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If you have made the decision to enroll your child in a Toronto private school, you have taken a step towards providing your child with the best possible education. The next step is to choose the right Toronto school, and you have many preparatory schools to consider. Remember to keep an open mind while you visit and consider your child's unique needs as you make the decision.
Do Not Focus on Rankings
You can find publications that rank Toronto private schools, but do not focus too strongly on these rankings. Remember, regardless of the school you choose, research has shown that the fact that you choose to put your child in a private school is, in and of itself, enough to help him have better test scores upon graduation. Consider these rankings, but do not make your decision based entirely on which school has the best test scores. Remember, your child is a unique individual, and the environment that works best for the majority of students may not work best for your child.
Consider Your Child's Learning Strengths and Weaknesses
Does your child learn well through visuals, or is he one that needs to touch and feel objects to learn about them? If you have your child in preschool, ask his teachers about his apparent learning style. If not, you have probably already learned the best ways to teach your child. Choose a school that will work with your child's learning strengths. A visual learner will not do well in a school that learns almost entirely through written projects, but an auditory learner will not do as well in a project-based learning environment.
Consider the Philosophy You Want
Whether or not you choose a religious education for your child, each Toronto prep school has its own philosophy about education and values. As you visit schools and look at curriculums, make sure the educational philosophy and values are in line with your goals as a family. You are not going to change the values of a school just because your children are enrolled there, so choose a school that is a good fit.
Visit the Campus
On paper a school may seem perfect, but you may visit only to find that it has outdated technology or an unfriendly staff. Before you choose a school to enroll your children in, schedule a visit. If you can, take your children with you and participate in at least part of a normal school day. This will give you a feel for the way the staff members interact with each other and with the students. It will also help you see what type of educational activities are performed, and your child will be able to see the environment and give you any input as to her impressions of the school and the kids.
Consider the Extra-Curriculars
Large preparatory schools tend to have all of the extra-curricular activities that a public school might have, and sometimes even more, but smaller private schools may have a limited number of choices. If band is important to you, make sure the school you are considering has this option. For some families a foreign language component is important, but the number of languages you can choose from may be limited if you enrol your children in a small Toronto independent school. If you want your children involved in sports, find a school with a nice variety. However, if sports are not important to your family, make sure the school does not have a compulsory sports program.
Remember, choosing a private school represents a significant financial investment, so make the decision after careful thought and research. Toronto has many private schools for your consideration, so take your time. Soon you will find the school that is the perfect fit for your child's needs.
When enrolling your child in a private school, it is important that you thoroughly research the school so that your child not only has the best education, but is also protected. There a number of considerations that one should be aware of when they are searching for the right private school for their child.
Determine your Child Needs: Before you even start looking for a private school, you should be aware of your child's particular needs. You want to make sure your child does not end up in a poor quality private school. For instance, you want to know all of the extra curricular activities that are offered to make sure there is a variety that your child can choose from and if the particular activity that your child has an interest is being offered. As well, you have to consider such needs as any learning or physical disabilities your child might have, transportation services, and the distance from the school to your home. There are also general qualities to look for such as the quality of the teachers and education curriculum. You also have to consider the type of school such as boys or girls schools, religious, military…etc. Determining your child's needs will help reduce the number of schools you will have to look at.
Educational Requirements: You should look at the education programs at the school. Look at how modern the school is regarding such areas as science labs, computer technology…etc. Does the school have large or small classrooms? How involved are the parents with the children's education. Does the school keep in contact with the parents and give them updates regularly? What type of education programs are offered such as music, theater, art…etc? Are there clubs children can join?
School's Background: It is important to get an understanding of what the school is all about. Find out such information as the school's mission, vision, policies, and philosophy. What types of services are offered such as medical, library, and counseling? Find out the background and the qualifications of the teachers and their grading policies. It is very important that the school you choose is accredited.
Visit the School: When you visit the school, assess the environment, school dress code, and how they meet special needs. (Wheel chair accessible) Look for displayed school projects such as art work. As well, look for any awards the school may have received. Try to talk to members of the faculty. Find out what universities and colleges graduates of the private school have attended. Assess the overall atmosphere of the school. Is it warm and inviting? Do the students look happy? Find out what the requirements are to get into the school. (i.e. tests, interview) Look at the school's resources such as the Library, lunchroom, and physical education facilities. You should also find out the school's discipline policy as well as its student safety policy.
Every parent wants the best education for their child. When selecting a private school, one is making a large investment in their child's future. It is important that parents do their research so that they, and their child, are happy with the private school they choose.