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Kindergarten tour prep

The Redwood City kindergarten registration period begins on February 1st at 9am. For the month of February, parents have the opportunity to sign up for any one of 13 kindergartens in the magnet system. The average median house price for Redwood City in 2006 was $767,500 with APIs (a California index of how good a school is) ranging from 643 to 887 out 1000. Not believing that people could pay that much money and not have a great school district apparently has not changed the situation for us. I'm sure the kindergarten search will be a learning process. Below is information about what to look for when visiting schools (modified from a GeoKids handout)...

  • School environment
    • Are the grounds and buildings appealing?
    • What are the facilities like? Multi-use rooms, libraries, studios, lunch room, recess area?
    • What is the playground like? Is there an area to run? Is there grass? Does the equipment look interesting?
    • Do the younger children have their own play space?
  • Classroom environment
    • How is the classroom organized?
    • What is the availability of the materials?
    • Does the room look like a place for children? Are there any animals or plants?
    • What is on the walls? Is the artwork all the same or can kids express themselves in different ways?
    • What is the class size and adult/child ratio?
  • Emotional Climate
    • Do the children appear engaged and happy?
    • Does the teacher appear to be approachable and involved?
    • How are conflicts handled? What about social development?
  • Curriculum
    • Do children appear to be learning in an interactive or passive mode?
    • How do the classrooms handle the different paces and modes by which children learn?
    • What do children do if they finish an assignment early?
    • How is progress measured?
    • If there is a special focus of the school, how is that focus implemented?
    • Does the curriculum involve music, art, physical education, gardening, field trips, etc.?
  • After school care (if needed)
    • Is there after school care on site? Nearby? Or is there a program that will pick up your child?
    • What is the adult/child ratio and how does it change throughout the day?
    • See the guideline above to examine the after school care too.
    • Are social skills taught? Is their academic enrichment? Enough play time? Space to be by oneself?