{"id":889,"date":"2015-07-02T05:10:48","date_gmt":"2015-07-02T05:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stylemixthemes.com\/masterstudy\/demo\/?page_id=889"},"modified":"2020-03-17T20:26:27","modified_gmt":"2020-03-17T20:26:27","slug":"good-school","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/memphisschoolguide.org\/en\/good-school\/","title":{"rendered":"What makes a good school?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1435816078010{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”1576″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”zoom” css_animation=”flipInX” css=”.vc_custom_1582766933517{margin-top: 16px !important;margin-bottom: 88px !important;}”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Trick question!” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23307ad5″ google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css_animation=”zoomInLeft” css=”.vc_custom_1582766416189{margin-top: -8px !important;margin-bottom: 29px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1582766154302{margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no one school that\u2019s going to be \u201cgood\u201d for every student or family. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to make an active choice based on whether a school is high quality, and also whether it is a good fit for your child and family. Start your school research here on Memphis School Guide, saving your favorites as you go. But once you have a short list, it\u2019s time to pay them a visit. We\u2019ll tell you what to look for below.<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”What makes a school high quality?” shape=”square” size=”sm” align=”left” i_align=”right” i_icon_fontawesome=”fas fa-angle-right” button_block=”true” add_icon=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1582786285524{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fmemphisschoolguide.org%2Fgood-school%2F%23highquality|||”][vc_btn title=”How do I find a good fit for my child and family?” shape=”square” size=”sm” align=”left” i_align=”right” i_icon_fontawesome=”fas fa-angle-right” button_block=”true” add_icon=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1582786300720{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fmemphisschoolguide.org%2Fgood-school%2F%23bestfit|||”][vc_btn title=”Pay them a visit” shape=”square” size=”sm” align=”left” i_align=”right” i_icon_fontawesome=”fas fa-angle-right” button_block=”true” add_icon=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1582786311029{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fmemphisschoolguide.org%2Fgood-school%2F%23visit|||”][vc_btn title=”Extra Credit” shape=”square” size=”sm” align=”left” i_align=”right” i_icon_fontawesome=”fas fa-angle-right” button_block=”true” add_icon=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1582786320335{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fmemphisschoolguide.org%2Fgood-school%2F%23extra|||”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” gap=”30″ content_placement=”top” css=”.vc_custom_1582785948501{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f0f0f0 !important;}” el_id=”highquality”][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”What makes a school high quality?” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23307ad5″ google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css_animation=”zoomInLeft” css=”.vc_custom_1582767115232{margin-top: -8px !important;margin-bottom: 29px !important;}”][vc_tta_accordion shape=”square” active_section=”0″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”High expectations for all students” tab_id=”1582767191867-7f3dddd7-8384″][vc_column_text]Students of similar ages may learn at different levels and rates, but a school should expect that all students are working at least at grade level and encouraged to go beyond. Those who are ready should be encouraged to move ahead.<\/p>\n

Look for:<\/strong><\/i>\u00a0Ask how they adjust teaching for students at different levels. Then ask to see\u00a0examples of it happening in classrooms. Does the school make excuses about students performing below grade level, or talk about what it\u2019s doing to get them there?[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Focus on effective learning” tab_id=”1582767191896-02bf8516-d531″][vc_column_text]Cool technology, trendy themes and fancy performance halls are great, but the rubber really meets the road in the classroom when teacher-student interactions are resulting in real learning in core subjects.<\/p>\n

Look for<\/strong><\/i>: Wherever you go in the school, you should see students and teachers actively engaged in teaching and learning. Students should look interested and focused. Teachers should be able to explain why they do what they do, and how they know it works. If they say they\u2019re doing something because it\u2019s \u201crequired,\u201d consider that a red flag.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Strong home-school connection” tab_id=”1582767257433-facb6973-5051″][vc_column_text]A school should value you, the child\u2019s parent or guardian, as a crucial part of the learning team. They should tell you what your student is learning, how they\u2019re progressing, and how you can help at home.<\/p>\n

Look for<\/strong><\/i>: Request samples of parent communications, like newsletters or websites, and ask how frequently they go home or are updated. Do these provide info about what students are learning? Schools should provide a variety of ways to communicate with teachers, such as notes, phone calls, emails, conferences, or conversations at pick-up\/drop-off. Ask other parents with kids at that school if the school\u2019s leaders and teachers are responsive to questions and concerns. School-wide events like performances or festivals are fun and can build community, but shouldn\u2019t replace pointed communication about what your student is learning.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Strong school leadership” tab_id=”1582767293919-fd51dead-41cc”][vc_column_text]A school\u2019s leader, whether they go by the name principal, headmaster or Big Cheese, is the foundation of any great school. Without one, even a school that\u2019s doing some things right won\u2019t hit on all cylinders.<\/p>\n

Look for<\/strong><\/i>: Talk to the principal and get your own sense of what they\/re like. But also ask parents who have kids at the school whether there\u2019s a lot of teacher turnover, or if there\u2019s a lot of inconsistency in quality of teaching from classroom to classroom. Either could signal trouble at the top.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Test scores” tab_id=”1582767324354-2829f8e2-bed7″][vc_column_text]All public school students in grades 3-12 in Tennessee take the same standardized test, the TNReady, as part of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP). <\/span>For more information on TNReady and standardized testing, visit the state\u2019s <\/span>website<\/a>.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1582770985667{margin-top: 50px !important;padding-top: 50px !important;background-color: #2c3d50 !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”1577″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css_animation=”flipInY” link=”https:\/\/pickyparent.com\/” css=”.vc_custom_1582768601667{margin-top: -90px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1582767826783{padding-right: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

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Much of the content on\u00a0this page is adapted from the\u00a0Picky Parent Guide<\/a>, which you can download free at their website. Thanks to the authors, Bryan and Emily Ayscue Hassel for letting us share their great ideas with Memphis parents!<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_id=”bestfit”][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”1578″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” css_animation=”slideInLeft”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”How do I find a good fit for my child and family?” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23307ad5″ google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css_animation=”zoomInLeft” css=”.vc_custom_1582768006930{margin-top: -8px !important;margin-bottom: 29px !important;}”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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There are lots of different types of schools locally. Any of them can be a good fit for your child and family, so you don\u2019t need to lock yourself into just looking at one type. You do want to think about how well different schools fit\u00a0your<\/em>\u00a0child\u2019s and\u00a0your<\/em> family\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion shape=”square” active_section=”0″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”What they learn” tab_id=”1582768180011-7df37737-8f4b”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

What do you want a school to teach your child, and at what level?<\/h4>\n