How to Find the Right Las Vegas Schools

Since the Clark County School District of Las Vegas is the fifth largest school district in the nation, finding an elementary school that works well for your child may take a little more leg work. When you stop and think about it, school isn’t just a place to send your kids during the day. Not only are they learning valuable social skills, but the foundation of their entire education starts in elementary school. What they learn here and how they perform influences their skills and act as principle building blocks in middle, high school and maybe college.  If you are the type of parent who is not content with just sending your child off to any school nearby, there are some qualities and characteristics of Las Vegas schools that you should research to help with your decisions and give you peace of mind.

First off, be prepared to take tours of a few Las Vegas schools you have in mind. Doing research on the internet is very valuable but the ultimate deciding factor should be what you observe, feel, and think about a school when you are on the premises among the teachers, administration, and other students.

Class Size in Las Vegas Schools

Think about whether you child would flourish in a smaller class environment or feel more comfortable and receptive in a larger classroom with more students. Often times, smaller classroom sizes mean more individual attention and more opportunities to participate. It may be easier for teachers to manage the group and really focus on the dynamics of the smaller group,. Class size shouldn’t be the make or break decision maker but it is certainly worth noting. Also, speak to the teachers, even insist on sitting in on a few lessons, and get a sense of the turnover rate of teachers. If new teachers are always coming and going, that could be a sign of poor administration or disorganization of the school in general if they can’t keep teachers on board.

Safety and Resources

Look at the infrastructure, including quality and condition of the classrooms, bathrooms, playground, and other places you child will be in. Do you have any reason to be concerned about your child’s safety? What kinds of security does the school have in place and do they have organized procedures in case of emergency situations? Also, especially for public schools, observe whether the children have adequate resources such as books, desks, and other learning materials. You can tell how the school prioritizes its often limited budget by the quality of learning materials. Don’t just let pretty or high tech aesthetics sell you on a school, the most important factor is how the materials contribute to education. A serious lack of learning materials can certainly impede and interfere with a child’s quality of education.

Values and Philosophy

Arguably the most important factors are the educational values, philosophies, strengths, and goals of a school. Try to figure out what the schools and teachers value in their curriculums and what their teaching philosophies are. Do they encourage children to be forward thinkers and foster leadership? Is there too much emphasis on high test scores and not enough of everything else? Certain schools may have greater emphasis on different fields. Some Las Vegas schools may value technology over art and creative thinking.  Perhaps certain Las Vegas schools put more emphasis on science than the arts.

Awards, distinctions, and accolades are certainly noteworthy but don’t let that be how you judge a school entirely. All the small daily interactions and details of a school are just as important because the awards of a school won’t guarantee your child the best experience.