So, what do you do to get the best education you can afford for your children?

test scoresPublic information:

The Department of Education publishes district profiles. To open a report card, write the town or district into the box for โ€œSearch for your Report Card.โ€ Then use the hyperlinks below that to see the information. Within this data, you will find information about not only test scores, but stats on the qualifications of the teachers, socio-economic data about the students.

 

Many, but not all, school districts keep a web page for their school data. Check for one in the towns you are considering. Do a web search for the term โ€œschool report card.โ€schoolhouse

How to use:

The raw test scores will be higher in those higher-priced school districts. Thatโ€™s just the way it is. The public information gives a picture of who the students are, and how they are learning.

Local opinion-makers:

Boston Magazine publishes an annual list of the best schools in the region. Your job is to find the balance between excellence and expense. This list drives perception significantly in our area.

Virtual communities:

Many towns have list-servs (email groups), Facebook pages, and Google groups for parents in the towns in this area. Some towns are more active than others. Find the parentโ€™s list, like this one; I found it by a simple web search on โ€œarlington parents list ma.โ€ Ask pointed questions; get answers.

Like any other virtual community experience, this takes some time. Just like there is always one awful review at Trip Advisor, there will be one miserable parent. You need to ask good questions and you also have to read past the responderโ€™s agenda. You will find the trends, positive and negative, in each town.

Data aggregators:

Niche collect public, plus parent and student opinion information.

Public School Review collects public information and tracks safety issues in schools. Their blog focuses on safety and good parenting.

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Discernment, what is important?

Like any other parenting decision, the best school for your child may be the most academic, goal-oriented, high test-scoring high school. Or it may not be. The size of the schools, the number of children in the class, the extra-curricular activities available, may affect your child more than the number of AP offerings in the high school.