The Good School: Smart Parenting Guide to Quality Education for Your Child | Homeschooling & Private School Tips

As Vice President of Outreach at LePort Schools in Orange County, CA, I hear from many parents how difficult it is to choose a good school. All too often, families come to our school after trying one or several other schools, public or private, and being very disappointed. "If only I'd known back then what to look for and what questions to ask", is a sad refrain of parent comments.There's lots of good writing out there about what works in education, but what's unique about this book is the combination of key research and parent anecdotes in an easy-to-use, practical guide you can read in just a few hours.As Mrs. Tyre writes, choosing a school is likely one of the most important decisions you'll ever make for your child. You owe it to yourself to be an educated consumer: it's the only way you'll be able to ask the questions, and discern the difference between your school choices, before your child ends up at a school that doesn't serve her well.Once you read this book, do read the school's web site, thoroughly. Ask the tough questions Mrs. Tyre discusses. Meet the teachers, and engage them in a conversation about their background and the subjects they teach. Look at textbooks and other teaching materials. Request an extended classroom observation. Be critical, very critical: if you can't understand how the school works after doing this research, if the people you talk to don't seem passionate and eager to work with you, if the answers you receive are not compelling (or if you aren't invited to see inside the classroom or speak with teachers), that's a red flag you should take seriously!As someone at a private school who is in charge of educating parents about the difference between our school and other options, I love it when parents are educated and probe deeply before committing to our school. As Mrs. Tyre writes, "Administrators and teachers at good schools want you to ask questions when you go on an Open House tour. They want you to have a sophisticated idea of what you should look for when you visit a classroom."I will recommend this book to our staff and potential parents, to help them make better, more informed school choices, and to educate themselves on one of the most important decisions they'll ever make.