Evaluating Schools: The Big Picture

When evaluating a school, learn how they create a positive climate.

As described in Evaluating Schools: Develop an Action Plan, you can use a standard set of criteria to evaluate schools and determine if a school might be a good fit for your child. Once you’ve compiled a short list of schools in which you are interested, the next step is a more in-depth investigation to determine both where the school currently is in their strategic planning and where they see themselves going in the future.

The following research-based list of characteristics of successful schools can be used as broad guidelines to help you compare the success of the schools in which you are interested.

1. Vision – A dynamic vision engages and represents the school community, and it outlines a path for the school to follow.
   • Does the school have a strategic plan that sets goals and benchmarks? If so, how does the strategic plan guide decision making and program implementation?
   • How does the school evaluate teacher effectiveness and student performance, and how do they communicate this information?
   • Does the school embrace the dual mission of inculcating solid academic achievement with civic caring and responsibility in its students?
2. Leadership – Effective leadership is essential to any organization, and an effective educational leader focuses efforts on excellence.
   • In addition to principals or heads of school, are leadership roles assumed by a variety of people including teachers, parents, students and community leaders?
   • Do school leaders demonstrate respect and responsiveness to the school community?
   • Are school leaders held responsible for ensuring that the curriculum is relevant and that it challenges all students?
   • How do school leaders stay current on educational research and trends?
   • Do school leaders cultivate support for the school from not only the immediate school community, but from the community at large?
3. High Academic Standards – High academic standards clearly define expectations for all students and are the foundation for academic success.
   • Are academic standards clearly identified as to what students should know and be able to do across the curriculum?
   • What are the measurable performance indicators and benchmarks for students?
   • Does the curriculum emphasize conceptual understanding along with the application of knowledge, skills and processes?
   • Does the school communicate learning expectations to students and parents?
   • How does the school plan for and accommodate diverse learners?
   • What assessment strategies does the school use to determine student achievement?
4. Standards of the Heart – In a school, standards of the heart help children become caring, contributing, productive and responsible members of society.
   • How does the school teach and model values such as respect, honesty, courage and responsibility?
   • Does the school create a positive school climate with high expectations for student and staff behavior?
   • Does the school encourage students to positively address societal issues?
   • Are multicultural programs provided that engage all students?
5. Family and School Partnership – Schools that foster family and school participation recognize the important role that they play in helping children succeed in school and in life.
   • Does the school administration support family-school-community partnerships?
   • Is two-way communication between the home and the school the norm?
   • Are parents included in governance and decision making?
   • Does the school recognize that not all parents necessarily have experienced affirming and respectful relationships with schools and educators?
6. Professional Development – Professional development ensures that faculty and staff have the content, process, knowledge, skills, dispositions, and accountability to help all students achieve high standards.
   • What professional development is provided to faculty and staff? How is the professional development linked to the school’s vision and strategic plan, and how does it relate to improving student achievement?
   • Are professional development experiences research-based and relevant?
   • Does it help faculty members meet the needs of a diverse student population?
   • What accountability measures are included to measure effectiveness of professional development?
7. Evidence of Success – Successful schools gather and use a variety of information and data as a basis for identifying areas of both excellence and need, leading to the improvement of learning and teaching.
   • How does the school gather and use a variety of data to inform and improve learning and teaching?
   • Against what standards does the school evaluate their strengths and needs?
   • Is the data recent and relevant, and how does it relate to the schools’ goals and objectives?
   • Is the success of the school communicated in an easily understood way to the school community?

Selecting a private school is not a decision to be made lightly or quickly. After all, your family and the school will sustain a relationship over many years during an extremely formative time in your child’s life. You will want to select a school that is not only a good fit, but that is also successfully educating children and will continue to do so far into the future.

Links for More Information

WINSS (Wisconsin’s Information Network for Successful Schools) Guide
http://dpi.wi.gov/sig/