Do you care about Division 1 high school football games? How about the quality and choice of cafeteria lunches? Have you considered your ideal teacher-to-student ratio? Does the school district have 3- or 4K programs and/or before and after school care?
There are pros and cons of both large and small schools, and I suggest you do a bit of research on them. Some kids will blossom in a smaller environment with lots of staff attention, while others thrive in large schools that have a wider variety of curricula, activities and peer group options. Whether large or small, a sign of a good school district is where parents are actively involved in the school community, and most students are achieving at a high level.
Speaking of community leads me to another thing you should pay attention to: What’s the neighborhood like when it comes to kids and families?Does the neighborhood where the prospective home is located seem bustling and kid-friendly, or is it peaceful and quiet?
In my own experience, I’m grateful we live in a neighborhood with lots of kids and other parents around to help keep an eye on mine. I feel connected to the community and school district, and we all rely on and support each other. That being said: My neighborhood is crazy! Fun, but crazy. As in I already have a migraine at 10 in the morning why are you kids always yelling crazy.
I love it and wouldn’t trade it for anyplace else – but you may prefer to live in a quieter place and just transport your child to hordes of yelling children as needed for stimulus. As with the questions above, it all comes down to knowing what you’re getting yourself into.
