Moving to a new area is always a challenge, but relocating when you have kids can be downright complicated. As a parent, you no doubt want to enroll your children in a great school where they’ll be safe and receive a solid education. So that means you must factor local school systems into your choice of potential location destinations.
But if you’re unfamiliar with the new cities you’re considering, choosing the best new school for your kids can be tricky. At Ace Moving & Warehousing, we know how important it is that you find a safe, supportive, and nurturing educational institution for your children, whether they’re young or nearing young adulthood.
Below, we’ve put together a collection of resources and tips to help you find a great new school for your kids when you move.
Make a List of Your Child’s Needs
Every student has strengths and weaknesses and so does every school. That’s why, before you start looking at schools in new areas, you should make a list of what your child needs. Are there any non-negotiable school traits that your child must have? What about wish-list traits? Write them all down and base your selection of potential schools on that list.
Here are a few school traits you may want to think about:
- Programs for children with special needs
- Programs for gifted students
- Advanced placement education tracks that can allow your child to earn college credits in high school
- Extracurricular activities, including sports, theatre, social clubs, academic clubs, etc.
- Specialized curriculums focused on college prep or technical skills
- Hands-on vs. lecture-driven teaching styles
Make a List of Your Needs
Of course, you want your child to end up at a great school. But as a parent, you have needs too, and you can’t forget to consider them. So make a list of both your must-have and wishlist school traits.
For example, if you have a spouse and you both work full time, perhaps you could benefit from a school that offers an aftercare program. Or, if your household practices a non-traditional parenting style — such as having a stay-at-home Dad — you may want to choose a school in a more open-minded community. If you like to volunteer in your child(ren)’s classrooms or enjoy participating in PTAs, look for schools that offer those kinds of opportunities.
You’ll also want to think about the most ideal time of year for your family to move. If you’re choosing your move date — meaning your employer or the military isn’t choosing it for you because you’re making a transfer — certain seasons, times of the month, and even days of the week are better for scheduling a move.
Use Online Resources to Research Schools
Whether you don’t have any schools in mind or you’ve already narrowed down your choices, the internet is a great tool for learning about the schools in a potential new area. Here are some excellent resources you can use to gather more information about local schools:
- GreatSchools. This national non-profit organization provides information on school programs, test scores, principal leadership, school rankings, teacher reviews, and parental involvement.
- National Center for Education. If you want to enroll your kids in a private school, you can search for schools with specific characteristics using this database.
- The National Center for Education Statistics. This federal organization has tools that allow you to search for both public and private institutions and review their data.
- SchoolDigger. This resource allows you to search for schools by state and review each institution’s ranking, test scores, student-teach ratios, ethnic information, and other useful metrics.
As you do your research, keep in mind that making the transition to a new school may be difficult and emotionally challenging for your children. Check out How to Help Your Child Adjust to Moving for a few helpful tips on making that transition a bit easier.
Make In-Person Visits
If you can, try to visit each school you’re considering before you move. Of course, this isn’t always possible, especially if you’re making a long-distance move with kids in tow. However, you may be able to set up Zoom calls with administrators or teachers to get a better feel for each institution.
If you’re looking at private institutions, be sure to ask about entrance requirements, too. Some private schools require pre-entry testing or may ask that your children meet certain criteria for admission.
As you begin to prepare for your move, you’ll also want to break the news to your kids as early as possible so they have time to adjust to the idea. Check out our top tips for planning and executing a relocation with kids for ideas on making your upcoming move easier.
Contact Ace Moving & Warehousing for Reliable Moving Services in Rochester
Whether you’re planning a move somewhere within Minnesota or contemplating a long-distance move to a new state, our team at Ace Moving & Warehousing is here for you. Since 1970, we’ve proudly provided a variety of professional moving services in Rochester and have facilitated thousands of relocations over the last 30+ years. From secure storage solutions and full packing services to custom move plans and custom crating services, whatever you need to make your move simpler, we’re ready to help.
To get a preliminary moving estimate or learn more about what we offer, feel free to call us today at 507-288-3341 or request a quote online, and we’ll get in touch promptly.