How Parents Can Find the Best Schools for Their Kids

Everyone needs a good education, and in the United States, compulsory education lasts from about age five to 18, kindergarten through 12th grade, and the quality of someone\’s education may have a serious impact on his or her future. For this reason, parents are always highly invested in finding the best school district by zip code or by other criteria for their kids, and the best day schools or best prep schools can be a major undertaking but pay off in huge ways. Parents whose kids first reach schooling age or parents who moved into a new area will look for a school district by zip code or other criteria, such as distance, funding, or even whether a school is a private or public one. Sometimes, the advantages of attending private schools can make themselves very clear, and when searching for a school district by zip code, a parent may consider only the private schools if they can afford to send their child or teenager there. What are some differences between the best private high school or public high school, for example? How can a parent search for a school district by zip code and find the right place?

Private VS Public

One major category for a parent to consider is the differences between public and private schools, which are often middle and high schools in the United States. A parent may have already made up their mind about this when they search for a school district by zip code, but other times, they may have to make a decision. A public school is government-funded and regulated, or regulated by the state, while private schools are privately funded (hence the name) and set their own testing and curriculum types, independent of state or federal regulations. This means that most often, a private school may charge a lot of tuition for the students, and this may put private schools out of reach for some families. But for those who can afford it, the benefits are considerable.

Around 21% of public school teachers have reported that student apathy is a problem at their schools, for example, but only 4% of private school teachers have reported something similar. What is more, 24% of public school teachers have reported recently that a lack of parental involvement is an issue at their school, and by contrast, only 3% of private school teachers have said the same. On top of that, the quality of counseling may vary in terms of college preparation. Public school counselors spend only about 22% of their time on college prep for their students, while private school counselors spend about 55% of their time on this service. This may affect the disparity of college attendance among students; about 49% of public school graduates go on to college, while over 90% of private school graduates launch a college career.

Find the School

Whether a parent is looking for a private or a public school for their child, there are some criteria to meet. The school should not be too far away for transportation, whether the bus, driving the student there, or walking, and the school\’s features will be a factor as well. A good school will offer programs, clubs, and teams that the student will take an interest in, and such activities can be a real boon for the student, giving them chances to meet more people, practice skills, and overall get used to handling responsibility. Sports teams such as the soccer baseball teams may appeal to the student, or other programs such as an art club, the marching band, or even the debate team. A quality school will be will funded and the staff members will all be experienced and qualified professionals, from the teachers to the sports coaches to the principal.

The child\’s own input and experience also count. A child or teenager will get the best education when he or she is challenged by the coursework but not overwhelmed, and a student should be able to get along with others and not get stressed or upset by a school day. A bullied or overwhelmed child may have to relocated to a different school entirely, so that their education is not compromised.