草榴社区

Checklist For Comparing Schools

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Checklist For Comparing Schools
Use this checklist to help you compare schools on your short list.

Use this checklist to keep track of your questions and answers to those questions as you visit each school on your short list. There is a lot of information to assimilate as you make those important visits. It will be easy to forget details unless you note them promptly.

School Demographics

  • Day or boarding
  • Coed or single sex
  • Number of students
  • Number of boarders
  • Number of day students
  • How diverse is the student body?
  • Number of faculty
  • Student-to-faculty ratio

Administration and Faculty

  • Administration and Faculty
  • How long has the headmaster/principal been in office?
  • How large is the endowment?
  • The financial condition of school (Excellent to marginal)
  • Number of faculty with advanced degrees
  • Staff turnover (If turnover, why?)

Curriculum and Instruction

  • Curriculum and Instruction
  • IB offered?
  • Number of AP courses
  • Teaching methods (Harkness, classical, etc.)
  • Is technology integrated into teaching?

Religious Emphasis

  • Which denomination or faith?
  • Intensity of observances (relaxed to mandatory)

Campus and Facilities

  • General Appearance
  • Athletics facilities
  • Sports programs
  • Arts facilities
  • Arts programs
  • Security and safety

Location

  • Urban? Rural?
  • Convenient? Isolated?

Admissions

  • Deadline
  • Is staff helpful?
  • Policies and procedures
  • Shadowing permitted?
  • Overnights?
  • Quality of visit and tour

Financial

  • Tuition Fees
  • Sundries
  • Financial aid offered

Notes

Questions? Contact us on Facebook. @privateschoolreview

Additional Resources [+]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of using the checklist for comparing schools?
The checklist helps keep track of questions and answers during school visits to avoid forgetting important details.
How can the checklist assist parents visiting multiple public schools?
It provides a structured way to note school demographics, curriculum, campus facilities, and admissions information for each school.
Does the checklist include information about student鈥搕o鈥揻aculty ratios?
Yes, it prompts users to record the student鈥搕o鈥揻aculty ratio at each school visited.
Are tuition fees and financial aid details part of the school comparison checklist?
Yes, the checklist includes sections to note tuition fees and whether financial aid is offered.
Can parents track staff qualifications using this school comparison checklist?
Yes, the checklist asks for the number of faculty with advanced degrees at each school.

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