Choosing Your Child's New School

Relocation Tips for Choosing a New School

Everyone knows moving is stressful. Not everyone knows that oftentimes the biggest stressor of that life-changing event is finding the right school fit for children. Especially when a campus visit is not logistically possible, as is the case with a long-distance move. 

Raiders Relocators has helped many families relocate and we have received straight As in assisting clients choose the right schools for their families. 

Here are some steps that may alleviate the stress of choosing the best spot for your child to grow and learn. 

Know thy child. Is she introverted? Does he favor a particular sport? Any special needs to be accommodated? Would a large or small school be a better fit? Is a strong science program more important than a well-rounded athletics one? Other things to consider are class sizes, student-teacher ratio, enrichment programs, and extracurricular activities. 

Which comes first, the house or the school? It’s best to keep the decision-making on the house and the school in tandem. What sense does it make to buy a fabulous new construction home with no appropriate schools in the neighborhood? Or to realize that you are two streets away from qualifying for the best school in the area. 

Talk, talk, talk. Typically, parents are an excellent information resource for other parents. Anyone can look up standardized test scores and school rankings. Parents are privy to the unquantified info on schools. Opinions on teachers, curriculum, and other parents are available through talking with others. Real estate agents also are an excellent source of information on schools. Be sure to ask yours. You could also contact a few schools. This will give you a feel of the environment — is it friendly or stern? Does a human pick up the phone? Make an appointment to speak with the principal and prepare questions to ask. The principal should be able to refer you to a parent, whom you can interview. 

Get online. Most school districts have a Web site. Check those out. You’ll probably find that many schools have Facebook pages and other social media platforms, frequently posting videos of campus life. Visit Parents For Public Schools and The National Center for Education Statistics, both can help navigate the differences in school districts around the county. There’s also a wealth of knowledge at greatschools.org. The parental reviews could prove to be very useful. 

Start your homework now. Once you’ve decided on a school, check to see what necessary paperwork you need to provide. It’s never too early to start gathering transcripts and immunization records.

Listen to Your Gut. Yes, research is very important. After digesting all that knowledge, be sure to listen to your gut. There’s likely a very good reason your instinct is saying no to a school that looks perfect on paper. Trust yourself. You know your child best and only you are qualified to make a decision as monumental as this. 

Children adapt to new situations better than given credit for. Getting them settled into a new school can be made smoother with research before moving into your new home. Let’s get started.

Is there a real estate- or relocation-related topic you would like to discuss in this blog? Let us know at info@raidersrelocators.com. We look forward to hearing from you.