Education quality can’t be summarized by a few numbers, and yet that’s precisely what busy parents confronting school choice are left to make a decision with. But let me short circuit the conversation right here.
Your list of top schools will look different from mine because a good school is good for a particular family with a particular set of values.
Let me say that another way:
When it comes to education quality, there is no one single model of a successful school.
So if we want to celebrate schools for their different strengths and view schools through the lens of “fit” rather than through the lens of “best school”, what criteria should we consider to drive high quality decision making?
Education quality measured in 5 criteria
Everyone wants a sound bite, so here is the TL:DR version of the criteria all parents should be considering in a school thanks to Jack Schneider and the Beyond Test Scores project:
- Quality of teachers and teaching environment
- School culture (including safety, relationships, and academic orientation)
- Resources (facilities and personnel, learning resources, community support)
- Academic learning (performance, student commitment to learning, critical thinking, college and career readiness)
- Character and well-being (civic engagement, work ethic, artistic and creative traits, health)
I completed my Masters degree at Tufts University in Somerville, MA so the fact that this project was conducted using Somerville as an example was truly fascinating to me. It’s also a great read!
Ok, but those criteria don’t exist
I know, reader, I know. That’s why parents looking for a good education are typically stuck with word-of-mouth, school tours, and redactive sites like Niche.com, Great Schools, and Inside Schools.
Here’s the problem with word of mouth.
- Those that are sharing information need to be well informed, and that isn’t always the case. Information networks are of highly varying quality. I hear it all the time – so and so school is bad, yet I know the parents have never toured the grounds, so how can they know? Same goes for those gushing about the school across the street.
- Pro tip: if a school is really good, you definitely must tour. And if a school is THAT bad, well 2 hours isn’t going to kill you to scope it out and form your own opinion.
- Even among those with direct experience, it’s still complicated. You might hear about teachers who are beloved by parents at a school for example, but are they better teachers? Some might spend a lot of time directly communicating with parents but have almost identical teaching practices as another less “involved” teacher. The one who is in direct contact with the parents will be favored, but might not necessarily be more effective in the classroom.
- Word of mouth is also complicated because it’s based on assumptions made by a sample size of two: the parent’s own child and themself. Heck, priorities between two parents in one family can diverge making one parent more apt to say they’re at a great school while the other parent only feels like their child’s needs are being met.
- There’s also the issue of our neanderthal brains focusing on negative information.
So this brings us to an important point we have to remember:
A school is rarely good or bad in all ways or for all kids
Jack Schneider
Fine, tell me what I need to do to find quality education
Unpopular answer: Ask questions. Tour schools. Hang out at playgrounds after school is out and chat up parents who attend schools you’re interested in.
There’s no shortcut to getting the data because there’s no shortcut to explaining your child, your family’s values, and your vision for your child’s future.
Beyond test scores, ask yourself:
- How do the kids do in middle school?
- How often are arts, music, language instruction, and PE offered a week?
- What electives are offered? Can you supplement them on the side if none are offered?
- What have parents who have had a particular teacher say about him or her (find multiple sources)?
- What does the inside of the school look like? Do students look like they respect it or is it trashed inside? Northeast winters take a toll on any building – especially if they’re older and not maintained to commercial standards. Exterior appearances should not be judged.
- How often do teachers turnover?
- How does the G&T program differ from the general education program?
Kindergarten admissions are closing on the 20th for NYC parents. Get out there and find the answers you’re seeking!
