Choosing the best school for your child is daunting, especially when there are multiple factors to consider. The location, cost, timing, quality of education, and many more aspects become essential determinants. Knowing that school lays the groundwork for intellectual, moral, cultural, and personal development, sending your child to the right school becomes even more crucial. If you are stuck in a similar situation and wondering how to choose a school for your child, we are here to help you.

How to choose a school for your child?

Let us walk you through some aspects to help you choose a school for your child:

Be clear about your expectations

What you expect your child to experience as they grow up is what you expect from a school. Do you want your child to imbibe from the books and rely on theoretical knowledge, or do you wish for a hands-on and holistic educational approach?

Every school has a different way of imparting education. Although they work for a common outcome – to produce educated citizens of tomorrow; the teaching techniques and principles strongly affect the students and mould them in a certain way. Understanding this will help you to select a school that aligns with your expectations and your child’s learning style.

Knowing your child’s learning style

Some children thrive in classrooms, while some bloom in open spaces. If the school’s teaching style does not conform to your child’s learning style, sending your child to the best school will not give you the expected outcome. Homeschools are on the rise, and there are several reasons why parents choose this form of education for their kids. Your child’s educational goals and unique learning style can set the parameters to help you make better decisions.

Evaluate the financial aspect

Education is a long-term investment for every child. Affordability becomes a crucial aspect when choosing a school for your child. Schools funded by the state government or central government provide good education at affordable costs, but these institutions do not offer education at par with private schools.

Private schools offer education of the highest standards but are expensive. However, several schools offer financial aid and scholarship programs to give equal opportunities to children.

Also, you must factor in additional expenses, including study material, supplies, transportation fees, lab fees, meals, participation fees, etc., that you will have to incur annually.

Although education is the fundamental right of every child, it is an investment that requires significant expenditure by the guardians. Creating a yearly educational fund or a monthly budget is one way to determine your maximum investment potential.

Take the location into account

You would not want your child to spend hours sitting in the school bus. A long commute can suck all the energy from your child and make them lethargic and cranky. Hence, find a school close to your home to reduce daily commute time. The school should be close and easily accessible from your home or workspace to make it convenient for you and your child.

Qualities of a good school

Once you are aware of your expectations, your child’s unique learning style, financial goals, and desired school location, list the top options and evaluate each one on the following parameters.

Assess their reputation

1. Is the school a renowned institution?
2. Is it counted among the best schools in your city?
3. How do the students perform in academics?
4. Are there any specific accreditations of the school?
5. Are there any valuable achievements or recognitions?

Fetch answers to all these questions to assess the reputation of the school.

Consider contacting former students and their parents to know about their experience with the school. Talk to the current students and get their reviews.

All these things will help you evaluate the school’s influence, prestige, and position.

Evaluate their academic programs

Check the school’s academic offerings in detail to understand the quality of education imparted. Go through the curriculum details to know whether or not this school can help your child in their educational journey. Select a school with a strong curriculum and several programs and courses to shape your child’s future.

Check the support services

Students often require extra attention from their teachers and mentors while they navigate their educational journey. Although teachers provide all the support, the presence of a guiding light in the form of a counsellor or mentor catalyzes the growth and development of a child. Find out whether the school offers any additional support services in the form of counselling or any special education support. These things will help your child excel because they know they have people to confide in.

Check the infrastructure

A good school infrastructure translates to quality education and an excellent learning experience. A robust infrastructure accommodates learning dynamics and proselytizes children into strong characters. So, the infrastructure of a school should not be overlooked.

Schedule a visit to the potential school to explore every corner and get the accurate picture of the infrastructure. Check the classrooms, playgrounds, common areas, auditorium, assembly hall, activity areas, staff rooms, and administrative offices. Pay extra attention to sanitation facilities offered by the school.

Check their security measures

Here are some answers you would want to have to doublecheck the security system of the school:

1. Is there a security guard at the main entrance?
2. Is the premise CCTV guarded?
3. Is there a protocol for people other than students, teachers, and staff, to enter the school?
4. Has the school made any arrangements to deal with unforeseen emergencies?

Knowing these things will ward off your worries regarding the safety and security of your child.

Find out about extracurricular activities

Education is not limited to academics. Academics are only a part of the framework that upholds life. Extracurricular activities are essential for the overall development of your child.

Academics, along with extracurricular activities, reinforce the rounded-off development of a child. Hence, pay a lot of attention to extracurricular activities offered by the school.

Evaluate the sports facilities available at the school:

1. Are there large playgrounds?
2. Are there any facilities for indoor sports?
3. Is the school associated with any sports club?
4. Is there an activity room in the school where your child can unleash creativity and imagination?

All these things help children to explore their personalities and interests. They get to understand the concepts of life beyond books and classrooms. Extracurricular activities endorse the development of mental and social skills. Hence, please select a school that offers several opportunities for students to thrive outside their classrooms.

Visit the classrooms

A classroom is a window into the school’s true academic ideologies and commitment to the overall development of a child. By observing a classroom, you can evaluate the quality of education your child will experience.

Visit the classrooms and observe every detail – from the classroom facilities to teaching resources. Evaluate the overall classroom atmosphere. Your child will spend a good part of their day sitting in the classroom; ensure it is comfortable enough to reinforce a positive learning experience.

Interact with the teachers and staff

You will interact with the administrative authorities of the school during the admission process, but before you enroll your child, it is better to meet the school’s teachers and staff.

During your appointment at the school, ensure you interact with teachers and get an idea about their teaching ideologies and techniques. Seek information regarding their qualifications and experience. You can observe the live interaction between teachers and students when visiting the classrooms. Also, I want to get to know other staff members. A small interaction will prove pivotal in forming the right decision.

Find out the student-teacher ratio

The student-teacher ratio influences the quality of education imparted in the school. In classes with fewer students, teachers can divide their attention equally among their students.

A low student-teacher ratio indicates your child will get personalized attention during class. It will help foster a good relationship between students and their teacher, which will further help your child excel in academics. Hence, inquire about the student-teacher ratio in the school.

Choose the best school for your child

A good school shapes the entire life of its students. Its effects aren’t restricted to academics, but the learnings penetrate deep into every child’s fibre and sculpt their faculty of comprehending, reasoning, and conducting themselves. When you choose a school for your child, the decision determines how your child’s future will shape up. Make the best choice and evaluate the top options near you!