Reply to 10 Bits of Unsolicited Advice on School-Shopping from Someone who has Been There

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[quote=Anonymous]1)	Do the obvious diligence with respect to requirements such as your child’s physical and emotional safety, the quality of the school’s academics, whether it is a match for the type of education you are looking for, etc.
2)	Start with the geographical range you’re willing to look at, then expand it. Then expand it again.  Commute time is important to a degree, but don’t miss out on your dream school just because it takes five minutes longer to get there.
3)	If acquaintances give you an opening, ask them about their school experiences.  Parents are often very willing to dish candidly about their school, good and bad, especially to someone outside of it.  But most probably won’t volunteer this info unless they’re given an opportunity.
4)	Pay close attention to how you and your child are received by admissions, by the head of school, and by the teachers.  Do they seem to value your child potentially coming to the school, or does it not really matter to them whether it’s your child or another?  This is often a harbinger of the level of attention you can expect to your child’s needs after enrollment.
5)	When you visit, imagine your child experiencing the school, with attention to things such as the physical environment, the classroom environment, the social environment, the teachers, and whether they will be stimulated by the academics and spend their days there happy and receptive to learning.  No one will have a better sense than you of how your child will feel coming to this place every day, and a happy child is better able to learn.
6)	Force yourself to do due diligence on any schools you’re considering, even if they don’t start out equal on your wish list.  If a school gives you contact info for other parents, call them even if the school’s not initially your first choice. Circumstances have a way of re-ordering options, and be prepared to change your mind as you learn more.
7)	Observe your prospective first-year teacher in the classroom.  That first year in a new school is hugely important, and the teacher-student relationship matters so much.
8)	If you can, observe peer-to-peer dynamics in the classroom and on the playground.  Imagine your child interacting with those kids.
9)	Be wary of a school that presents itself a la, “Here is what we do, and here’s why it’s great for everyone.”  Far better is, “Here’s what we can do for your particular child.”  What matters is whether the school is able to fit the needs of your specific child; if they don’t appear cognizant of that goal, consider it a red flag, especially if they appear to be selling their reputation rather than actual service.  
10)	Look at the behavior and output of kids a few years ahead of yours, and consider whether it’s a good match for how you want/expect your own child’s performance to look at that same age.

Happy and successful school-shopping!  Other former “prospective parents” should feel free to add their own.
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