| If you have made the decision to enrol your child in a | | | | educational philosophy and values are in line with your |
| Toronto private school, you have taken a step | | | | goals as a family. You are not going to change the |
| towards providing your child with the best possible | | | | values of a school just because your children are |
| education. The next step is to choose the right | | | | enrolled there, so choose a school that is a good fit. |
| Toronto school, and you have many preparatory | | | | Visit the Campus |
| schools to consider. Remember to keep an open mind | | | | On paper a school may seem perfect, but you may |
| while you visit and consider your child's unique needs | | | | visit only to find that it has outdated technology or an |
| as you make the decision. | | | | unfriendly staff. Before you choose a school to enroll |
| Do Not Focus on Rankings | | | | your children in, schedule a visit. If you can, take your |
| You can find publications that rank Toronto private | | | | children with you and participate in at least part of a |
| schools, but do not focus too strongly on these | | | | normal school day. This will give you a feel for the |
| rankings. Remember, regardless of the school you | | | | way the staff members interact with each other and |
| choose, research has shown that the fact that you | | | | with the students. It will also help you see what type of |
| choose to put your child in a private school is, in and of | | | | educational activities are performed, and your child will |
| itself, enough to help him have better test scores upon | | | | be able to see the environment and give you any input |
| graduation. Consider these rankings, but do not make | | | | as to her impressions of the school and the kids. |
| your decision based entirely on which school has the | | | | Consider the Extra-Curriculars |
| best test scores. Remember, your child is a unique | | | | Large preparatory schools tend to have all of the |
| individual, and the environment that works best for the | | | | extra-curricular activities that a public school might |
| majority of students may not work best for your child. | | | | have, and sometimes even more, but smaller private |
| Consider Your Child's Learning Strengths and | | | | schools may have a limited number of choices. If band |
| Weaknesses | | | | is important to you, make sure the school you are |
| Does your child learn well through visuals, or is he one | | | | considering has this option. For some families a foreign |
| that needs to touch and feel objects to learn about | | | | language component is important, but the number of |
| them? If you have your child in preschool, ask his | | | | languages you can choose from may be limited if you |
| teachers about his apparent learning style. If not, you | | | | enroll your children in a small Toronto independent |
| have probably already learned the best ways to teach | | | | school. If you want your children involved in sports, find |
| your child. Choose a school that will work with your | | | | a school with a nice variety. However, if sports are not |
| child's learning strengths. A visual learner will not do well | | | | important to your family, make sure the school does |
| in a school that learns almost entirely through written | | | | not have a compulsory sports program. |
| projects, but an auditory learner will not do as well in a | | | | Remember, choosing a private school represents a |
| project-based learning environment. | | | | significant financial investment, so make the decision |
| Consider the Philosophy You Want | | | | after careful thought and research. Toronto has many |
| Whether or not you choose a religious education for | | | | private schools for your consideration, so take your |
| your child, each Toronto prep school has its own | | | | time. Soon you will find the school that is the perfect fit |
| philosophy about education and values. As you visit | | | | for your child's needs. |
| schools and look at curriculums, make sure the | | | | |