Parents' problems include trying to make sure that our children attend excellent schools. When you think of the schools your children attend, ask yourself: “Is ‘good’ good enough for my child?”

As a parent who moved her family a number of times from state to state, I listened to parents' stories about the best schools. Parents need to be the best advocates children have and parent involvement in education includes striving for schools that are exceptionally good, even excellent.

It is possible to find excellent schools. When excellence is not achieved in a school, it’s often because of a lack of imagination on the part of those involved in the educational system.

How can you determine if a school is excellent and the best school available for your child’s education? Here are a list of elements to consider when looking for that excellent school:

One Visit Just Isn’t Enough

Begin your search by making multiple visits to the school building that your child may attend. Just as a single snapshot doesn’t give a complete picture of your child, a single visit to a school won’t provide a complete view. Take this list with you and then, look, listen and ask questions.

Look

Are both the outside and inside of the building well kept and orderly?

This doesn’t mean the newest facility. Rather, does there appear to be a sense of pride in the appearance of the building? Are the grounds free from debris? Is the structure in good repair, and generally inviting?

Look for signs that promote academic quality.

Are there resources that support learning? For example, are books and technology easily accessible to teachers and students?

Is the class size at 20 or fewer?

Check the classrooms for the size of instructional groups. Are the groups small and flexible so that children have access to the teacher and other students’ viewpoints?

Observe the work on the classroom walls and in the halls. Does the work reflect current learning?

Does the work display show creativity, personal expression and evidence of serious intellectual challenge?

Is there a reasonable ratio of adults to children during arrival and dismissal times? During transition times during the school day, can you see children and adults demonstrating core character traits like respect, courtesy and compassion?

Listen

A silent school is not ideal. A school should have students and adults that are engaged in meaningful and challenging discussions of ideas.

Once again beginning outside, listen to the children, their expressions of interest and anticipation upon arrival at and dismissal from school.

When adults may use raised voices during the supervision of large groups of students, is the language still demonstrating the core character traits of respect, courtesy and compassion?

Is it evident that students and adults are sincerely excited about being together? Patronizing tones, negative statements and sarcastic language should be absent.

Listen to the tone of adults and students. Does it demonstrate core character traits like respect, courtesy and compassion?

Keep a mental record of the amount of 'air time' students have during the classroom interactions. Do students appear to compete with each other or the teacher to express their ideas?

Do teachers provide opportunities for students to express themselves and explain their actions? This creates a secure responsive environment for learning.

Listen as teachers talk to teachers. Does the conversation focus on education ideas or gossip? Do teachers talk about student performance against a set of standards or compare students to one another?

Ask Open-ended Questions

Avoid asking questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no. Ask for details.

How many teachers are certified to teach what they are assigned?

How many support programs are staffed with certified teachers? What is the school’s plan for providing the most knowledgeable teachers to those students with the greatest learning challenges?

What is the policy regarding parental involvement in the building’s instructional programs?

How and when are parents allowed to participate in the school’s activities?

The answers to these questions will help you choose that excellent school. 


 

For additional reference: Merrow, John, 2001 Choosing Excellence: "Good Enough" Schools Are Not Good Wnough, Scarecrow Press, Inc., Lanham, MD.