As a parent, you have a unique responsibility, and you face extremely difficult challenges. Helping your child effectively navigate the teen years demands the best educational partner, a school where students feel recognized and valued, a school with a very real expectation that students will prepare themselves to be effective learners and active community members who have a conscience and a purpose.
 
You have the opportunity to choose a school whose philosophy, values and approach to teaching are right for your child. Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make in terms of setting the proper path and direction for life. How can you find a high-quality school? Several factors influence excellence regardless of whether the school is public or private. Here are a dozen questions to ask yourself about your student’s current or prospective high school:

• Are students at the heart of everything the school does?
• Are teachers available to students at any time?
• Does the school trust its students or are there innumerable rules?
• Is the school willing and eager to involve parents?
• How often does the school communicate with the family?
• Do the students seem productive, engaged and happy?
• Is there a low student-to-teacher ratio?
• Do the students feel challenged by the opportunities presented at the school?
• How do the teachers interact with their students?
• Can you observe classes at any time?
• Is the faculty dedicated to stimulating minds and embracing ideas?
• Does the school feel like a community?
• Are academics challenging?
• Is college counseling effective?
• How does the school support achievement?

At University, there is an incredible sense of community. We truly feel like we are a family -- a big, loud and caring family!
        Amelia M, Class of 2008
 

The atmosphere is just different here. Some of the key differences between University High School and my daughter’s former school are:

• 500 kids at a time in a noisy, crowded, pressed-for-time lunchroom versus the ability to choose to eat lunch inside or outside, play ball in the gym or meet with a teacher.
• Sitting at a table in a cafeteria with a hundred other students while a monitor walks up and down the aisles to make sure no one is sleeping during study hall versus sitting in a comfortable chair with music from your CD player while you work on assignments.
• Crowded hallways with just enough time to get to your class as long as you do not need to use the restroom or get to your locker versus a smaller campus without bells.
• Channel One versus community time each day to meet face-to-face with staff and administrators.
• A large building with many interior rooms versus a facility where all the classrooms have windows and students have time outside every day.

        Anonymous