5.5 Ways to Choose a School

School choice. Hot topic at both extremes of the political pendulum. Legislators and activists beat the choice drum with vigor, urging stakeholders to exercise their ability to choose, while some important criteria remain elusive to those of us who will find themselves facing a growing myriad of choices. Whether public, private or district...the array is broad.

So, how does one choose a district, charter or private school? It may be one of the most important commitments we make. Here are 5.5 criteria that should help get you thinking:

Vision - sounds cliche right? Well, consider asking where the district or group intends to be 5-10 years from now. If the word traditional is found anywhere in their mission statement or foundational documents...I'd ask some tough questions.
Awards - not just the type of awards but from whence to they come? Accolades can be indicative of the network the district or group belongs. If their going around patting one another on the back, be wary. If business and commerce groups are recognizing innovation and performance, that's a good indicator of sustainability.
School ratings - many States provide indicators of student performance. These are one of the many ways that school's can be held accountable for resource application. Growth is the tale of the tape. Stagnation is a sign of doldrums.
Innovation - band-wagon creativity isn't necessarily indicative of staying power. Anyone can jump on the STEM train and follow the tracks. Districts and groups who do things barely anyone is doing are aggressive about changing education. Calculated risks can bring great educational dividends.
Community partnerships - A district or group is only as good as its friends. These friendships can bring alignment or distractions. Consider the organization that's partnering with everyone, their spread too thin, their resources are diminished to a point of unsustainability. Choiceful agreements aligned with the shared vision build cultures of success that last well beyond changes in leadership.

5.5. Traditions - embedded cultural practices build cohesiveness outside the normal routines of education. They can be something to fall back on and look forward to as your children matriculate through the years of schooling. All great institutions have them and share them with the community.

Notice I didn't list money...that's not my thing. Choosy parents choose choicefully. Do your homework. Interview stakeholders. Commit. Stick with it. Be a part of the solutions. Heck, run for school board!

My personal best,

Principal Sharp

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