As we approach the holiday season, we wanted to thank you all for working together with us in the education field. Whether you are a client or a school professional, we appreciate
your collaboration and teamwork in determining a student's educational future. We hope this newsletter provides some insight into why we spend so much time and energy in working with you to select a school that is a good fit for our clients. We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
-Leigh Ann, Cathy, Mary, Catherine, and Lena
|
SSAT Test Dates:
Friday,
December 2
Thursday, December 8
Wednesday, December 14
Saturday, December 17
Tuesday,
December 20
Thursday,
January 5
|
December 5, 2016
6:30-8:00 pm
Formed Families Families Office
4031 University Dr.
Fairfax, VA 22030
|
|
|
| Do you ever wonder what criteria we use to develop school lists? We complete a thorough evaluation of schools before any school is referred to our clients. There are a variety of factors we consider to ensure (to the best of our ability) a school is a positive and safe place that meets the needs of our individual students. In this newsletter, you will learn how we assess schools in the DC metro area. |
|
Burgundy Farm Country Day School
|
|
Criteria for Evaluating Schools
|
School Visits
- Visiting schools give us the opportunity to have conversations with the admissions team, school leadership, faculty and students.
- Typically visits occur every 2-3 years, so we can continue learning about new opportunities that schools offer.
- During visits, we observe the physical environment and student engagement along with academic, arts and athletic programs.
- Most importantly, we're looking at the "whole picture" of each school and how it might fit with the criteria of our different students.
Previous client feedback
- Throughout the course of the school year, we check in with previous clients to find out how the school year is going.
- This gives us an opportunity to learn more about the school from a current parent and student perspective.
Websites
- A school's website provides a first impression to consultants and families.
- We evaluate the school's mission and philosophy along with current news and recent changes at the school. This includes employment openings, capital campaigns, construction updates and other happenings at the school.
- The website also provides quick facts about the school that help us determine if it meets the needs of our clients.
Student observations
- Family and student observations are vital in selecting a school that is a good fit.
- Just walking through the door can provide an immediate feel for a school and we ask families to trust their instincts.
- We value feedback from parent and student observations, so we can work together with school teams to determine whether or not it will meet our individual client's needs.
Blogs and Forums
- We regularly check blogs and forums to read school posts but are very cautious about any reviews on various school review websites.
Job Boards
- We can learn a lot about a school based on the job postings.
- For example, is there a high rate of staff turnover? What skills and education level are required of teachers and administration?
- We follow up with schools to learn more about new hires and leadership changes.
|
|
|
