As social distancing spreads around the country, families interested in finding a new school for their child are now realizing that they may have to apply to a school without being able to tour the facilities or meet with the admission team face to face. While you might think it’s challenging to select the right environment for your child without being able to see it, there are several ways that you can get to know the school better, even though you can’t observe a class in session.
Here’s how:
Go beyond the obvious when reading the website
Typically, families looking for a new school go right to the main admissions page, and an academic program page. But that just scratches the surface of what many schools offer on their sites. Some other pages that you might want to explore include:
Why Our School? This page will tell you what makes a school unique. Look for the language here to give you a sense of the culture of learning at the school. If the school has a specific focus or serves a particular population, you’ll also want to check out pages like “Why a Boys’ School?” or “Why a Christian School?”
Community or Parents pages Even though you are looking for the school that best fits your child, it’s also important that you feel comfortable with the other parents there. Community or Parents pages will tell you about the ways that parents can get involved in the community, and what’s expected of them in that regard.
News and Blogs Many schools feature news items on their website, and often, school leaders blog to share the school’s philosophy on a deeper level. At The Browning School, both the Head of School and Director of College Guidance blog frequently.
Utilize social media
Many schools have social media accounts that can give you a sneak peek inside their four walls. You’ll be able to read about student achievement, get a glimpse into the kinds of service projects students are doing and see pictures of athletic or academic performances. As schools have moved into the virtual space, following their social media sites will provide real insight into how schools have made that transition and how well they are able to reinforce student connections even in the online world.
Explore their virtual school presence
As schooling has moved online due to social distancing, many schools have made information that they published in response to COVID-19, as well as their plans for online learning, available on their websites. Not only does this allow for their own families to access this information more easily, but it also means that you can see what they are doing to meet their students’ and families’ needs even when they can’t be in school together. At The Browning School, our BrowningConnect web presence includes information about our online learning program, health and wellness ideas, book lists and a variety of cultural activities to keep kids busy and engaged, and resources for families from the Child Mind Institute and Common Sense Media, among other trusted sources.
Reach Out
When choosing a school, there’s still no replacement for the personal touch, so reach out to the admission staff to find out how you can connect to teachers, families, or students so that you can ask your questions and get a better sense of what the school is like. It’s very likely that they will be offering some version of an open house, virtual tours or other opportunities that you can access right from your home.