When it comes to the education of your child, the more choices you have, the better, right? But having multiple choices can make the school selection process difficult. You might be faced with questions like: Is that popular school going to be a good fit for my kid? Will my child be happy in that school? Is this school good as they claim?
When choosing a school for your kid, a lot is usually at stake, and it only makes perfect sense to be careful with your choice. That way, you will be sure to pick a school dedicated to addressing most of your kids’ learning and development needs. If you fail to be attentive to some details, you can make mistakes in the search process. And your kids may end up in a school they don’t like. So, here are the mistakes you must avoid when searching for a school.
To help parents avoid common pitfalls when choosing a school, we have compiled a list of common mistakes to avoid when searching for a secondary school for your child(ren).
1. Focusing too Much on Grades and Academics
Most parents make the mistake of focusing on grades and academics at the expense of other areas. For that reason, they go to schools paying much attention to academics. And academics are not everything in a kid’s development and growth.
Instead, it is an excellent idea for a parent to choose schools that focus on individual learning, character development, and co-curricular activities. Such a school ensures that kids learn academically and engage in sporting and social activities that aim at making them better persons in society.
2. Not Asking Questions About the School
There is this saying that a closed mouth means a closed destiny. Your child’s future is not the kind of thing you decide on just using your instinct. If you don’t hang out and chat with other parents and people in the community, you may not know much about schools in the neighborhood. These parents have taken their kids to schools in the area and know good, better, and best schools.
If you don’t talk to them and ask questions about the schools, you may not learn about the feel of a school and the opportunities available to students. As a rule of thumb, ask as many questions as possible before settling on any school.
3. Forgetting to Factor in the Location
Some parents are in a hurry to take their kids to schools in high demand no matter where they are located. But they forget that location is a crucial factor that has much to do with the children’s convenience. Some parents don’t care that their kids must take long rides to and from school. This can be tiresome and can even demoralize the kids.
Well, this can mean a lot for those who prefer day schools. But if you are interested in enrolling your child in a boarding school, then location should not be a deciding factor for you.
4. Assuming Expensive Schools are the Best
We always have this opinion that expensive equates to high quality. If you are the kind of parent that assumes that expensive schools are always the best, then you might need to reevaluate your belief. The chances are that you will find the best school in the country, asking for reasonable fees and performing excellently in academics and co-curricular activities. And vice versa is true.
If you doubt this, then go to SchoolsCompass to see this for yourself.
5. Assuming that a School Has Everything
Schools have their strengths and weaknesses, always accompanied by different curriculum philosophies. You can find that a school performs excellently in academics but not so well in sports. Other schools have amenities like playgrounds, labs, libraries, best classrooms, and more. But they compete with schools with poor facilities because they lack a particular attribute that could otherwise make a difference.
Therefore, parents should look into the details of what the school has and offers. That will ensure they pick the right school based on their kids’ aspirations and needs.
Choosing the right school for your kids can be challenging. But if you research, talk to people, and consider your kids’ aspirations, you will choose the right school for them. Simply don’t assume things, and you will be good to go.
