7 x Sensible Tips on Choosing an Elementary School for Your Children

Published on: August 17, 2021

by Guest Post

Finding the right elementary school for your kids to attend requires knowing your options. Here are tips on choosing an elementary school for your children.

Choosing an Elementary School for Your Children

Are you looking for the best elementary school for your child? The start of a new school year should be an exciting time for the child and they should love the school they attend. Having a child who’s happy to go to school depends on the type of school they go to, the learning styles they implement, and the quality of the teachers and staff. Choosing an elementary school that’s right for your child is an important decision, therefore.

Classes should be fun and challenging for the child and a perfect blend of education and play. This way, you as a parent can rest assured your child is getting the best education possible.

Here are 7 tips on choosing an elementary school that’s the right fit for you and your child as well as questions to ask schools to help you narrow down your choices.

1. Define Your Priorities and Non-Negotiables

When sifting through different options when choosing an elementary school, the first thing to consider is your priorities and non-negotiables. Make a list of things you’d like the school to have as well as what your child’s individual needs are.

This can include the type of educational approach, healthy lunches, PTO time, socializing activities, before and after school care, security, fees, and of course, start and end hours. Most schools will be happy to accommodate your individual needs so make sure to communicate with them during the tour.

2. Look Into the Schools’ Programs and After-School Activities

Another important factor to look at when choosing an elementary school is after-school activities. For example, if school hours end at 3 p.m. but you get off work at 5 p.m., you need a school that can accommodate the child until then. During this extra time, the child should do some activity to stay occupied.

This can be cooking classes, reading, arts and crafts, music, watching an educational movie, free play, or even doing homework. Some schools offer before-school hours if your workday begins earlier than the school day.

3. Check the Student-Teacher Ratio

The student-teacher ratio in an elementary school will show you how much individual attention you can expect your child to get. The more students there are, the less individual attention they typically get. This is one of the main reasons why more and more parents opt for private school education for their children.

In a private school, you can be sure your child gets all the individual attention it needs. This means teachers will assess the child’s learning style, talents, preferences, and personality. The programs and classes will be adapted to each child without making them feel isolated or different.

For example, if your child shows interest in the arts and humanities, the school will gently guide the child to develop their gifts and talents in these areas. The school will also make sure the child has enough knowledge in other subjects as well without pushing them to master all subjects perfectly.

4. Schedule a School Tour

The best way to see if a school meets your needs and requirements is to schedule a tour. This way, you can see the elementary school sizes, the facilities, meet the principal and the teachers, and see how other kids like the school. During a school tour, you’ll also learn about the school’s programs, the lunches and snacks they serve, the homework they give, and how they handle different personalities and behaviours.

You can also schedule private tours if you have specific requirements and questions about the school. Some schools even offer interviews with other parents so you can get better acquainted with the school’s programs and approach.

During a school tour, make sure to ask as many questions as possible to get to know the school philosophy better. Write down notes to compare schools at home so you can make the best decision for you and your child.

5. See How the School Handles Behavioral Issues

When choosing an elementary school, aside from reviewing the school’s curriculum for kids, you should also see how the school handles behavioural problems. What are their disciplinary policy and measures? Do they use punishments and expel students who misbehave or do they have a more psychological approach and handle it more positively?

This is important because these disciplinary measures should be in line with your own parenting and disciplinary style. Otherwise, the child will come back home confused and stressed and not want to go to school the next day.

6. Check How Much Homework the School Assigns

Homework is an important part of the child’s learning process. It helps the child understand the material and solidify the knowledge. However, not all schools pay the same amount of attention to homework.

Talking to teachers of the schools you’re considering is key if you want to learn what type of homework the child will have. You can also learn how often it will be assigned and how much homework there will be. It’s also important for the child to be able to do homework on their own to fully grasp the material.

7. Research How the School Supports Different Learning Styles

All children are different and unique in their own way and each child has a different learning style. Some children learn better through play and activities. Others thrive through a more structured approach, and yet others learn better at their own pace.

If possible, talk to the school teachers and the principal to learn about the different types of educational programs and how they can be adapted to different learning styles.

At the end of the day, the most important thing for the child is to enjoy the learning process and explore their talents. The way one child learns may be different from another child but there’s no one universal way of learning.

Choosing an Elementary School? Let Pear Tree School Be Your Number One Choice!

Whether you have a pre-schooler or a first-grader, choosing an elementary school that’ll make you and your child happy is easy with our tips. Consider the school’s approach to learning, their programs, and after-school activities to assess whether they’re the right fit for your needs,

Contact us today to do homework and learn why so many parents and children have made Pear Tree School their number one choice for elementary education.