School Visit Checklist

Preparing for a school visit is crucial for parents if they really want to ask the right questions and ensure the school is a good fit for their children. Chalksmart has talked with a number of admissions officers, and below is a summary of what they recommend.

Before Your Visit

• Understand the school’s curriculum and philosophy – most information is available on the website or right here on Chalksmart.
• Write down specific questions that you want to ask, or print out from here
• Make sure to set up your appointment so the school knows that you are coming!

During Your Visit

• Look around – do the children seem happy and engaged?
• Be sure to observe a class in action.
• Remember – the admissions team may not be wholly representative of the school. It’s important to see the teachers and even talk to the principal.
• What do the facilities look like? Does it seem safe? Are the bathrooms and cafeteria clean?
• Who provides the food catering service?
• Check out the student work. Does it look age appropriate?
• Are the teachers energetic and experienced?

Questions to Ask

• Does this school have an educational philosophy or mission?
• What is the maximum class size?
• How are classes split up?
• What is the breakdown of nationalities in the average class?
• How does the school teach language, arts and music?
• How long do most students stay at the school? Why do they leave?
• What minimum and average qualifications do teachers have?
• What is the licensing of the school? Accreditation? When was it updated?
• What extracurricular activities are available?
• Where are the students from?

For Pre-K / Kindergarten / ECE students

• How are classes broken up and how many students are there in each class?
• Where are the teachers from?
• What does the school do to build character or reinforce positive values?
• How much outdoor time do kids get each day?

For Primary students

• What is the school’s approach to reading, math, science and social studies?
• What language classes are offered to students?
• How does the school prepare students for success in secondary?
• How often do children usually stay at the school?

For Secondary School students

• Does the school have a particular curriculum focus?
• If the school does IB, what are the average scores? Does every student take IB?
• If the school focuses on SAT or ACT, what are the average scores?
• Where do students go after they graduate? Do you have a list of acceptances.
• Is college counseling and support available?
• What extracurricular activities are popular? Sports?