You’ve done your research on Colorado School Grades. Now, you’ve visited the school, seen what classrooms look like and how teachers operate. Take a deep breath, and get ready to think through a few post-visit questions to help frame what you saw at the school.

• Does the school meet your basic needs?
• Will your child be challenged at this school?
• How did you feel about the teachers’ interactions with the kids?
• What did your child, particularly if s/he is older, think of the school?

Don’t make any quick decisions – wait a couple of days for everything to settle in.

Then sit down, sift through your checklist, notes, and prepare to make some choices!

 

 

 

Yesterday we covered 5 questions to ask on a school visit. These next 5 questions will continue to help you determine which school is the best fit for your child. Hopefully this school tour will be an excellent supplement for the research you do on Colorado School Grades! 

6. What grade did your school receive on Colorado School Grades? Could you explain why the school received this grade?

While there is no guarantee that you’ll like the answer you get to this question, it will give school leaders or teachers the opportunity to explain why their test scores are low or why the school only has a 65% graduation rate. Use your best judgment while listening – if it seems like the principal is using excuses to explain away poor academics, maybe this isn’t the best school for you and your student. However, if the principal points out things like transitioning to a new model of teaching or mentions concrete steps that she and the school are taking to improve issues like low test scores or poor attendance, it could be the right place for your student.

7. As a parent, how could I get involved at this school?

Can I volunteer in my child’s classroom? Is there a PTA or a different parent group that I can get involved in? What about the school accountability committee? Getting involved with your child’s school can be a great way to see what is really happening in a school and give you the chance to build authentic relationships with your child’s teachers and school leaders. Maybe the school drama director is looking for set builders or costume designers, or maybe the fourth grade needs chaperones for its upcoming trip to the science and nature museum – just ask what you can do to help!

8. What is your grading policy (letter grades or proficiency levels, etc.)?

There are all sorts of grading policies being adopted in the education world today so be sure to ask about what the school uses. Do they use the classic A-F scale or do they use a 1-4 scale to assess proficiency on certain standards? How are grades communicated to students? What about parents?

9. What sorts of extracurricular activities and/or elective courses are offered?

Particularly as students get older, make sure the school offers plenty of courses and after school activities that interest your child. What sports are offered? Art and music classes or clubs? Are there costs associated with any of these activities? Are the after-school activities different than what is offered during the normal school day, or will your student just do the same thing over and over again?

10. How do you feel when you are in the school (welcomed, safe, etc.)? If you have an older child, how did he/she feel about the school?

Feeling welcome and safe in a school can have a great impact on your child’s learning. Ask about the school’s anti-bullying policies (even better, see if this is a required professional development session for teachers) and look for signs of inclusivity on the walls of the school. Reflect on what happened the moment you walked into the building – were you able to just roam the school without anyone questioning you, or were you immediately greeted by a secretary or security guard who asked for identification and had you sign in at the office?

Be sure to ask for materials like school handbooks, class schedules, parent newsletters, and work samples before you leave!

 

Visiting a school is a critical piece of the school search process. Now you’ve thought through those critical questions before visiting the school, here are a few ideas for what to ask when you’re touring it.

1. How do you support children with different learning styles?

Every student learns differently, and it is crucial that both teachers and school leaders have the ability to cope with all sorts of learning styles. Ask about what professional development opportunities teachers are offered around learning styles or differentiation and what support staff (such as paraprofessionals, tutors, special education resources, and speech therapists) the school employs that could help your child learn. When talking to teachers and observing classrooms, see if you can determine if teachers assess learning only through pencil and paper tests or if they allow students to show learning through art, music, oral presentations, or other creative means!

2. How are teachers and school leaders held accountable for my child’s learning?

How often are teachers observed by their school leaders? What happens if my child is failing a class or does not perform proficiently on a standardized test? What resources or professional development opportunities are available for teachers who are not high performing?

Colorado recently passed Senate Bill 191, which set clear standards for teacher and principal effectiveness and created more rigorous teacher evaluations. Be aware of these changes and what sorts of behaviors and practices highly effective teachers possess.

3. What expectations do you have for my child (homework, attendance, etc.)?

How much homework should I expect every night (this will vary depending on grade level)? How will my child be made aware of the school’s expectations? Are all teachers clear and consistent about these expectations?

4. What is the student to teacher ratio?

Research has shown that there are significant benefits to having small class sizes in grade K-3; we consider a student teacher ratio over 22 :1 to be large. In fourth grade or higher, a class size of about thirty is pushing the limit on what one teacher can effectively handle. In high school, there might slightly bigger class sizes depending on the class. If you see large classes, ask about teacher aides, tutors, and volunteers that are available to help out.

5. How are behavior and discipline problems handled at the classroom level? At the school level?

Are boys and girls treated equitably in the discipline policies? Is there a school-wide set of policies or do individual teachers set their own expectations for each classroom? Do you agree with the consequences for each misbehavior or are they completely off-the-mark? Particularly if your child is in elementary school, the discipline system and any consequences can drastically shape your child’s attitude towards school, so be sure to do your research!

 Check in tomorrow for 5 more key questions to ask during a school visit. 

 

So, you’re looking for a new school. We’re glad you’ve come to www.ColoradoSchoolGrades.com to search for your options when it comes to academic performance and other critical measures of whether a school is good for kids!

But this data doesn’t live in a vacuum: to get a full picture of the school, and whether it is a good fit for your child, you need to visit the school itself.

Over the next several days, we’ll give you the tools you need to take a tour, ask the right questions, and get that fuller picture of the school.

Today: A few questions to ask yourself before visiting a school.

When you’re picking a new school for your child, you should start by defining your basic needs. What is most important for you in choosing a school? A few things to consider…

• How far away is this school from my house?
• What type of learning style works best for my child?
• What kinds of activities do I want my child involved in?
• What teaching philosophy or style do I most agree with as a parent? What type of teaching style works best for my child?
• Do I want my child in an environment that is highly structured or one that is more flexible?

Start a list of must-have items and bring this with you on your school tour along with some of the other questions and resources we provide on in the Take Action Blog toolkit.