March 2010

It seems like just yesterday, my son took his first steps and spoke his first words. Well four very short years later and his stay-home-with-mamma-in-the-afternoon days are coming to an end. Yes, we have a whole summer to play, swim, make crafts, and work on his list of animals for the zoo he’s going to open when he grows up, but this too will pass at the speed of light. (Besides missing our time together, this transition also means I won’t have an excuse for not working more—drag!)

Entering Kindergarten is a big deal. Your little one is growing up, becoming more independent and learning how to be a member of a little scholastic society. Even though you still have a few months before sending junior to his first day of big kid school, now is the time to start investigating schools. Registration for many schools is already under way.

As a product of the public school system and later a public school teacher, I am a strong advocate of public schools. We should enjoy a free appropriate education for our children regardless of our income bracket. I have heard complaints about Pueblo’s schools. But, the best way to improve them is to enroll our children there, be active and speak up when something seems amiss. (Hold on, while I step off my soapbox and continue.) Needless to say, I limited my school search to schools that are tuition-free.

In Pueblo, parents have the choice to send their children to a district school within or outside of their immediate neighborhood. Attending one’s neighborhood school has a lot of advantages: an easy, often walk-able commute and the opportunity for children to make friends in school who live nearby.

Aside from the regular district schools, Pueblo also offers magnet schools and charter schools. In case you are not sure what the difference is, according to www.uscharterschools.org, “Charter schools are nonsectarian public schools of choice that operate with freedom from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools.”

Conversely, www.publicschoolreview.com states that magnet schools offer a distinctive curriculum or instructional approach, attract students from outside an assigned neighborhood, and strive to have diversity. “Magnet schools are different from private or parochial schools in that they remain part of the public school system. They differ from charter schools in that they remain part of the public school system bureaucratically,” states the web site.

Whether you have a soon-to-be kindergartener or a transferring student, you have plenty of work to do to make a well-informed choice about what school is best for your child.

Here are some guidelines to help you make your decision:

1. Visit. You know your child best and can gauge which environment is right for your child. Is the environment warm and inviting? Is there a lot of children’s work displayed? How do teachers interact with the students?

2. Ask questions. It is best to e-mail or send some questions ahead of time so staff is not put on the spot during a visit. (See sidebar for examples.)

When possible, try to get feedback from other parents of children currently attending the prospective schools.

3. Consider your child’s personality and try to visualize him or her in the environment of the school. Ask yourself, “Is this a good fit?”

4. If you are taking the time and initiative to check out schools and meet with staff, you should be shown respect and enthusiasm. After all, parent involvement is very valuable at any school. If you are ignored (i.e., no responses to calls or e-mails) or not given the adequate attention or consideration, red flags should go up.

When choosing a good fit for your child, there are many factors to consider: your child’s learning style, personality, ability to socialize, and level of flexibility. There are no guarantees, but a well-executed plan for choosing a school may minimize problems later.

Questions to ask school staff:

What are the school’s academic performance statistics as compared with other schools?

What type of credentials and continuing education are required of the teachers? Are the teachers new and fresh or experienced and skilled?

What is the level of ethnic diversity among the student body and staff? 

What is the level of socio-economic diversity of the student body? (Percentage of free school lunches can be an indicator.)

Is transportation provided?

What are the average class sizes and teacher-to-student ratio?

What reading program is used? Does the school have a writing curriculum?

Are foreign language classes offered? At what age and what frequency?

What are science classes like? (Do they involve hands-on experiments? Computer research? etc.)

What standardized testing is done and how often?

What access to technology do students have?

What physical fitness opportunities are provided and how frequently? Are there structured physical education classes as well as recess times?

Is there any emphasis in the curriculum on “giving back” to one’s community and helping others? 

What is the school’s policy on behavior?

How is bullying handled? Does the school have an anti-bully program? 

How are the arts incorporated into the curriculum?

What level of involvement do parents typically have at this school? Are there volunteer requirements?

What does the school library look like?

Is there any focus on world cultures, events and geography?

What is the enrollment process for this school?

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