doesn't have a librarian, this is a very good indicator that there isn't much student-directed learning going on, or much free reading, either. 9) PTA/PTO One thing I wouldn't be terribly concerned about is standardized test scores-it is very easy for a school to be doing a great job and be labeled "failing"-and for a school to have great scores, but at too high of a cost for a kindergartener. -- Sara, accompanied by the baby barnacle |
#3
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judging schools
In article ,
"Donna Metler" wrote: "Sara" wrote in message ... We're working on a list of possible places to move to. I'm trying to come up with important specific attributes for Futureville, such as climate, a nearby university, etc. One quality we want is "good public schools," but how can they be judged? We're talking kindergarten, first grade -- things like college admission stats aren't relevant. Any suggestions? Visit the schools. You can get a lot on the general climate just by seeing and observing. Things I'd look for: 1) Programs like art, music and PE classes (often the first things cut in budget crisis) 2) Do the schools have playgrounds? 3) Homework policy (if any) 4) Gifted programs 5) Class size 6) Electives at the elementary level-clubs and after school groups. 7) District or school-wide discipline policy 8) The school library-if a school doesn't have a librarian, this is a very good indicator that there isn't much student-directed learning going on, or much free reading, either. 9) PTA/PTO Great list! I would add how long teachers tend to stay at the school compared to others, if you can get that information. And even though you are looking at elementary school, if you look at the middle school and high school programs into which they feed, the quality of things like THEIR music and art programs will tend to reflect on the quality of those programs going into middle school and high school, so if those things matter to you, take a look at them. One thing I wouldn't be terribly concerned about is standardized test scores-it is very easy for a school to be doing a great job and be labeled "failing"-and for a school to have great scores, but at too high of a cost for a kindergartener. -- Sara, accompanied by the baby barnacle -- Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care |
#4
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judging schools
Great list! I would add how long teachers tend to stay at the school
compared to others, if you can get that information. And even though you are looking at elementary school, if you look at the middle school and high school programs into which they feed, the quality of things like THEIR music and art programs will tend to reflect on the quality of those programs going into middle school and high school, so if those things matter to you, take a look at them. I would also add -- how forthcoming are they with this information? How welcoming are they of parental scrutiny? If they hesitate over anything on the listing in the response, which was a good list, then I would see that as raising alarm bells, possibly a school with an attitude of "these kids belong to the state, not the parents, and we'll teach them what WE think they need to know". |
#5
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judging schools
"dragonlady" wrote in message ... In article , "Donna Metler" wrote: "Sara" wrote in message ... We're working on a list of possible places to move to. I'm trying to come up with important specific attributes for Futureville, such as climate, a nearby university, etc. One quality we want is "good public schools," but how can they be judged? We're talking kindergarten, first grade -- things like college admission stats aren't relevant. Any suggestions? Visit the schools. You can get a lot on the general climate just by seeing and observing. Things I'd look for: 1) Programs like art, music and PE classes (often the first things cut in budget crisis) 2) Do the schools have playgrounds? 3) Homework policy (if any) 4) Gifted programs 5) Class size 6) Electives at the elementary level-clubs and after school groups. 7) District or school-wide discipline policy 8) The school library-if a school doesn't have a librarian, this is a very good indicator that there isn't much student-directed learning going on, or much free reading, either. 9) PTA/PTO Great list! I would add how long teachers tend to stay at the school compared to others, if you can get that information. And even though you are looking at elementary school, if you look at the middle school and high school programs into which they feed, the quality of things like THEIR music and art programs will tend to reflect on the quality of those programs going into middle school and high school, so if those things matter to you, take a look at them. If you need to narrow down your choices of which schools to visit you can try www.greatschools.net. For the states included it has information on each school including their home websites and how long teachers have been at that school, and what the average class size is. (And test scores, but as Donna mentioned, I wouldn't hang much on those.) Often if their is a school or districtwide homework policy it will be on the school website. One thing I wouldn't be terribly concerned about is standardized test scores-it is very easy for a school to be doing a great job and be labeled "failing"-and for a school to have great scores, but at too high of a cost for a kindergartener. -- Sara, accompanied by the baby barnacle -- Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care |
#6
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judging schools
"Sara" wrote in message
... We're working on a list of possible places to move to. I'm trying to come up with important specific attributes for Futureville, such as climate, a nearby university, etc. One quality we want is "good public schools," but how can they be judged? We're talking kindergarten, first grade -- things like college admission stats aren't relevant. Any suggestions? Test scores are also available here online, but I'd look to other variables as well. Several good suggestions were mentioned, but I'd add two: 1. Parental word of mouth. Ask those that you know, and if you don't, ask around when you make an informal visit to the schools that interest you. 2. Find out what your choices are in advance. Will you have to send your child to School X if you live in that zone, or do you have an option? It isn't the same everywhere. (This isn't an indicator of a good/bad district, but it is important to know.) Also, if it's a smaller district, looking at high school indicators (graduation, level/type of extra-curricular offerings that may indicate parental levels of involvement) could still be worth your while. In a small district with only one or two high schools, it's stands to reason that if the high schools are stellar, inpressive places, then the elementary schools are likely to be too. No one piece to the puzzle says it all, but a compilation of what has been said, applied to any district, should give you a good idea. P. Tierney |
#7
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judging schools
"GI Trekker" wrote in message ... Great list! I would add how long teachers tend to stay at the school compared to others, if you can get that information. And even though you are looking at elementary school, if you look at the middle school and high school programs into which they feed, the quality of things like THEIR music and art programs will tend to reflect on the quality of those programs going into middle school and high school, so if those things matter to you, take a look at them. I would also add -- how forthcoming are they with this information? How welcoming are they of parental scrutiny? If they hesitate over anything on the listing in the response, which was a good list, then I would see that as raising alarm bells, possibly a school with an attitude of "these kids belong to the state, not the parents, and we'll teach them what WE think they need to know". Or "We have NO control over behavior and discipline (or are using methods you might object to) and we don't want you to see". A good school should welcome visitors at any time, subject to reasonable security precautions (checking in at the office is reasonable, for example). Parents should be able to meet with teachers, visit classes, etc. I'd add one more thing to my list. Come one day during lunch, and visit the cafeteria. You'll get a better idea of the school's views on discipline there than anywhere else. |
#8
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judging schools
If you're in the US, try going to http://www.findyourspot.com They ask you a
series of questions regarding climate, schools, population density, region, etc and give you a list of your "top cities" they think you'd like to live. It's pretty neat. Kim R. "Sara" wrote in message ... We're working on a list of possible places to move to. I'm trying to come up with important specific attributes for Futureville, such as climate, a nearby university, etc. One quality we want is "good public schools," but how can they be judged? We're talking kindergarten, first grade -- things like college admission stats aren't relevant. Any suggestions? -- Sara, accompanied by the baby barnacle |
#9
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judging schools
P. Tierney wrote:
"Sara" wrote in message ... We're working on a list of possible places to move to. I'm trying to come up with important specific attributes for Futureville, such as climate, a nearby university, etc. One quality we want is "good public schools," but how can they be judged? We're talking kindergarten, first grade -- things like college admission stats aren't relevant. Any suggestions? Test scores are also available here online, but I'd look to other variables as well. Several good suggestions were mentioned, but I'd add two: 1. Parental word of mouth. Ask those that you know, and if you don't, ask around when you make an informal visit to the schools that interest you. This is sooo true. In one county in the metro area, a lot of upper- and just plain middle-class parents send their children to private schools. I would take this as a red flag that the schools (overall) are not good. OTOH, there are good elementary schools within the system and the parents know which ones are which, but a newcomer would not necessarily know. 2. Find out what your choices are in advance. Will you have to send your child to School X if you live in that zone, or do you have an option? It isn't the same everywhere. (This isn't an indicator of a good/bad district, but it is important to know.) A corollary would be are there any magnet schools, alternative high schools? Are there options for children below and above the average? What does the school system do for the gifted (if anything)? What does it do for the learning disabled? |
#10
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Test scores was judging schools
Cathy Kearns wrote: If you need to narrow down your choices of which schools to visit you can try www.greatschools.net. For the states included it has information on each school including their home websites and how long teachers have been at that school, and what the average class size is. (And test scores, but as Donna mentioned, I wouldn't hang much on those.) Often if their is a school or districtwide homework policy it will be on the school website. I know test scores don't necessarily mean a whole lot, but the elementary school in our district has absolutely *horrible* (not just below average) test scores. I can't help but think this is a symptom of a larger problem. Laura |
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