Tips, questions to ask to find right school for your child
There’s never a wrong time throughout the school year to find the right school for your child. Whether faced with academic or social issues or, simply, it’s just time for a change, I encourage parents to keep their options open by using the next few months to visit open houses or arrange for a casual meetand-greet with teachers and administrators.
As the principal at Central Florida Leadership Academy, I’ve met with many parents over the years who don’t fully understand the schooling options available for their child. This process is becoming similar to making a college decision — it’s truly just as, or even more, critical to find the right middle and high school for your child that will encourage academic and social development while simultaneously growing the family dynamic.
Prior to making a school visit, I encourage parents to have a direct dialogue with their child about the aspects of a school that are most important to them. Some of the questions you may ask your child include:
■ Is there anything specific you want to do more of (within a certain subject, socially, recreationally) when you go to your next grade?
■ Do you feel comfortable at your current school? Why or why not?
■ Are you having fun at your school? Are there clubs available that you’re interested in?
■ What’s important to you?
In addition, when visiting potential schools, parents should also think about what questions they want to ask administrators, teachers, or guidance counselors about the school they’re considering. Some sample questions during this visit include:
■ Is this a school that’s based on family character education or partnering with parents? If not, is that an important aspect to include?
■ What are some rules you have at the school that are most important?
■ What’s the school’s mission and how do you align with it?
■ Describe the academic program and extracurricular opportunities available to students.
■ Are there discussions about breaking news issues at school, if they’re affecting students?
■ How well do your teachers know each of the students? Do they typically know personal information about each of them?
The answers to these questions should be compared to what you discussed with your child in your initial discussion, evaluating where they line up and which considerations are most important for both academic and social success. Is the most important thing classroom size, curriculum, sporting options, or diversity? If so, those are the top categories you need to weigh out together.
Finding the right school is not only about identifying a fit your child is happy with — it’s about finding the right fit for the entire family. As teachers and administrators, we’re only with your child for eight hours a day, meaning the home is an integral piece of the learning process for instilling habits we develop in the classroom. Parents are the primary teacher and the way you talk to and interact with them is the first example they learn and mimic, and creating a cohesive balance between school and home life is critical.
I’m sharing this information and insight today with the hopes that parents consider schools outside of traditional options or schools that their friends are attending, broadening their horizons and seeking out curriculums that grow their child to their fullest potential. There’s always going to be different “right fits” for different students, which is why so many options exist. The key is spending time seeking these out and asking the right questions to make a determination.
Orlando has almost every kind of school these is — public, private, charter, large, small, college prep, vocational prep — and I implore you to take advantage of those options. Your child will thank you someday.
Joanne Goubourn is the principal at Central Florida Leadership Academy in Orlando.