I need a little help here! We are looking at sending our kids to a private school next year, and I have had appointments all week and have a few more left. My question is are there any specific questions I should be asking? I feel they cover everything pretty well, but all week the headmasters end their conversation "What questions can I answer for you" I feel like an idiot, because most of the time I don't have any because they did a good job! Also if anyone has a child at private school in the Concord, NC area I'd love to hear about it!

Kristie
pgrandsko@carolina.rr.com

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Kristie
mom to Tyler (11/94) & Joycie (3/99)
www.thegrandskofour.shutterfly.com

I have two in private school. First, make sure they are accredited. If not, if any are college bound in the future, it's a necessity! Second, check out the teacher:student ratio. For lower grades (Pre-K through elementary), I never liked it if there were more than about 15 kids to one teacher. Also, see if there are going to be any teacher's assists and if they work all day, half day, etc. If your kids are middle, jr high and high school age, more kids per teacher are not quite as bad. But, our private schools seem to lose kids as they get older. By graduation, they have lost at least half the kids from when they started in K.

That's about all I can think of now. I'm sure more will come to me eventually. Had my DD in private school now for 10 years (started in k-3) and son just started this year in k-4.

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Mom to a beautiful 15 year old DD and my handsome little man who's 6!

~~~GO DALE JR!!~~~

Well, if you feel that they cover all the bases well....you could just say that.

If you want a question to show your interest, you could ask something about their funding and how they balance their budget or if there are any expansion plans on the horizon....how often they review and update the curriculum....what type of standardized testing, if any, they use....what kind of opportunities they have for parent involvement.....something like those might not be covered in the typical pitch.

Oh, and how they handle discipline might be good. It is usually somewhat different than public schools...

cj/

Here is a web site that rates schools, maybe this will help.

GreatSchools.net

Do they follow the state standards recommended for the grade levels? You can download standards (probably) from the state's education website. (at least you can in Ohio)
What method do the principal use to verify all standards have been taught? Doe he/she hand the teacher her lesson plan book and say," Show me in you lesson plan book where you taught stand xyz 5 times this year."
What individuals are counted when the teacher student ratio is made? Some people do not know that nurses, library, aids, etc. are included in the count in some areas. It is better to know that your teachers have a class limit, or daily limit.
What special programs are included? Spec. ed (at no expense to the parents) PE, PT OT, Speech pathologist, Art, etc.
Do all teachers employed by the school meet the state's highly qualified standards set by the state? (means you must have liscensure and additional hrs. or training in all the subjects they teach)
Get a list of fundraisers. My nieces go to a christian school and they have many fundraisers throughout the year.
What parent participation is expected?
What forms of discipline are used?
This may help.

I would not trust the websites that rate schools. I found one that rated my school with incorrect information. They changed it after I e-mailed them. This site has has my school with 4 negative remarks and that is it. We have close to 500 students. It seems that only people with negative remarks respond to the sites. I would visit the school.