How do we pick schools for our children?

Do we make decisions based on academic ranking, safety, or proximity? Or is it some other factor altogether?

Nationally, it turns out parents’ priorities are not always as simple as they might seem. Parents weigh several factors—from giving their children access to high-quality education to realities such as transportation—when selecting a school. More school options can become a burden for some while for others it translates into multiple applications, deadlines, and a plethora of opportunities. Whether it is the charter school system, public or private schools, choosing a school has become a task that demands careful deliberation.

At its core, school-choice policy is expected to lead to better student outcomes. With more schools competing, parents should have access to schools that are developing curricula and classrooms that challenge students. However, experts have found that such competition has limited positive effects on student achievement. Student demographics, socio-economic status and access to schools undoubtedly influence school choice. For example, lower-income families have fewer resources and struggle with hurdles such as after-school care and transportation.

Preliminary data show our community falls in line with national trends. Initial responses to the first REF Community Survey ranked the need to focus on “rigorous and challenging academics” and “technology rich learning environments” last among the areas that I should be thinking about as we work to develop joint priorities and goals to address existing challenges in our schools and education systems. 

When only considering parents, less than half (47.1%) of parents ranked “rigorous and challenging academics” as a priority and only 29.4% of parents ranked “technology-rich learning environments” as a priority.

As we examine the best way to make our education systems work for our families, we need to consider what parents expect. We must understand that the freedom to choose learning environments is a fundamental right that often aligns with parents’ values. Over the next several months I will engage our community in discussion to understand the expectations of students, families, and educators when it comes to our public-school systems. 

Join the movement, learn more about upcoming engagement opportunities here.