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DONNA WINCHESTERDon't be swept up by the buzz about which schools are the best. There is no simple formula for what works with your child.
In some ways, life was simpler for parents before "controlled choice."
If you lived in the Shore Acres area of St. Petersburg, for example, the school district automatically assigned your incoming kindergartener to Shore Acres Elementary School. You knew in advance that she would attend Riviera Middle School and Northeast High School.
Of course you had the option of applying for a countywide magnet, fundamental or career academy program, but basically, your child was placed on a school track depending on your street address.
Under the choice plan for student assignment, you have more options: 27 for elementary school, seven for middle school and 16 for high school.
Similarly, if you live in mid Pinellas, let's say in the Seminole area, your child automatically would have attended Seminole Elementary, Seminole Middle and Seminole High under the zoned system. Under choice, he has the option of applying to 21 elementary schools, six middle schools and 16 high schools in addition to the countywide programs.
How do you decide which school to choose?
Or perhaps a better question: How do you know which school is right for your child?
Veteran educators and experienced parents offer these suggestions:
Don't judge a school by its exterior. Some of the county's best programs are housed in older buildings. Don't judge a school by the neighborhood either. Many excellent schools, including magnets and fundamentals, were started in low-income areas to make them accessible to students who might not otherwise have been able to attend them - and to draw in students from other neighborhoods.
Make sure you understand the state's method of assigning grades to schools before you base your school choice on FCAT performance. Become familiar with how grades are earned and be aware of the circumstances that can raise or lower a school's grade. (Please see our explanations on pages -.)
Realize that each school has its own improvement plan in addition to the school district's overall plan. While all Florida public schools are required to teach the Sunshine State Standards, ask administrators what they are focusing on specifically in terms of academic achievement.
While all teachers are required to possess academic credentials, they vary from school to school. Find out how long teachers at the schools in which you are interested have been in the classroom. Ask how many have advanced degrees. Question their commitment to additional training.
Read each school's "attractor statement" with a critical eye. To find them, go to the district's Web site, www.pinellas.k12.fl.us click on the choice plan link and then on the school brochures link. If you are unsure what "Classroom Learning System" or "essential learnings" mean, ask the principal.
Sometimes, first impressions are the best indicators of what a school is like. Observe how you are treated when you place a call to the school. Are you greeted with a friendly voice that puts you in touch with the person you need to speak with? Or is your call answered by an automated phone system that expects you to know the extension of the person to whom you want to speak? If you are put on hold, how long do you have to wait for someone to get back to you? Is it difficult to get the principal or another administrator to take your call? Your phone experience may be an indication of future ease or difficulty in communicating with the school.
Ask about the school's policy on visitors. How easy is it to gain access to the campus? Is everyone required to sign in? Are school officials aware of everyone who is on school grounds? Also ask about the school's policy on parental visits to the school. Will you be allowed to escort your son to his classroom? To visit your daughter in her classroom?
Keep in mind that sending your child to a school where all the children are just like him - same race, same socioeconomic background, etc. - may deprive him of the opportunity to meet children who can teach him about other cultures.
Perhaps most important, remember that choosing a school is an individual decision. One school might generate more buzz than another school, but that does not mean it is the best choice for your child. Investigate all of your options thoroughly. What works for one family might not be the best fit for your own.