Glamaour Era December edition Glamaour Era december edition | Page 5

Public , private, charter, virtual and more - deciding what school is best for your children
can feel overwhelming. You want them to have an education that prepares them for a
challenging world while fitting their unique learning styles. How do you know the best
option to ensure they thrive?
Testing scores: How does the school
perform on state assessments across
grades and subjects? Look at the
percentage of students who score at
or above proficiency. If possible, look
at test scores by student subgroup
(race/ethnicity and family income). How
are students like your child doing?
Student progress: Test scores don't
tell the whole story. It's important that
no matter where students start on the
educational spectrum, they make
progress and continuously learn as
time passes. Understanding student
progress can give you important
information about how much children
are learning at this school from year to
year.
Equity: Look at how students from all
backgrounds are doing. Is there a big
achievement gap between different
groups? This helps you understand
how schools are serving
disadvantaged student groups.
Advanced coursework: To understand
the academic rigor of a school, research
the advanced courses offered. How
many students are enrolling in those
courses? What's the average number
of advanced courses a student takes
at the school? All these details can
paint a picture about whether the
students are getting the classes they
need for college and beyond.
Discipline and attendance flags: Does
t h e s c h o o l h ave h i g h c h ro n i c
absenteeism? Do they suspend some
groups of students far more often
than others? This might be a red flag
that you should consider.College
readiness: If you have a high school
student, you're probably starting to
think about the future. If you want to
ensure your child's school is preparing
them for college, research the high
school's SAT/ACT participation and
performance.
To check out schools in your area and learn more about school ratings and data, visit
www.greatschools.org. You can quickly view this information and easily compare it against
other schools you're considering, helping you save time while providing you the necessary
information to make a confident decision about your child's education.
The updated school profiles on GreatSchools display information parents need, and provide
support to help them take action," says Lloyd. "For example, if a school has a low Equity
Rating compared to other schools in their state, parents will find tips on how to discuss
improving the education of all students at this school with teachers and administrators. This
empowers parents today and in the future so their children can receive the education they
deserve."
"The right school will not only help your child learn essential skills but instill a lifelong love of
learning," says Carol Lloyd, award-winning educational writer and editorial director for
GreatSchools, a nonprofit school guide. "Bottom line: The school you choose for your child
does make a difference."
Lloyd knows making educational decisions isn't easy. That's why she offers her advice on the
most important things to consider when researching schools.