Finding The Right School For Your Child

You​ ​put​ ​your​ ​name​ ​on​ ​the​ ​waiting​ ​lists,​ ​you​ ​took​ ​the​ ​tours,​ ​and​ ​you​ ​shed​ ​a​ ​few​ ​tears (ok,​ ​maybe​ ​more​ ​than​ ​just​ ​a​ ​few!),​ ​but​ ​you​ ​finally​ ​got​ ​your​ ​little​ ​one​ ​settled,​ ​comfortable, and​ ​happy​ ​in​ ​preschool.​ ​​ ​And​ ​now​ ​-​ ​believe​ ​it​ ​or​ ​not​ ​-​ ​it’s​ ​time​ ​to​ ​consider​ ​the​ ​next​ ​step in​ ​their​ ​educational​ ​journey:​ ​Kindergarten...and​ ​beyond!​ ​​ ​With​ ​over​ ​80​ ​elementary schools​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Greenville​ ​area,​ ​it​ ​can​ ​be​ ​overwhelming​ ​to​ ​know​ ​where​ ​to​ ​begin.​ ​​ ​Read below​ ​for​ ​a​ ​guide​ ​on​ ​how​ ​to​ ​start​ ​your​ ​search​ ​and​ ​helpful​ ​tips​ ​for​ ​finding​ ​a​ ​school​ ​that will​ ​be​ ​the​ ​right​ ​fit​ ​for​ ​your​ ​child​ ​and​ ​your​ ​family.  

TIMELINE:​ ​When​ ​Should​ ​You​ ​Start​ ​Looking? 

Many​ ​schools​ ​begin​ ​their​ ​registration​ ​or​ ​application​ ​process​ ​the​ ​year​ ​before​ ​a​ ​student enrolls,​ ​so​ ​for​ ​the​ ​2019-20​ ​school​ ​year,​ ​the​ ​process​ ​would​ ​start​ ​in​ ​the​ ​fall​ ​of​ ​2018​ ​or early​ ​2019.​ ​​ ​It​ ​is​ ​advised​ ​to​ ​start​ ​looking​ ​at​ ​schools​ ​in​ ​the​ ​fall​ ​of​ ​your​ ​child’s​ ​K4​ ​year, although​ ​it​ ​is​ ​never​ ​too​ ​soon​ ​to​ ​explore​ ​your​ ​options!​ ​​ ​Many​ ​schools​ ​hold​ ​Open​ ​Houses for​ ​a​ ​first​ ​look​ ​and​ ​your​ ​preschool​ ​may​ ​even​ ​offer​ ​a​ ​Preview​ ​Night​ ​event​ ​in-house. 

FACTORS​ ​TO​ ​CONSIDER:​ ​The​ ​“Big”​ ​Stuff 

Public,​ ​private,​ ​magnet,​ ​parochial,​ ​charter,​ ​homeschool,​ ​independent...the​ ​choices​ ​are endless!​ ​​ ​The​ ​first​ ​step​ ​in​ ​narrowing​ ​down​ ​your​ ​options​ ​is​ ​to​ ​do​ ​the​ ​following: 

● Talk​ ​to​ ​family,​ ​friends,​ ​co-workers,​ ​your​ ​pediatrician,​ ​and​ ​current​ ​preschool​ ​staff to​ ​obtain​ ​recommendations​ ​and​ ​suggestions. 
● Start​ ​a​ ​list​ ​of​ ​schools​ ​in​ ​which​ ​you​ ​are​ ​interested,​ ​and​ ​visit​ ​their​ ​websites​ ​to​ ​get​ ​a general​ ​overview.​ ​​ ​Note​ ​important​ ​items,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​location,​ ​total​ ​enrollment,​ ​scope (K-5,​ ​K-8,​ ​K-12,​ ​etc.),​ ​accreditations,​ ​professional​ ​memberships,​ ​and​ ​affiliations.
● Contact​ ​the​ ​schools​ ​at​ ​the​ ​top​ ​of​ ​your​ ​list​ ​to​ ​ask​ ​questions​ ​and​ ​schedule​ ​a​ ​tour. Visiting​ ​the​ ​campus,​ ​facilities,​ ​and​ ​classrooms​ ​is​ ​the​ ​absolute​ ​best​ ​way​ ​to​ ​get​ ​a feel​ ​for​ ​the​ ​environment​ ​and​ ​school​ ​community! 

QUESTIONS​ ​TO​ ​ASK:​ ​Getting​ ​Down​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Nitty​ ​Gritty 

In​ ​order​ ​to​ ​fully​ ​evaluate​ ​each​ ​school,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​necessary​ ​to​ ​find​ ​out​ ​the​ ​specifics​ ​of​ ​their program.​ ​​ ​Don’t​ ​be​ ​afraid​ ​to​ ​ask​ ​questions​ ​to​ ​gain​ ​the​ ​knowledge​ ​that​ ​you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​make an​ ​informed​ ​decision.​ ​​ ​The​ ​following​ ​topics​ ​and​ ​questions​ ​can​ ​help​ ​you​ ​assess​ ​each school​ ​and​ ​determine​ ​if​ ​it​ ​meets​ ​the​ ​expectations​ ​you​ ​have​ ​for​ ​your​ ​child​ ​and​ ​family: 

General​ ​Information
❏ Where​ ​is​ ​the​ ​school​ ​located?​ ​​ ​If​ ​needed,​ ​is​ ​transportation​ ​provided?
❏ When​ ​does​ ​the​ ​school​ ​day​ ​start​ ​and​ ​when​ ​does​ ​it​ ​end?
❏ What​ ​are​ ​the​ ​class​ ​sizes​ ​and​ ​student:teacher​ ​ratio?
❏ Is​ ​the​ ​school​ ​affiliated​ ​with​ ​any​ ​national​ ​or​ ​religious​ ​organizations?​ ​How​ ​do​ ​these values​ ​align​ ​with​ ​those​ ​of​ ​your​ ​family?
❏ What​ ​is​ ​the​ ​school’s​ ​mission​ ​statement?​ ​​ ​What​ ​characteristics​ ​will​ ​a​ ​graduate​ ​of this​ ​school​ ​possess?

Safety,​ ​Security,​ ​and​ ​Student​ ​Health 
❏ Does​ ​the​ ​school​ ​have​ ​a​ ​full-time​ ​security​ ​guard?​ ​​ ​What​ ​processes​ ​are​ ​in​ ​place​ ​to ensure​ ​a​ ​safe​ ​school​ ​environment?
❏ Are​ ​the​ ​school​ ​doors​ ​and/or​ ​campus​ ​entrance(s)​ ​locked​ ​during​ ​the​ ​day?
❏ What​ ​is​ ​the​ ​procedure​ ​for​ ​visitors?​ ​​ ​Is​ ​there​ ​a​ ​required​ ​sign​ ​in?
❏ Are​ ​background​ ​checks​ ​performed​ ​for​ ​employees​ ​and​ ​volunteers?
❏ Does​ ​the​ ​school​ ​have​ ​a​ ​full-time​ ​nurse?​ ​​ ​How​ ​are​ ​allergies​ ​or​ ​other​ ​health concerns​ ​handled?

Academics​ ​and​ ​Curriculum 
❏ What​ ​type​ ​of​ ​curriculum​ ​does​ ​the​ ​school​ ​adhere​ ​to?​ ​​ ​How​ ​does​ ​this​ ​prepare students​ ​to​ ​be​ ​ready​ ​for​ ​the​ ​future?
❏ What​ ​textbooks/programs​ ​are​ ​used​ ​for​ ​core​ ​subjects,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​math,​ ​reading,​ ​and writing?​ ​​ ​Is​ ​there​ ​homework?
❏ What​ ​enrichment​ ​classes​ ​are​ ​offered​ ​(i.e.​ ​music,​ ​art,​ ​science,​ ​technology,​ ​PE, foreign​ ​language)?​ ​​ ​How​ ​many​ ​times​ ​a​ ​week​ ​do​ ​students​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​these classes?
❏ How​ ​are​ ​students​ ​challenged​ ​and​ ​supported​ ​to​ ​have​ ​their​ ​individual​ ​needs​ ​met?
❏ What​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​testing,​ ​assessments,​ ​and​ ​report​ ​card​ ​systems​ ​are​ ​in​ ​place?​ ​​ ​How is​ ​student​ ​progress​ ​communicated​ ​to​ ​parents?​ ​​ ​Likewise,​ ​how​ ​can​ ​parents communicate​ ​with​ ​the​ ​school​ ​and​ ​the​ ​teachers?
    
Student​ ​Life​ ​and​ ​Well-Being
❏ What​ ​are​ ​the​ ​extra-curricular​ ​opportunities​ ​available​ ​to​ ​students​ ​such​ ​as​ ​in athletics​ ​and​ ​the​ ​arts?
❏ Are​ ​there​ ​after-school​ ​or​ ​summer​ ​options?
❏ Are​ ​there​ ​people/programs​ ​in​ ​place​ ​that​ ​support​ ​students’​ ​social-emotional needs,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​anti-bullying​ ​campaigns,​ ​health​ ​courses,​ ​emphasis​ ​on​ ​good nutrition​ ​and​ ​movement/exercise,​ ​etc.?
❏ Does​ ​the​ ​school​ ​offer​ ​community​ ​service​ ​or​ ​other​ ​ways​ ​for​ ​students​ ​to​ ​give​ ​back to​ ​the​ ​local​ ​community?
❏ How​ ​does​ ​the​ ​school​ ​partner​ ​with​ ​families?​ ​​ ​What​ ​are​ ​the​ ​expectations​ ​of​ ​parents and​ ​are​ ​there​ ​opportunities​ ​to​ ​volunteer​ ​and​ ​get​ ​involved? 

NEXT​ ​STEPS:​ ​How​ ​to​ ​Enroll​ ​Your​ ​Child 

Once​ ​you​ ​have​ ​compiled​ ​your​ ​list​ ​and​ ​have​ ​narrowed​ ​down​ ​your​ ​options,​ ​the​ ​next​ ​step will​ ​be​ ​to​ ​register​ ​or​ ​apply​ ​to​ ​the​ ​school(s)​ ​of​ ​your​ ​choice.​ ​​ ​Visiting​ ​the​ ​schools’​ ​websites or​ ​contacting​ ​them​ ​directly​ ​will​ ​give​ ​specific​ ​information​ ​about​ ​when​ ​and​ ​how​ ​to proceed,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​table​ ​below​ ​will​ ​give​ ​you​ ​an​ ​idea​ ​of​ ​the​ ​basic​ ​processes​ ​and​ ​when those​ ​begin: 

School	Process	Timeline
Public	K5 Registration	December 4-7, 2018
Magnet	Application	November 1, 2018 *first round deadline = December 6
Private/Independent	Application	October/November 2018

A+​ ​-​ ​HOMEWORK​ ​COMPLETED! 

With​ ​so​ ​many​ ​options​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Upstate,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​vital​ ​to​ ​do​ ​a​ ​little​ ​leg​ ​work​ ​to​ ​determine​ ​what type​ ​of​ ​school​ ​may​ ​be​ ​in​ ​your​ ​child’s​ ​best​ ​interest.​ ​​ ​Remember:​ ​it​ ​is​ ​never​ ​too​ ​early​ ​to begin​ ​your​ ​search!​ ​​ ​By​ ​asking​ ​questions​ ​(such​ ​as​ ​the​ ​ones​ ​suggested​ ​above), considering​ ​what​ ​is​ ​most​ ​important​ ​to​ ​your​ ​family,​ ​and​ ​relying​ ​on​ ​the​ ​assistance​ ​and guidance​ ​of​ ​school​ ​and/or​ ​admission​ ​professionals,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​make​ ​an​ ​informed​ ​and “educated”​ ​school​ ​choice!