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DONNA WINCHESTERMake a point to visit schools you're considering. Interact with the people there, and be sure to ask questions.
You can read all the school brochures and download all the test scores in your quest to find the best setting for your child. But in the end, nothing will tell you as much about a school as an actual visit.
Luckily for parents interested in finding a good fit, all choice attendance area schools and countywide magnet, fundamental and career academy programs are offering tours during the application period for 2005-06. (Please see the list of school tours that accompanies this article.)
Taking a tour will give you a chance to get an up-close look at the school. It also will provide the opportunity to ask questions that will help you compare schools on an apples-to-apples basis.
Most schools are offering tours during normal business hours. It may be difficult for working parents to take time off during the day, but arranging to be at a school when the children are there can give you a glimpse into their day-to-day world. Visiting during the day also will give you a chance to see how a school's front office operates and how teachers and children interact.
Regardless of when you visit, it's a good idea to come prepared with a list of things you want to watch for, as well as a list of things you want to ask.
If you drop in at a school during the day, here are some things you might want to notice:
--The way the front office staff greets you - or doesn't. How long does it take for your presence to be acknowledged? Do you get a warm reception, or does the person at the front desk merely gesture to a visitor log and tell you to sign in? Does he or she seem irritated to have to stop to talk to you?
--The way office workers as well as teachers interact with each other. Are they friendly? Do they seem cooperative?
--The way the children behave when they're outside their classrooms - on their way to lunch, for example, or as they're changing classes. Are they orderly? Are they respectful toward each other? Would you feel comfortable if your child was in their midst?
Once you begin the school tour, you might want to pay special attention to:
--The cafeteria. Does it seem like a pleasant place to eat? If you're there during lunch time, what is the noise level? Do the children seem to be well supervised? Do they have enough time to get through the lunch line and then eat their food before they have to go back to class?
--The media center. Does it invite children to take an interest in reading? Are books attractively displayed? What other materials are available for children? How many computers are there?
--The restrooms. Are they clean? Are they well stocked with toilet paper, paper towels and soap?
Before you leave the school, make sure someone answers your questions. Here are some of the things you might think of asking:
--What is a typical day like at my child's grade level?
--What sorts of things will my child be learning during the day?
--How much homework will my child have?
--What will be my responsibility in terms of homework? Attendance at teacher conferences?
--What type of discipline does the school employ? What are the penalties for misbehavior? Will I be responsible for arranging transportation if my child is assigned detention? Does the school assign in-school or out-of-school suspension?
--What is the in-school or out-of-school suspension rate? For what offenses are students suspended?
--Will I be able to drop in on my child's class to observe what's going on?
--What is the policy on visitors to the school? How do visitors gain access to the school?
If possible, bring your child to the school to see how he or she likes it, even if it means you have to make a second trip to attend an evening school tour. Regardless of whether you have an incoming kindergartener or a high schooler, his or her opinion should figure in the final decision.