You have specific needs for your child and for your own relationship to the school as a parent, and you have every right to make sure these needs will be met. Always feel free to ask these kinds of questions.

Nine Key Questions To Ask When Choosing an Elementary School

1) Do You Know the Student-Teacher Ratio?

A school can have excellent facilities, a good location, and many other good qualities. Yet if the student-teacher ratio for grades K-3 is more than 20:1, your child won't necessarily get the individual attention that he or she needs. If it's more than 30:1 for fourth grade and higher, problems your child may encounter might be overlooked.

Not every student-teacher ratio means the same thing. Some schools start with ratios like these and then break down into smaller tutoring groups, while others have lower ratios that include librarians and other staff who aren't actually in the classroom. Make sure you know the context for the ratio you're provided.

2) Does the School Fit Your Needs?

It's crucial that a school be able to fit your child's needs, but don't forget about yourself. If the school doesn't provide bussing, will you be able to drive your child to school every day without interfering with your job? If you have to be at work early some days, does the school provide early-morning care? What about after-school care for days when you get out of work late?

A school that can remove sources of stress from your life and allow you to have a more flexible schedule means you're more likely to be able to develop a productive relationship with that school.

3) Are Behavioral Issues Handled Well?

Nearly every student will encounter a behavioral issue at some point. It's important that these are handled well. A student needs to understand why what they've done is a problem – and how to correct it. 

They also need to understand what the consequences are and why they're shaped that way. More than this, they need positive reinforcement for when they correct the problem and for what they do well in other areas.

Disciplinary policy won't always be exactly what you would do in the same situation, but it should be something that you're comfortable with.

4) How Is Bullying Handled?

This may seem like a component of the last question, but it really needs its own focus. Many studies show that bullying contributes more than any other factor to students dropping out and not completing education later in life.

Schools should have specific bullying policies. Preferably, they should have teachers and other staff with anti-bullying training. Bullies themselves need to be provided with alternate ways of dealing with the rigors of school, while bullied children need to be able to escape the cycle in a way that's healthy and not socially damaging among their peers. 

5) How Are Children With Different Learning Needs Supported?

Not all children learn the same, nor should they be expected to. It's a delicate balance to teach a group of students all at once, and to ensure individual students are getting appropriate attention. This is part of why the student-teacher ratio question is so important. 

Beyond this, you'll need to know if students who excel are provided extra challenges. Are students with learning disabilities provided the attention that enables them to achieve appropriate objectives?

Your child may have particular needs or may simply hit a subject where they excel or struggle. Often a student may shine in one area and struggle in another, and this means they need different kinds of attention in each. You know what your child may need in terms of this attention, so ask about the differences of approach and instruction for individuals.

6) What Is the Learning Environment Like?

Students need room to run during P.E. classes. Do they have enough? How are classrooms organized? If they break down from a full class to small groups within the class, is there a natural way to do this? Classroom layout can contribute to how students learn much more than you'd think.

A component of this is physical safety as well. Look to see how entrances and exits are monitored, and ask to see the emergency drills for the school.

7) How Much Homework Will There Be?

You may have a preference as to the amount of homework given out, but this question is more about consistency. Does the amount quoted vary from teacher to teacher, or is it consistent? 

Every teacher will have a slightly different teaching style, but two teachers in the same grade should be giving out a similar amount of homework. This speaks to consistent academic guidance for students.

8) What Are the After-School Activities?

After-school activities are a wonderful opportunity for children and parents alike. Children can explore their creative side through art and theater programs, get involved in science and reading programs, or play sports. All of these activities encourage curiosity and teamwork.

For parents, after-school programs are productive for their children and allow extra time if they're working late or need that afternoon hour for errands.

9) What Is One Thing About the School That You'd Like To Improve?

This is a question to ask the principal or school administrator. Every school should have a target or goal, something that it wants to excel at or improve upon. Perhaps it's a program the administrator would like to start, extra support they want to provide, or additional community they'd like to build.

A school administrator shouldn't simply say that everything's perfect. They should be involved and engaged to the point where they always want to be improving. A great school is one that constantly identifies ways to be even better.

Have a Conversation With St. John Lutheran School Today

If you would like to know about whether St. John Lutheran School in Defiance, Ohio is right for your child, we would be happy to answer your questions. Reach out to us today for more information about how your elementary student can thrive at our private Christian school!

Concerned about affordability? The EdChoice Scholarship Program may be a possibility, and makes private schools like St. John Lutheran School accessible to families with limited financial resources. The scholarship is available for children entering kindergarten through 12th grade, and is renewable annually. 

It could potentially make private school tuition-free until your child graduates from high school. Attending private school can be free!

More great news: the EdChoice Scholarship Program recently expanded its parameters for qualification. The EdChoice is open to all families, with income qualification moving from 250% of the Federal Poverty Level to 450%. The minimum scholarship is $650. 

Read more about the EdChoice Scholarship Program here.