Select a Catholic School

Select a Catholic School

Select a Catholic School : Multi-thousand tips to make your life easier.

If you want your child to grow up with a deep Catholic faith steeped in religious practice, then a Catholic education would be the right path to take. However, placing a child in this environment will require considerable research, comparison, and observation before a final decision is made. Therefore, consider these helpful suggestions when selecting a Catholic school for your child.

• Contact a Catholic church in your area. You can visit the parish priest and ask him for recommendations on the best Catholic schools in the area. Ask the parish priest for a recommendation or endorsement letter to bring with you when you visit the recommended schools. Also, ask your parish priest which school he thinks would be best for your child based on your child's age.
• Make inquiries with the Catholic Diocese in your area. If you want to broaden your search for a Catholic school, the diocese in your area is the place to go. You might discover that the diocese actually runs a school for children. This can dramatically narrow your search immediately.
• Ask about tuition and extracurricular fees. Get to the heart of the matter by asking how much it will cost for your child to attend a Catholic school. Compare the numbers with those of other Catholic schools in your area, but be cautious about choosing the lowest tuition. Tuition cost should never be your deciding factor. Check what the tuition covers by looking at the breakdown of costs.
• Conduct a visual inspection of the Catholic school. Walk around the school premises and check all student facilities, such as the cafeteria, restrooms, library, classrooms, and any other facilities the Catholic school offers. Ask questions as you go. Another thing you need to clarify is the safety of the children while they are at school. Naturally, the school needs to be clean, organized, and warmly inviting for the children.
• Check the curriculum. There should be an ideal balance of subject matter covering your child's spiritual, intellectual, creative, artistic, and physical needs. Furthermore, the Catholic school's curriculum must reflect your values as a Catholic family.
• Consider the qualifications of the teachers. The main reason Catholic schools and other private educational institutions often fare better than public schools is the caliber of education. Proof of this is the educational attainment and professional expertise of the teachers. Review the roster of teachers at the Catholic school you are considering and see whether they have an impressive team that will educate your child in the best way possible.
• Sit in on a class that is in session. Another aspect of the selection process you must not miss is observing a class in session. Observe how the children interact with one another and with their teacher. Observe the teacher's teaching style. Take notes and make sure you are able to ask questions freely after the class has been dismissed.
• Request a compiled year-on-year report on school competitiveness. Look at how the school and its students perform in national testing and achievement tests conducted by the local school board. Are the students active participants in local, national, or regional competitions? You need to cover these points during the selection process as well.
• Check the waiting list. When you find the right school, you'll know it! The list of parents who want to enroll their child in the school is a major indication that this Catholic school is worth waiting for.

The perfect time to start making inquiries is as early as when your child turns four. A good-quality education is available in a Catholic school setting. This is a good decision on your part as a parent.