Reply to FYI for all the people who say "go visit a school to see what it's really like"

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Reply to "FYI for all the people who say "go visit a school to see what it's really like""

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[quote=Anonymous]The DCPS school I taught at had open houses and gave tours every month (because of the lottery in DC every school there has to be super open like this); I've already been on a tour at my local elementary school and my kid won't be going for two more years.

You can learn a lot from tours and it's an awesome chance to get your questions answered.  At the school I worked at we had 3rd-5th graders lead the tours and you could learn a lot from simply asking them about their experiences and asking them to describe what you're seeing in classrooms.  Plus the principal and PTA president always hosted every Open House and answered questions.

If incoming folks are demanding it, they'll start doing it.  Call and ask again, or ask in a different way (e.g., e-mail).  If they still say no, ask to meet with the principal or AP.  My principal at my school in DC never said no when a potential parent asked for 30 minutes of their time.

Some other tips to get to know what a school is really like:
"Like" the school on facebook - both the school page and the PTA page.
Sign up for the school and the PTA e-newsletters.
Go to community events the school is hosting (like spring fests and pancake breakfasts).  My school had playdates for incoming Kindergartners the spring before they started at the school (they were called Teddy Bear Picnics; another school I knew had Popsicles on the Playground) so see if they're doing that.  And if they're not, suggest it!
Take your kid to playground after school/in the evening and chat with the parents who are there with similar-aged kids.

The numbers on GreatSchools only reflect the socio-economic status of the parents.  It's no way to actually learn what a school is really like and if it's a good fit for your kid.

Research shows that most people just go to the schools the people they know go to (so, if all of your friends go to private, go private).  You can do that.  As someone with a background in education, I obviously prefer to do my own research and see things with my own eyes.[/quote]

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