By Stacy DeBroff 

Parents are feeling more and more pressure to give their kids an added boost when it comes to their education, fearing that if they leave it up to the public schools, their child will get lost in the crowds or their talents will go undeveloped, vaulting them into a mediocre adulthood. Many complaints such as overcrowded public schools are justified, but the question of enrolling your child in private school is worth extensive thought, and the question of cost is weights heavily. Here are some tips to help you in your search:

 

Revisit the schools you are considering once admitted, and ask to sit in on a class with children around your child's age.

Rather than going on general reputation, talk with at least five families who have children currently enrolled. Many schools that have been around awhile gain reputations that linger for better or worse, while the current state of the school has changed dramatically.

Make your child's personalities and needs the paramount consideration.

How does the school buildings or campus feel to be around?

How experienced and how old are the teachers? How engaged and impassioned are they about their work?

What are the differences in curriculum? Do they use textbooks, or more unconventional teaching methods?

Do the classrooms have computers hooked directly on the Internet? Is there a computer room? How is technology interwoven into both the curriculum and the homework?

How have the children scored on conventional tests given by your state?

How welcome is your participation as a parent in your child's classroom, in the library, and in the larger school itself? How active is the parents' association? The best schools welcome parents coming and going throughout the day, and teachers look for parent talents, skills, or work that would be of interest to share with the students.

How much money are you expected to contribute outside of tuition to support the school?

What kinds of specialized instruction is offered, such as in music, languages, drama, and the arts?

What kind of performances will your child partake in, such as an annual kindergarten play or sing-along?

What type of field trips do the children go on, how frequently are they arranged, and what's the idea behind the selection?

What kind of person is the principal or head of the school? This person sets the tone of the school from the top down, so you should think about the personality they emanate and the educational philosophy which they embrace. Similarly, the school administrator or secretary is often at the heart of your interaction with the school. What kind of person have they chosen for this position?

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