Follow these steps to evaluate a private school!
Difficulty Level: average Time Required: 30 minutes
Here's How:
- Visit the school.
- Observe the grounds and facilities. Do they look cared for?
- Observe the students. What are they like? Are dress codes enforced?
- Observe the faculty? What are they like? Are dress codes enforced?
- Ask about the ratio of applicants to acceptances. This helps determine how competitive the school is.
- Ask where last year's graduating class was accepted. This indicates the intrinsic caliber of faculty and students.
- Ask what kind of faculty turnover the school has had. This usually indicates whether the staff is content or not.
- Ask how the head has been there. Several heads in recent years indicates some turmoil below the public facade.
- Ask about academic programs such as IB and AP. A good selection of courses under either syllabus indicates a substantial academic investment.
- Ask about the endowment. A large endowment provides a cushion against large tuition increases, while a small one affords little protection against tough economic times.
- Observe the willingness of staff to discuss these questions. Hesitancy or reluctance to disclose information is not a good sign.
- Record the answers for comparison with other schools.
- Remember that you will be paying handsomely for the privilege of sending your child to the school. You have a right to make an informed decision.
- There is no ranking system for private schools. You have to evaluate each school on its own merits.
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