Schools

Choosing the Right School

When it comes to choosing a school for your child, parents have a variety of options. Gone are the days when it is assumed that children will attend either the local public school or the one or two private schools in the area. Instead, educators have gotten creative in their teaching methods, and opened the doors for new types of schools. From parochial schools to homeschooling, it is up to you as a parent to decide how your child will learn best.

School Selection: Where to Start

The first step to choosing the right school for your child is to ask yourself a series of questions. It is important to take your child’s personality, learning style, and independence into consideration when choosing a school.

Considerations:

How mature is my child?
Does he make friends easily?
Do I see my child in a formal environment?
How much money do I have to spend on my child’s education?

Then consider the different education options:

• Private school
• Public school
• Religious
• Montessori
• Single-Sex
• Coeducational
• Homeschool
• Special Needs
• Alternative Schooling
• Boarding School

Private School Alternatives

There are a variety of options for parents who want to send their children to private schools, but have concerns about the cost. Modern public schools offer a variety of options. Charter schools are publicly funded institutions that operate differently than traditional public schools. You can also consider magnet schools or those that cater to specific subjects, such as performing arts. Although they are still public schools, magnet schools offer a specialized program to a limited number of talented students.

The Private School Route

Parents are often drawn to the smaller class sizes that private schools provide. If you have decided to send your child to private school, you still have important decisions to make. There are a variety of private schools that offer specialized environments ranging from religious to single-sex education.