01.

Ask any adult to name the teacher who most impacted their life, and they usually can in a heartbeat. 

A great teacher can completely shape and change a child’s schooling experience. Curriculum, facilities, and programs all matter, but the person standing in front of your child every day matters most. Look for teachers who are kind, organized, encouraging, and genuinely invested in their students. 

• How long have your teachers been here? What keeps them here? 
• How do teachers get to know each student personally
• What coaching and professional development do your teachers receive? 

02.

Every child learns differently. Some need to move, build, and touch. Some do their best thinking in small groups. Some are ready to move ahead, and some need extra time to feel solid. 

A strong school plans for all of that. Find out whether the school offers hands-on learning, small-group instruction, advanced coursework, intervention and extra support, and real opportunities for students to learn in more than one way. 

• What happens when a child is ahead?
• What happens when a child is behind?
• How are small groups and interventions structured used in your classrooms? 
• How will you communicate with me about my child’s progress?

03.

Data tells you something. It doesn’t tell you everything. 

Visit the school. Walk the hallways. Watch how students interact with their teachers, and how they treat one another when no adult is prompting them. Notice whether the adults seem glad to be there. A positive environment built on respect, communication, and kindness says more about a school than any data report could. 

• Are students being greeted by name?
• Do the classrooms feel warm, orderly, and engaged at the same time? 
• How does the school handle things like conflict, mistakes, and hard conversations? 

04.

Good grades are not the finish line. The best schools help children develop confidence, leadership, leadership, creativity, communication skills, and strong character. Things that will outlast any single test.

Look for clubs, athletics, music and arts, student leadership, service opportunities, and moments where children are asked to stand up, speak up, and try something new.  

• What extra curricular activities can my child join, lead, or try here? 
• In what ways does the school build character and leadership skills on purpose?
• What do your students say they are most proud of?

05.

Finally, step back and ask the questions only you can answer:

• Will my child be know here? 
• Will they feel safe? 
• What coaching and professional development do your teachers receive? 
• Will they be challenged?
• Will they be encouraged to become the person we hope they’ll become? 

The right school should feel like an extension of your family’s values, not just a place where your child spends the day. 

The best way to evaluate any school is to walk through the doors and pay attention to how it feels. We would love to show you ours. 

New Summit Charter Academy is a tuition-free, non-profit public charter school in Academy School District 20, serving preschool through 8th grade in the Briargate area of Colorado Springs. Our mission is to build a safe educational community that emphasizes a love of learning and inspires and empowers students to reach New Summits! 

What coaching and professional development do your teachers receive?