When considering the investment of sending your child to a private or Christian school, you want to know that your child is going to fit in at the school. There are general principles that might make private education or Christian education the right move for your family, but your child is not going to "a school in general" they are going to a particular school with particular students, teachers, rules, and curriculum. The right investment can turn into the wrong move if you pick the wrong school for your children. Here are a few things that all parents can do in order to better insure that their child will a great fit at the school that they choose.

1. Shadow for a day.

This won't tell you everything, but it will give you some idea of the children, the teachers, and the culture of a school. Note, shadowing does not answer all of your questions, but it can help you ask great questions when you interact with the school's admissions coordinator or administration. If you child has a great experience, ask yourself: "Why?" Did they love learning from the teachers? Did they love their interaction with the other students? Did the school place them with a helpful friend for the day?

Note, a bad shadowing experience might not mean that you have found the wrong school. It might mean that something came up that caused your child to feel uncomfortable. Your child might have seen a math lesson that he or she did not understand and be worried about the academic challenges of the school. In that case, you might want to ask the admissions coordinator about the school's tutoring program for new students. The principle is this: shadowing can yield great questions!

2. Make one phone call and invest in two cups of coffee.

Ask the admissions coordinator if you can meet with a mother or father of a current student for a cup of coffee. This interaction might cost you a few dollars, but it will be a great way to get the inside scoop on the school. Ask this parent some balanced questions: What are the school's strengths? What are it's weaknesses? How have teachers and administration reacted when the parent had an issue or a concern? Listen much more than you talk. 

3. Come to an event! 

Ask the admissions coordinator if you can attend an upcoming school event and get the aroma and feel of the school community. If you fit, your child probably will too! Don't look for the outliers at these events (like a fussy child in the corner or a disobedient 3rd grade boy singing off key at a concert) focus on the feel of the entire event. Feel = culture. Interact with families are the welcoming and friendly? 

Again, these three actions won't answer all questions, but it might help you ask great questions that will help you know if you have found the right place!