How to Research Schools When You’re Moving
Posted 08-08-2018 at 03:47 PM by fortmillhomes
Moving to a new area is never easy, but moving with kids can be especially challenging. As a parent who has moved with a young child, selecting a location with a good school system was not only important for my daughter’s future, but was also important to me for the resell value of my investment. Let’s face it, your kids won’t be living there forever, and odds are neither will you!
Ask your real estate agent for a list of schools in the area, use the website links below, and be prepared to do some research on your own.
The National Center for Education Statistics. This site will give you data for each school district.
GreatSchools, a national non-profit, provides ratings for each school, as well as test scores, information on programs, and reviews covering teacher quality, parental involvement and school leadership.
And if you’re considering a move here, use my Communities Page to find links to each district’s page.
It is important to understand that school district assignments can change boundaries from time to time, and in some areas, schools fill up, causing your child to be moved or bused an “overflow” school. When contacting the school district office make sure there are no plans to change boundary lines, and ask questions about enrollment numbers.
Once you’ve narrowed down your choice, set up times to meet with teachers, principals or administration staff. Most district office are accommodating.
Some good questions to ask are:
What is the school’s disciplinary policy?
How does the school monitor student progress toward meeting national and state grade standards?
Is there an active parent teacher organization (PTO or PTA)?
How many teachers are involved?
How many parents are involved? What is required to get involved?
How is technology used to support teaching in the classroom, as well as interaction between teacher, parent and student?
What extracurricular opportunities are available for students and parents?[/list]
Don
Ask your real estate agent for a list of schools in the area, use the website links below, and be prepared to do some research on your own.
The National Center for Education Statistics. This site will give you data for each school district.
GreatSchools, a national non-profit, provides ratings for each school, as well as test scores, information on programs, and reviews covering teacher quality, parental involvement and school leadership.
And if you’re considering a move here, use my Communities Page to find links to each district’s page.
It is important to understand that school district assignments can change boundaries from time to time, and in some areas, schools fill up, causing your child to be moved or bused an “overflow” school. When contacting the school district office make sure there are no plans to change boundary lines, and ask questions about enrollment numbers.
Once you’ve narrowed down your choice, set up times to meet with teachers, principals or administration staff. Most district office are accommodating.
Some good questions to ask are:
What is the school’s disciplinary policy?
How does the school monitor student progress toward meeting national and state grade standards?
Is there an active parent teacher organization (PTO or PTA)?
How many teachers are involved?
How many parents are involved? What is required to get involved?
How is technology used to support teaching in the classroom, as well as interaction between teacher, parent and student?
What extracurricular opportunities are available for students and parents?[/list]
Don
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