Finding the Right School for your Child in Seattle
For home buyers with children, the quality of the public schools is an important consideration when choosing a place to live. For some families, the school system is more important than the neighborhood, the commute to work, or the physical structure of the home itself.
So, how do you find the best schools in Seattle and the surrounding communities? Research lots of it will be your best bet.
If academics are your number one priority, you might want to look at schools with good Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) test scores. The WASL measures achievement of academic standards in reading, writing, math, and other core subjects and will often point to the top schools in Seattle and beyond. Administered at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, the WASL scores for a particular district can help you determine which schools are leaders in preparing children for this test, which is based on problem solving in real world situations.
Parent involvement is another area to evaluate when looking for the best schools in Seattle. How involved are parents in classroom activities? What percent of the parents join the Parent Teacher Association (PTA)? What activities does the PTA promote throughout the school year? These are just some of the questions that will help you measure the community commitment to the area schools and it will also help you measure how much involvement you will be expected to have in your child's school environment.
Assessing the teachers is also worth your research time. Good teachers balance kindness with discipline and honor the individual personalities of the children. They support independent work, but are also available for questions. They promote problem solving and teach conflict resolution.
As you narrow down your school choices, take advantage of opportunities to visit classrooms and observe teachers in action. Are you made to feel welcome as a visitor? Is the class structure organized? Is the curriculum interesting and engaging? These are methods of measuring your child's success in the teaching environment and will also help you discover the best schools in Seattle.
Many Internet resources are available to help you refine your search for the top schools in Seattle. The Seattle Times' Web site offers a School Guide reported to be the most comprehensive report available on public and private elementary schools, middle schools, junior highs and high schools in the greater Seattle area. In addition to school profiles, test scores, and other vital information, it also provides useful resources like a schools evaluation checklist.
Your Seattle real estate agent can also provide insight on the top schools in Seattle and steer you in the right direction based on your child's particular needs. Sports, special needs, the arts, college prep courses, or specific honors programs are some factors that your Seattle realtor might be able to shed light on.
Even if you don't have children, the importance of good public schools should be emphasized. Good schools create a strong sense of community, which can help protect your home's resale value.
