| Are you moving to Houston Texas and wondering | | | | charter and other schools both inside and outside of |
| about the quality of its' educational system? If so, then | | | | the district. |
| this article is going to help you know what to look for | | | | Two options that are often confusing to families are |
| while choosing a school and it will identify the top rated | | | | the charter and magnet schools. A charter school, just |
| schools in Houston. | | | | for your information, is a public school that has been |
| The fact that you want to know about the caliber of | | | | exempted from the typical public school regulations. |
| schools in Houston, in order to determine where you | | | | They have a charter agreement with the school board |
| want to live, is a significant indicator of your | | | | and enrollment is voluntary meaning - it is not bound by |
| commitment to your child and to her education. | | | | school district neighborhood school lines. A magnet |
| Research has shown than families who care about | | | | school is also another option that a public school district |
| the choice of schools are also the same families who | | | | can offer to residents of the school district. Most often |
| will get involved in their child's education thus promoting | | | | magnet schools focus on a specific area of learning |
| a better outcome for their child and the community at | | | | such as math, science, art, music. They often have |
| large. | | | | different structures such as mixed age groupings and |
| Houston is a huge school district. There are 739 | | | | run on a 12 month cycle. Just as the charter school, |
| Elementary Schools, 319 Middle Schools, and 211 High | | | | magnet schools must accept students regardless of |
| Schools. There are 332 Private Schools. So, the | | | | their district affiliation. |
| question is - how do you start the process of | | | | Many times the openings for both of these types of |
| discovering what schools in Houston are the best for | | | | schools are limited and families may be placed on a |
| you and your child(ren)? | | | | waiting list. Families may want to investigate private |
| The first place to start is to identify what you want | | | | education opportunities in the area they are considering |
| your child's education to be like. It is important to take | | | | living as well as perhaps home schooling networks. |
| your child's own personal likes and dislikes, talents, | | | | You will be able to compare schools with one another |
| abilities and disabilities (if appropriate) into consideration | | | | and this should help you narrow down your choices. |
| when defining what you want. Consider the answer to | | | | When you have selected a few schools to investigate |
| these questions as you determine the size of school | | | | a bit further, look on their website to see if there is a |
| you want your child to attend, the size of class, the | | | | section for parent reviews. This is a good way to get |
| focus of the school etc. | | | | a feel for what the parents feel about the school and |
| When you have a sense of what is important to you, | | | | their sense of trust. |
| check out the neighborhood school to see if it fits the | | | | The last step of this process is to visit the schools you |
| description of what you want. If you are not sure what | | | | have decided meet your criteria. If it meets the criteria |
| school is in the neighborhood you are considering | | | | you have been looking for, then you know that you |
| moving into, contact the administration office of the | | | | can look for housing in the community. If you can not |
| school district covering the neighborhood. When you | | | | find a good match in one community, go through the |
| call the administration office, you might also ask them | | | | same process until you find a community and school |
| about their policies for students attending magnet, | | | | district that fit. |