What questions should I be asking as I research Middle Schools?

[Anonymous]

What are good questions to ask at Middle School open houses?
I want to know about:

Courses required and electives available
Tracking and/or differentiation
Handling of discipline matters
Use of technology
Homework load
Parent involvement
Extra curricular offerings
Pathway to high school (guidance given, direct paths, where past students have gone)

I'll start with on-line research before going to the Open Houses. What don't I know that I should ask?

[Anonymous]

How they help with the executive function and organizational transition necessary in middle school.

Do they still have recess. (I think this is so important,but so many middle schools don't!)

What are their guidance classes/social-emotional education program like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How they help with the executive function and organizational transition necessary in middle school.

Do they still have recess. (I think this is so important,but so many middle schools don't!)

What are their guidance classes/social-emotional education program like.

OP here. These are great. Thank you! In fact, I should probably ask the first one about executive function and organization of my child's current teachers.

I'm also wondering how much people involved their children in the Middle School search.

[Anonymous]

are these private schools you're researching?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:are these private schools you're researching?

Public, but open to considering private if there is financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are good questions to ask at Middle School open houses?
I want to know about:

Courses required and electives available
Tracking and/or differentiation
Handling of discipline matters
Use of technology
Homework load
Parent involvement
Extra curricular offerings
Pathway to high school (guidance given, direct paths, where past students have gone)

I'll start with on-line research before going to the Open Houses. What don't I know that I should ask?

teacher tenure / turnover
class sizes and maximums
how is lunch handled (room for all?)
PE class how big, frequent
foreign languanges
can capable kid take geometry in 8th grade

[Anonymous]

Find out how the school handles rule infractions. Is there a clear list of rules and stated consequences? Even if your child never gets into trouble, this will tell you about the school’s disciplinary philosophy and ability to respond to disruptive students.

[Anonymous]

On "use of technology" there will be "the policy" and then there will be what really happens. We are at a phones must be in lockers and off all day policy school where some teachers have kids use their phones when the lesson is done. Many teachers are using their own phones throughout class. The policy is worthwhile, just probe with current families how it actually is implemented so you know what is coming for your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How they help with the executive function and organizational transition necessary in middle school.

Do they still have recess. (I think this is so important,but so many middle schools don't!)

What are their guidance classes/social-emotional education program like.

OP here. These are great. Thank you! In fact, I should probably ask the first one about executive function and organization of my child's current teachers.

I'm also wondering how much people involved their children in the Middle School search.

Where do you live where you have Middle school choices in public school? (It doesnt sound like the DC charter system.)

[Anonymous]

I would ask how often kids get their first choice of foreign language, electives etc..