Choosing An Elementary School

A major decision for parents is choosing an elementary school for their children.
Often, it is part of a larger decision: picking up stakes and moving in search of a private elementary school or traditional elementary school?

To help make those decisions, here are some specific elements that GreatSchools.org recommends for families to consider to help them choose the perfect school: location; student-to-teacher ratios; behavior and discipline policies; program and curricula strengths; and, support, standards and Expectations. They also provide the following key questions to ask when choosing an elementary school.

Location

Where you live dictates your daily geographic activities, chores and choices. Unless your school is close to your home or workplace, or just ‘the right place’ for your child, long drives during rush hours cut valuable time into your day. 

Student-to-Teacher Ratios

Q: How many children share one teacher?
A: 24-30 kids to one teacher in a traditional school and approximately 12:1 in a private elementary school.

Behavior and Discipline Policies

Do the schools near your home or workplace have written discipline policies?
What are they? Do you agree or disagree with them? Time-Outs? The corner? 1-on-1 talks?

Program and Curricula Strengths

What kind of child do you have? Is he or she logical or imaginative? What interests them?
Are they brilliant, normal, slow or disabled? Only you can answer. 

So, finding a school whose curriculum plays to your child’s strengths is key. Whether it’s science, tech, engineering and math (STEM) or arts-oriented (STEAM), find the school that has the right curricula to support your child’s strengths.

Support, Standards and Expectations

What unifies parents, teachers, and elementary school administrators are strong academic, social and emotional bonds. Is there broad-based parental and administrator coordination and support for school standards? What do all parties share in terms of student, teacher and school expectations? 

Where are we at? Where are we going? How do we get there? What all-around tactics must we work at together to build trust, relationships and growth? These are questions to ask.

Summary

Choosing an elementary school is a long term commitment which will impact your child’s future. So, considering which private elementary school or traditional elementary school in San Diego works for your family should be based on decisions like where, which one and why. Hope this breakdown will help you in your search!

Lifetime Montessori School in Santaluz, a San Diego inland community, is a private, independent Toddler, Primary, Kindergarten and elementary school serving the Carmel Valley, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Penasquitos, Del Sur, 4S Ranch and Fairbanks Ranch communities.

To watch a virtual tour, please visit: www.lifetimemontessorischool.com/free-tours.