Choosing the "Best" School for Your Child

Check out greatschools.net. It will give you all the information about the schools in your district. Ratings, Student Ratios, Test Scores, etc. We really used this website alot to review school districts when we were looking to move a year and a half ago. It will definitely help you make a more informed decision. Also see if you can talk to parents who have their children at certain schools you are considering, getting first hand opinions might help. Good luck on finding the right fit for your child, I know it can be a tough process!

www.greatschools.net

My personal opinion is that the "job" of a SAHM mom is to do what is best for the children. If you really feel that the further school is better, try to think of it as a commute to do this great "job" that you have. And think about it this way - most anyone in the metroplex would do about anything for a 15-20 minute commute :) I am also considering schools for my kids, and two out of the three I am considering would be about a 30 minute drive. It did turn me off at first, but I started looking at it this way and it helped me to decide. What is an extra 30-40 minutes of your day if you really feel your daughter would get a better education and be happier?

I think the things that you don't like about the school you are at are an important consideration. What is it---besides school ratings--that is different at the other school. I am a teacher, and I do understand the importance of ratings, but they are not everything. Those ratings are based on a lot of different criteria, and you really have to look at the individual numbers to see if the rating is really accurate. The way that the rating system works just one student of a particular ethnicity or socioeconomic status passing or failing a test can make a difference in the school's rating--I know that sounds impossible, but it is true. Also, being close to home can be a big bonus.

On the flip side, atmosphere can mean a lot. Is your daughter happy in the current school? If your daughter is miserable it will have an impact on her future relationship with school. Does she have lots of friends there--do most of the neighborhood kids go there? Good schools are very important, but I believe that they become more important when it comes to middle and high school. The long-term impact is much greater at that level.

I know that this was kind of rambling, but there is definitely no right answer to this question. You just have to take all the factors into consideration and do what is right for your family. I do think that whatever choice you make, it would be best if you stick with it for the rest of elementary.

Hi N.,

If your daughter is going to public school I would recommend leaving her in the same school through out her education. From my experience it is to the childrens disadvantage to change from school to school. If the children start establishing friendship and then you move the children they have to start all over to find friends. The children who go to elementary, middle school and high school together have a closer bond. This can be a very positive thing!

My children changed schools often and I wish we had not had to change schools like we did.
R.

wow-- which district lets you choose??

Besides the schools rating and atmosphere, you need to consider the fact that the kids in your neighborhood will probably go to the closer school which means she won't go to school with all her neighborhood friends. Would this be a problem? I went to private school most of my childhood and I hated the fact that I had nothing in common with my friends who lived close by. I never got to go to events at school with them and felt a little left out when they talked about school. There are many factors to consider and I think your daughter should have a say, too, but these are just my experiences and opinions. Good luck with your decision.