Once you’ve done your research and decided to enroll your children in private school rather than the public school alternative, there are some decisions you’ll need to weigh about which school is the right fit for your family.

Many communities will have multiple private schools from which to choose, making the choice harder than you’d prefer. It goes without saying that you should research first the success rates of each school, as well as their particular values. These things alone could make or break your decision. But, all of those things being equal, here are some tips for determining the school which best fits your family’s needs.

Visit The Campus
They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but there are a lot of things you can learn about a school by spending time on its campus. You’ll first notice whether or not the campus is well-maintained, you may also notice whether the students are happy and well-behaved, whether there is adequate space for children to play outside or any number of other things about the campus itself.

Meet Faculty And Staff
You can tell a lot about a business of any kind based upon the people who work there. Your child will enjoy a school as much as the teachers and staff members enjoy being there. Take some time to speak directly with the teachers and staff members who will be part of your child’s everyday academic experience.

Poll Your Community
This important decision doesn’t need to be made in a vacuum. Ask around to other parents who have walked this same road and worked to make this same decision. Venues like social media are an excellent way to get opinions from a wide swath of people. But there are no more valuable opinions than those from people who know you and those who can relate to your values and point of view.

Weigh Your Priorities
Has your decision come down to a handful of options you like? This can make decision making tougher than usual. Make a list of your priorities and how each school lives up to each item on your list. And while you’re at it, add a cons column to your list to remind yourself of anything you don’t like about a school. The more factors you consider, and the more volume of information you have at hand, the more likely you will be to make a decision that you feel good about.

Data shows us that students who attend private school are better prepared after graduation. And the fact that you’ve already decided to join a private school community is excellent. Now to determine where to go. All students and families are different, as are all private school communities. For more information about St. Barnabas and to see if our community is the right fit for your family, contact us today.