"We have a three year old who will be four in October. Because of his birthday we are told he will start school later. For this reason he will go to 3k classes this fall. The public schools in our county do not have a very good reputation and everyone that we have talked to says to put our son in private or home school. He is an only child so we would much prefer private. We are told that our son will have a better chance of getting into a private school if he starts in the PreK program. Can I visit schools in the summer? If so, how do we determine the best one for our child?"

"I would like to see more advice on choosing a pre-school. In my state, pre-schools vary greatly. Pre-school teachers are not licensed so they may not have even a minimal level of education. With such little state regulation, the burden falls on parents to ask questions about the faculty's education, experience, and length of tenure."

"Thanks for this article. We are moving back to the USA with our child that is just finishing 1st grade. Greatschools.net & schoolmatters.com lead us to a great district. Another suggestion I have is ask the people who live there. Talk to the waiters & store clerks when you are in the districts you are interested in searching. These people are there everyday & really know what is a great school. They have children that are there in these schools. They will tell you if they are happy with their choice & where they would rather have their children. It will also be an 'unsensored' conversation."

"I think taht these questions are helpful btu I strongly agree that you should give questions about behavior in school and how to stop that"

"Responding to the question about Friends/Montesorri vs. public schools. Our children have attended Friends preschool and kindergarten and feel that this experience has been invaluable in their preparation for a larger school. It has been worth every penny. Our son has Sensory issues and through his time at Friends, he has gained coping skills that will serve him throughout his life. If you have the money, send your child to a Friends school as long as you can."

"What a great and very helpful article. We are in the midst of deciding between two schools and this list is a great place to start, thank you!!"

"Does anyone have any experience of Montessori or Friends grade school over public school? I am trying to make a very tough decision. Montessori and Friends is alot of money, but I would be willing to pay it if it is worth it in the long run. Any feedback?"

"Thanks for some of the advice. I just got accepted into the boarding school I applied to, but I am worried about funding. Thanks for some of the great articles"

"I am just starting this process and came to this website first. It is so helpful!"

"I would add, when looking at private schools, review the weekly newletter/communication sent home to parents. Is it informative and descriptive? Does it include social events that foster a sense of community? Are they highlighting types of things you would like to see at your child's school? Does it feel like you would like it to? This is a valuable piece of information to look at when considering a school."

"I really don't know how to thank you for all these informations that you provided in your website. For me as a parent moving from state to state, that helped me a lot. It even gave me an open idea of the questions that i suppose to ask. Thank you again and please consider me always for any help i can do."

"what happens if the school i am interested in has a policy of not letting visitors look at the classrooms or talk to the teachers? "

"THANK YOU for this article and Thank for helping us parents make such a difficult and important decision."

"Hi! I have a five grader son in PS 105, which does not have grade 6 to 8 . He wants to be in PS 89 where his friends are. Do you think I should consider this? How can I register or move my son to PS 89?"

"Here's another question to ask if your are considering a private 7-12 or K-12 school. If you are looking at going to the school in 9th grade from another grade school, ask if the students already there are 'getting a break' in the coursework versus students entering 9th grade. Also, be aware that many of the students have made their friends by then and you'll be a bit of an outsider if you come in to such a school in 9th grade. Just something to think about. Going to such a school in 9th grade didn't work for me."

"Thanks for this information on this site. We have just moved to LA from India before four months. As parents we are really concerned abt my son who was attending amazing school back home as to what next in US? which school to choose? But hopefully this site will help us choose the right one for him. All the related links are also useful. "

"Does this school have a particular academic focus, such as science or humanities? Does this school have any school-to-work programs or specialized academies? What kind of emphasis does the school place on college preparation? Does the school have a good selection of Advanced Placement classes? What percentage of students takes the SAT? Where do students go after they graduate? How many attend four-year colleges? Does the school offer a variety of career planning options for students who are not college bound? Are counselors available to help students make important decisions about classes and post-graduation plans? What percentage of students who start at the school in ninth grade graduate? Does the school staff set high expectations for all students? How do students get to school? Is there a parking lot, and are buses (public or district-provided) available? Is this school accredited? these question does matter becoz i am a student who wanted to go in best school and not wanted to change my district which is aliefisd becoz of (IB program) and my district is not offering this program. what should i do? there isn't any way except changing the district? if there is tell me about it."

"Thank you for this thought provoking site and hopefully armed with this information I can select a good school for my son."

"I would ask to see a few samples of writing for the grade your child is entering. This will reveal quite a bit about a school."

"As a teacher at a school were many parents come to observe, I would like to add one thing to your list... please be sure to check before you go if it's ok for you to talk to the teachers while you're touring. At our school, parents are just supposed to be observing the classroom, but often interrupt our teaching to ask questions. If you would like the chance to talk to a teacher, be sure and let them know when you schedule your visit so they can find an appropriate time/place. I love telling parents about my school!! However, I don't like interrupting my teaching to do it."

"Thank your very much for the site.I am planning to move from South to New Jersey and was concerned about the schools. Your site has been very helpful. Paul: NJ"

"I was so happy to find this article. Next week I have a job interview at a new charter school. I don't know much about charter schools, but I feel that these questions will help me to gain more understanding!! Thanks a lot:)"

"I am very interested in how a school board can consist fully of family members. And why there is no laws in place to hold them acountable for their actions. "

"These are important questions to ask of a school during an initial visit or tour. If you feel too intimidated to ask these questions, don't choose the school! I know -- I am currently trying to find a good nonsecular private school (after losing magnet school lotteries). It's very important to notice the behavior of the children as well as the teachers and administrators. Notice if the children are happy. I visited a school where the uniformed children looked miserable, the teachers wore fashionable 'office casual' clothing and the administrators were botoxed and dressed in Nordstrom suits. I could tell they were tolerating my not-so-fashionable appearance because of my child's academic abilities. Also, when you're considering private schools a good general rule is: you're likely to be admitted if your child is invited to attend the school for a week (and the child is well-behaved). But question any school that is TOO eager to accept you. Remember: they may NEED your money (then will they do anything with it?). Many super-achievement schools offer only a very brief tour and an expensive assessment test--they are so confident in their ability to educate that they do NOT welcome questions or investigation. They'd like your money, but they don't need it because their tuition is so high, they can produce glossy ads and CD-roms promoting the school. It's a private-school jungle out there!"

"I would like to add disiplinary actions and results to the list;faculty and students alike. Violence, drug use, bullying and chauvinism would be valuable items to include."

"Is it allowable for a teacher to raise her voice (I don't want to say yelling, but that's what other students has called it)so she can be heard outside her class room. Also is it allowable to tear up a students paper in frount of the class and say I don't except first grade work. He was then sent to sit in the hall crying."

"I want to THANK YOU for this article!!!!! I was not sure what questions I should ask now I KNOW. Simone"

"This is gonna sound silly, but check out what the principal (and teachers) are wearing. Are they wearing the kinds of clothes that allow them to sit on the floor and play on the playground with the kids -- or is the principal wearing a suit? At one Fairfax County elementary school, the principal used to swan around in a white suit with heels and a skirt. Clearly, she wasn't planning on interacting very much with the kindergarteners. And she didn't. She never even learned the kids' names -- or their parents for that matter. The clothes unfortunately tell you a lot about the person."

"Thank you. This is what I need it to know. Since I am ready to search for my three kids new school."

"Thank you very much for providing these practical tips especially for parents like me who are vascillating with lot of things in mind. Now I know where to start and how to go about. Regards Siraj"