Moving to a new city can be something of an adventure for the whole family, what with the prospects of meeting people and discovering fun, new places and activities in the local environs. But as adults are well aware, this period of upheaval can also be extremely trying for children, who tend to thrive on stability and routine. Even young kids have already become familiar with their home, their school, and other often-visited locations. They know the doctor and the dentist, their teachers, and other adults in your support network, and they’ve established a peer group. For older kids it can be even harder since they’ve likely been going to school with the same group of kids for years. Leaving all that behind for the unknown can be a shock to the system, no matter how great you make it sound. But you can help them to transition to their new living situation by taking pains to select a school where they’re going to find acceptance and success. And here are a few things you’ll want to consider in the process.
Chances are you will find yourself in a certain district when you move, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to confine yourself to this small geographic area when it comes to choosing the best schools for your kids. Often there are ways to get your children placement within other districts. For one thing, you might want to do something of an exploratory foray into local schools before you settle on a house. Some school districts are bound to be more desirable than others based on academics, class sizes, extracurricular activities (sports, art programs, etc.), feeder programs (which schools they feed into), and other factors, so you need to do your homework before you settle on your new living accommodations. It could save you from a lot of headaches when it comes to getting kids into the choice schools in your new city.
[Read more…]
