We’re doing for LA schools what US News and World Report does for America’s Colleges.  We are ranking LA schools from number 1 to dead last.  Okay that’s not true.  But it does lead to a few questions that we are breaking into a 3 part series.  First why do you want to choose a school other than your neighborhood school?  The second part is really an explanation of why it is so hard to make comparisons of different schools?   The last post in this series is going to address what it will take to see a level playing field for comparing schools.

Before you start.

Assume your neighborhood school is the best choice; there are many excellent aspects of every school.  Make a list of all the positives of your neighborhood school.  Two things that often get left out of the equation.  You as a parent pull your neighborhood school’s purse strings and have final say on many decisions through its School Site Council.  Only your neighborhood school’s success will improve the value of your property.  You need to visit and come to an understanding of your neighborhood school before you can honestly engage in choosing another school.

The journey is an education in itself

So you want to pick a different school.  You probably fall into one of two categories.  You heard about a specific school and want your child to attend that school.  You investigated your neighborhood school and want a different option.  If you’ve heard of one school you want your child to go to because “it has the best ______ program”, try growing your choice list to at least 5 schools.  If you fall in the other category of just wanting a different school than your neighborhood school, you are going to need to determine what it is you are looking for in a school and then make your list.

Part 2 will talk about making the list, but first lets spend a little time prodding at what you want in a school.

What to look for:

Location: Where are you willing to look for new schools?

Calendar: Many schools that you can choose have unique calendars

Schedule: This almost never the same from school to school, big things to look for are “block schedules” vs. traditional.

Available Classes and electives:  Every school has its core classes, but electives and depth of classes are what really set a school apart

Demographics and diversity:  Schools with greater diversity tend to produce high achieving students

Support Services:  Every school differs in what support services it offers and how it provides services.  Support services are a huge x-factor and can really make one school outshine others.  Some schools have substantial technology grants, others have comprehensive special needs support.

API: This number that is based on student performance on CST, state test scores.

Reputation: Sure a school’s reputation is important at the park, but when your child is applying to college, reputation has consequences.  There is no way to tell how a college will use a school’s reputation in the admissions process.  In talking to a head admissions officer at a UC some people see the top student at a low performing school to have more drive, while other see the average kid at an excellent school to be better prepared.  Reputation is useful to the point that it will help you look at certain schools, but never base your decision solely on reputation.

Type: Magnet, Open Enrollment, Charter, SAS, Romero transfer, Out of District Permit.  Know your choices.

Have some more ideas? Use the comments post.