Are you looking for a school? Here is a guidelining questionnaire

By Ute Limacher-Riebold on May 15, 2013 • ( 2 Comments )

Every school has its own “personality” and visiting a school is an invaluable way to get a first personal impression about the atmosphere and ask questions and get documentation about the school. Lately I participated in a writing contest on expatsblog, and am proud to say that my article was one of the winners. It consisted in two parts: one was an updated list about the International Schools in The Hague area and the other one was a questionnaire, a list of questions parents can ask while visiting a school for their children.

This list was quite general and I found some more questions to add and a better subdivision of them. Some of the questions are specifically for frequently moving families, but most of them are universal.

1) To make your child(ren) feel comfortable:

Does the school have planned activities to assist your child in a positive start to school?
Do the students seem happy at school?
Do the students look actively engaged in learning?
Does the school assign “buddies” to new students?
Do the grades interact, and if yes, how and when?
How big are the classes, how is the student-teacher ratio?
Does the school allow parents to volunteer in the classroom?
Is the approach child-centered and challenging enough to develop each child’s strenghts and love of learning?
Are the course offerings extensive enough to meet your child’s needs?
At what age are students offered modern languages?
What is the daily, weekly, monthly schedule like?
How much movement or multisensory experiences are built into the curriculum?
How much homework is there?
How many co-curricular activities (arts, sports, clubs etc.) are offered? Are they included in the school fees?
To what extent can you be a partner in your child’s learning?

2) General questions about the school

How many years has the school existed?
Is the school board run by parents who are elected?
What is the reputation of the accrediting institution(s)?
What is the duration for the current school accreditation?
Was the annual report with budgets available for you to inspect?
Does this schoo have a particular educational philosophy or mission?
What are some of the school’s greatest accomplishments? What are some of the biggest challenges this school faces?

3) Reachablilty and safety

How long will it take for your child to get to school?
Is there a bus service available for this school? What kind of bus service (door to door or other)? Is your company going to contribute in the expenses of the bus service?
What security precautions are forseen by the school? Is the campus a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment?
What is this school’s approach to student discipline and safety?
Does the school have a nurse? If my child has severe allergies: what are the school policies (nuts allergies etc.)?
How does the school manage bullying (on the playground and cyberbullying)?

4) Teachers / staff

Are all the teachers certified, including ESL, SEN, PE etc. teachers?
Are the language teachers certified teachers?
What are the expectations for staff about students of high ability, special needs, ESL and other areas?
How long on average does the school retain its teachers?
What percentage of teachers has earned advanced degrees?
Does the school support professional development, so teacher learn and apply “best practices”?
Is time dedicated for teachers to meet as teams to jointly plan curriculum and assess each child’s needs?
Does the staff seem happy?
During your visit, are teachers available and friendly?
What is the “feeling” or “tone” of the staff? Are they friendly and professional?
How frequently will you receive information concerning your child’s progress?

5) Curriculum

What types of standardized tests are offered, and how do the students perform?
Is the curriculum broadened with “best practices” around the world, so students can be well prepared for their next school?
How is technology used to support teaching and learning at this school?
If your child has ‘special learning needs’, how will the school meet these?
What strategies are used to teach students who are not fluent in English (or the language lessons are taught in)?
What types of field trips are available for students? Which are compulsory?
How do the arts fit into the curriculum? Is there a school choir, band or orchestra? A school play? Art classes?
How does this school support students who have academic, social or emotional difficulties?

6 a) For elementary schools

What are some highlights of this school’s curriculum in reading, math, science and social studies?
What criteria are used to determine student placement in classes?
How does this school keep parents informed of school information and activities?
Is there an active Parent Teacher Association (PTA)? What other types of parent involvement take place at this school?
Is child care available before or after school?

6 b) For middle schools

How does the school guide and prepare students for major academic decisions that will define their options in high school and beyond?
Are foreign language classes (French, Spanish, German etc.) offered to students? Are they part of the curriculum?
Do they offer language classes in minority languages? Are they part of the curriculum?
If the school is large, does it make an effort to provide activities that create a sense of community?

6 c) For high schools

What student-support services are available for individual student counselling and university placement?
What programs are in place for drug and alcohol prevention?
What programs are in place to prevent bullying (incl. cyberbullying)?
Does this school have a particular academic focus, such as science or humanities?
Does this school have any school-to-work programs or specialized academies?
What kind of emphasis does the school place on college preparation?
Does the school have a good selection of Advanced Placement classes?
What percentage of students takes the SAT ? Where do students go after they graduate? How many attend four-year colleges? What kind of degrees are possible? (In Europe: A, B, AB, IB, EB etc.)
Does the school offer a variety of career planning options for students who are not college bound?
Are counselors available to help students make important decisions about classes and post-graduation plans?
What percentage of students who start at the school in ninth grade graduate?
Does the school staff set high expectations for all students?
How do students get to school? Is there a parking lot, and are buses (public or district-provided) available?
Is this school accredited?

7) Facilities

Do classrooms look cheerful? Is student work displayed, and does it seem appropriate for the grade level?
Do teachers seem enthusiastic and knowledgeable, asking questions that stimulate students and keep them engaged?
Does the principal seem confident and interested in interacting with students, teachers and parents?
How do students behave as they move from class to class or play outside?
How well are the facilities maintained? Are bathrooms clean and well supplied, and do the grounds look safe and inviting?
Are all the facilities like playgrounds, libraries, IT etc. state-of-the-art and well maintained?
Does the school provide different facilities, such as libraries, cafeterias and sport areas for different grade levels?
What kind of library resources are available for students?
Does the school provide warm meals/catering service?
What facilities are open to family members?
What is the quality of air, water and noise around the school?
Is the community surrounding the school residential, commercial or inner-city?