What Should Families Look for When Choosing a School?

Sep 1

By Natacha Shillingford, Director of Enrollment Management for The Advent School

Choosing a school is one of the most meaningful decisions a family can make. With so many educational options available, it can be easy to focus on test scores, tuition, or next schools. While those factors matter, finding the right school is ultimately about understanding the full experience and determining whether it aligns with your child and your family.

Here are a few things to consider as you explore your options.

1. Look Beyond the Brochure

A school's website and marketing materials can tell you a great deal about its mission and programs, but visiting the school can tell you much more. Pay attention to what you see and hear when you are on campus.

Do students appear engaged and happy? Are teachers interacting with students in meaningful ways? Does the environment feel welcoming? Listen to how adults speak with children and how students speak with one another.

Whenever possible, visit during the school day so you can experience the school as it really is.

2. Understand How Your Child Learns

Ask questions about the curriculum, classroom experience, class size, opportunities for collaboration, and responsiveness to different learning styles. Research from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that families consider factors such as the quality of teachers and school leadership, curriculum, and class size when making school choices.

Every child brings their own interests, strengths, questions, and ways of learning. Consider how the school's teaching approach aligns with your child's personality and learning style.

The goal isn't to find a school that looks perfect on paper. It's to find a learning environment where your child can be challenged, supported, and encouraged to grow.

3. Pay Attention to Community and Belonging

A child's experience at school extends well beyond academics. Consider whether the school's culture feels like one in which your child and your family can feel known and connected.

Ask yourself:

“Can I see my child feeling comfortable here?”

Look for opportunities for students to build relationships with teachers and peers. Consider how the school approaches community, inclusion, belonging, and the social-emotional development of students.

A strong school-family partnership also matters. NAIS emphasizes the importance of schools valuing parents' perspectives, maintaining open communication, and keeping families informed.

4. Ask About Support

It is important to understand how a school supports students when they encounter challenges academically, socially, or emotionally.

Ask specific questions about how teachers communicate with families, how students receive additional support when needed, and how the school approaches individual student growth.

You don't necessarily need a school that can provide every possible service. You want to understand what the school does well, what resources are available, and how the adults in the community work together to support students.

5. Consider the Practical Details

Sometimes the details that seem less exciting can have the greatest impact on your family's day-to-day experience.

Consider:

Tuition and financial aid
Transportation and commute
School schedule and calendar
After-school care
Lunch and other daily logistics
Enrichment opportunities
Communication with families
Transitions between grades or divisions

6. Ask Yourself: Does It Feel Like a Good Fit?

After visiting schools, talking with educators, and gathering information, take some time to reflect.

Which school felt most aligned with your family's values? Where did your child seem most comfortable and engaged? Which community could you imagine becoming part of, not just for a year, but for the years ahead?

There may not be one perfect school. Instead, there may be a few schools whose approach, community, and educational philosophy feel particularly well suited to your child.

Trust the Process

Choosing a school takes time. Give yourself permission to ask questions, visit more than once, talk with current families, and reflect on what you are seeing and hearing.

Again, the best school choice is not necessarily the school with the longest list of programs or the most impressive statistics. It is the school where your child can be known, challenged, supported, and encouraged to become the learner and person they are capable of becoming.

Ultimately, the goal is not simply to find a good school. It is to find the right educational environment for your child and your family.

References

National Center for Education Statistics. Why Do Parents Choose Schools for Their Children? Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education.
National Association of Independent Schools. Parents Working With Schools and Schools Working With Parents: Principles of Good Practice.
National Association of Independent Schools. 2024 Report on How Parents Pay School Costs.
National Association of Independent Schools. School Membership Criteria.

Natacha Shillingford is Director of Enrollment Management at The Advent School, an independent and progressive pre-K to Sixth Grade school in Beacon Hill.

Learn more at https://www.adventschool.org/