If you’re moving to a new city with your child, you will probably have to choose a new school for them. However, how do you find the best school for your child’s needs? The team at Affordable Quality Moving & Storage is here to help you. We know that no one cares more about your child’s welfare than you do. You know your child’s personality, strengths, weaknesses, and learning style. For that reason, you should be the one who decides what school will help your child succeed. Our team of Southern California movers has put together some tips and tips on how to help you find the right school for your child.
Consider Your Child’s Needs
You should start searching for the best school by thinking about what you want a school to do for your child. A great way to determine the needs of your child and your family is by asking yourself a few questions. Once you determine your child’s needs, you will be able to decide which school is the right fit.
Some of the questions you should ask yourself include:
- Does your child need a more/less structured environment?
- Does your child need more challenging work?
- Does your child need more individual attention?
- Does your child need an English language acquisition program?
- Does your child learn best by seeing how things work?
- Does your child like to learn in groups?
- Is your child logical and mathematical or musical and artistic?
Consider Your Needs
Your child is the one who will be attending a new school, but this decision impacts you as well. You’ll need to make sure your choice makes sense logistically and puts you in a good place as a parent.
Here are a few things you may want to consider as a parent:
- How far is the school from your new home and office?
- Does the school offer a bus service to take your kids to and from campus?
- Does the school offer aftercare? What time will your child be let out?
- Does the school require uniforms or have a strict dress code?
- Are there volunteer opportunities or requirements as a parent?
Take a practical look at what a potential school will mean for your schedule and lifestyle. Look at your budget, taking into account the cost of after-school care (if necessary) or a private school.
Gather Information About Schools
When researching schools, you may have to make phone calls, talk to other parents, and look at their curriculum. Many schools—public, private, or religious—may specialize in certain areas. There is essential information you should gather to determine if a school is the right fit for you and your child.
- Strong Academic Programs: Some schools may have a strong program for core academic subjects such as English, history, mathematics, science, arts, or foreign language.
- Special Needs Accommodations: If your child has special needs, you should check to see what schools have a curriculum that will accommodate those needs.
- Teaching Styles: You should also research the teaching styles of the schools you are considering. You should identify if the schools have a particular approach to teaching and learning and if your child enjoyed it.
- Academic Performance: This is another thing you should consider when researching schools. A great way to determine if a school is the right fit is by comparing overall test scores and report cards.
- Behavior Policy: You should determine what each school does to help develop character and citizenship. Are teachers fair in their responses to students? What security measures do they take to keep schools safe?
- Sports Programs: If your child is an athlete, you probably want to find a school that has a strong athletics program – or you will have to look outside of school for opportunities. This is one of the factors to consider when choosing the right school.
- Theater & Fine Arts Programs: If your child is an artist or a performer, you might want to find a school that has a great theater department or fine arts program.
Try to arrange a tour of any school you’re considering for your child. When you tour, try to watch how the teachers interact with the students, how involved the other staff members are, whether you feel welcomed, and whether the campus is well-kept. Try to get a feel for the school and how your child might fit in.
Public vs. Private: Which School Is Best for Your Child?
If you’re moving, you may be considering whether to send your child to public school or private school. There are advantages to both and things to consider, financially and otherwise. If you have it in your budget to send your child to private school, you will need to decide if it’s worth it. Personal beliefs, culture, and religion may all come into play as well. Depending on where you move, the public schools may have wonderful offerings where your child can thrive. There may be charter schools as well. By doing your research and including both public and private schools, you can find the right fit for your child.
We know there are countless things you need to handle before your move. But you can leave the packing and unpacking, transportation, and storage to us! Spend your time finding the best school for your child while we handle the rest. Contact us today for a free in-home estimate at (661) 622-2636!
