June 1, 2021 | Buying

Are you planning a move with the family—and deciding on your ideal neighbourhood? If you’re like most parents, one of your biggest priorities will be the quality of local schools. Of course, it can be hard to assess and separate one learning environment and another. What you need is a criterion based on some of the best local information available.

If you’re choosing the right school for your child, here are a few things to think about…

Consider your kid’s needs

Before you start thinking about top-ranked schools, ask yourself what your child really needs. Would they benefit from smaller class sizes and hands-on attention? Do they thrive in more creative, less-structured spaces, or do they do well in more traditional learning environments? Do they have a learning disability?

The point is, put a little thought into whether the best schools in a given area is the best school for your child.

Visit local school websites

You can learn a lot online. Like which sports teams a school has, and whether it’s home to clubs devoted to the environment, computer literacy, and music. You can discover its motto, its values, and see its upcoming events. Does the school have religious affiliations, and how do you feel about that?

You can also see how often the website is updated. A well-tended online space is often a result of a caring staff (though, of course, there may be reasons why a school site isn’t very active). Based on what you learn from your research, start making a list.

Rankings From the Fraser Institute

Some parents are highly invested in the Fraser Institute school rankings. They’re considered the holy grail of school report cards. The Canadian organization states that it uses “objective, publicly available data such as average scores on province-wide tests.”

Of course, these rankings have their limitations. For example, you won’t find every school in the rankings—many get left out due to unavailable data. It’s also unwise to base your decision on just one source, even if it is a trustworthy one. That said, these numbers can be helpful pieces of the puzzle if your potential schools are included.

Look at the EQAO scores

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) carries out assessments of students in Ontario schools at key points during their academic growth. This includes during grades 3, 6, and 9. The tests are designed to reveal reading, writing, and math skills, and they’re administered across the province.

If you view the results for a particular school, it’s easy to determine whether or not the majority of students in a certain grade are at and above the provincial level or not. If they are, it bodes well for the school—and you may want to include it in your search.

Try to plan an in-person visit

Everything is a little tricker during a pandemic. But as we return to normal, so too will the ways we interact with school staff. Whether you’re able to do it now with precautions in place or you have to wait a little while, most schools will be happy to have you perform an onsite visit.

The truth is, it’s really hard to get a sense of a learning institution if you can’t see how the teachers interact with the students. From the dedication of staff to the types of activities available in the classroom, you should quickly get a sense of the type of school you’re touring—and whether your little one will be a good fit!

Ready to buy a home in the right school district? Get in touch to learn how we can help you find your perfect place!