school community

[Anonymous]

Hi, We tried to make a decision of school for our DD (grade 1). we were adviced that it is important to find a school that our family can fit well into the school community. Exactly what does that mean? economic background or else?

[Anonymous]

I think it means.... will you like the parents of your child's classmates? will you feel comfortable chatting with them at drop off & pick up time and school events, and at play dates, for the next decade? Because you are going to end up spending a lot of time with these people. They may never be your best friends-- they don't have to be-- but you'll have to spend a whole lot of time making small talk with them, so better be sure they seem like "your kind of people," whatever that means to you. I think it is up to you to define what that means.

[Anonymous]

How do you feel on the tour / at the open house when you meet current parents? (and if you didn't meet any current parents, why not?) Do they seem like people you'd love to work / volunteer / socialize with? When we looked at schools last year, most felt fine but there was one where I just knew we wouldn't fit in. I couldn't say why, but I knew. And somehow they knew too - my 2yo had a meltdown at the playdate and it was our one rejection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you feel on the tour / at the open house when you meet current parents? (and if you didn't meet any current parents, why not?) Do they seem like people you'd love to work / volunteer / socialize with? When we looked at schools last year, most felt fine but there was one where I just knew we wouldn't fit in. I couldn't say why, but I knew. And somehow they knew too - my 2yo had a meltdown at the playdate and it was our one rejection.

Thanks alot. I am OP. probably we are too dumb or too insensative, but we looked into a few schools taht we got admission (and we did also talk with a few parents for each school- not many though, only in such as open house or morning coffee events) and we were not able to really tell the differences... if you don;t mind would you explain a littble more what typical social activities among parents in the same school? what situation might give you uncomfortable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you feel on the tour / at the open house when you meet current parents? (and if you didn't meet any current parents, why not?) Do they seem like people you'd love to work / volunteer / socialize with? When we looked at schools last year, most felt fine but there was one where I just knew we wouldn't fit in. I couldn't say why, but I knew. And somehow they knew too - my 2yo had a meltdown at the playdate and it was our one rejection.

Thanks alot. I am OP. probably we are too dumb or too insensative, but we looked into a few schools taht we got admission (and we did also talk with a few parents for each school- not many though, only in such as open house or morning coffee events) and we were not able to really tell the differences... if you don;t mind would you explain a littble more what typical social activities among parents in the same school? what situation might give you uncomfortable?

If you feel comfortable there and like the school, then that's all you need to know. It doesn't have to be a particular situation or have anything to do with social activities. It could be something as vague and difficult to explain other than just a gut feeling that you like or don't like the place.