Finding Your Fit: Things to Consider When Choosing a School
Every parent wants the best for their children, and that includes an educational experience where they will be seen, supported, and successful. No two schools – or two students – are exactly alike, making comparisons more complicated. There is more than enough information available to you via school websites and other materials to help you understand which schools might be best suited to support your child. So, how do you go about finding the right fit?
Assess Your Overall Academic Experience
The first step is to dedicate time to an objective assessment of your child’s overall academic experience. I have worked in enrollment-related positions at a number of schools for over 30 years and met with many families in search of a new environment for their child. By giving thought to this issue, you will be better equipped to articulate, beyond the anecdotal, concrete examples of your child’s challenges, as well as other important things necessary for assessing a good overall fit.
Know your child’s strengths and challenges. Be honest with yourself (and others) about your concerns and what you’re looking for – after all, if a school doesn’t have what it takes to support your child when they struggle, it is probably not the right school for you, and it’s best to know that sooner rather than later.
Thoroughly Research Your School Options and Ask Questions
It is important to learn as much about a school as you can: explore the website, go for a tour, talk to current parents, and never hesitate to call the Admission Office when you need more information. A school may say they are set up to support students with ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia, and organizational challenges – but how does that support manifest from day to day? Parents shouldn’t be afraid to press for specifics, either. Some good questions to ask include:
- Are students pulled out of the classroom?
- Is support embedded into the classroom?
- Is there a stigma for students who receive extra support in a particular area?
- Do teachers have specialized training, and what type of ongoing professional support is offered?
- What are the specific curricula, programs, and strategies used to support students with reading challenges? ADHD? Etc.?
And what about the areas where your child shines? And the activities they love? Or maybe the experiences you want them to have? You’ll want to ask questions like:
- What extracurriculars are offered, and how are students encouraged to try new things?
- How would they describe their community? Who succeeds and who doesn’t?
- What are the demographics of the school community (racial, economic, geographical, and faculty)?
- What do they feel separates their school community from others?
- What colleges do their students attend after their time there, and what skills have they learned at the school that set them up for future success?
- Talk about ways students learn outside of the classroom (speakers, community service, leadership opportunities)
The answers to these questions will offer tangible evidence of the core values and important cultural norms of a school. It’s critical to ensure that your child’s non-academic needs and interests are also met, and that they can learn more about who they are and advocate for what they want.
Evaluate the Community
After you’ve done your research, asked all the questions, submitted applications, and narrowed down your options, it’s time to turn your attention to the “feel” side of the school fit. Who do you think “gets” your child the most? Where did your child seem the most at ease and comfortable with their authentic self? Is there a particular community that stood out or felt more fitting than the others? My father would always ask of me, before making a big decision, “What does your gut say to you?” It is advice that has served me well, and that which I often offer families as they compare potential schools for their child.
Discover Your Fit at McLean School
Our educators focus first on each student’s strengths, challenging them, but also offering them the support needed in areas of need. At McLean, we refer to this as the Abilities Model ®, and it rests at the core of what we believe makes our school, for many families, TRANSFORMATIVE.
Good luck with this process. It can at times feel overwhelming, but I assure you that it can be done. Do your research, ask specific and general questions, review your options, make your decision . . . and remember to breathe.
– Bobby Edwards, Director of Community Inclusion and External Relations