Articles — Sturges Education Consulting

It’s Open House Season! While the school year may have only just begun, it’s not too early to think about next year. As you begin to consider new educational options, one of the best ways to begin to get a feel for an independent school is their Open House. Over the course of the next few weeks, I’ll walk through how to approach Open House season.

First off, what is an independent school Open House? Open Houses are exactly what they sound like- an open invitation to come and have a look. Open Houses are a great way to take a cursory look at a program already on your radar. They are also a great way to take a look at a school you hadn’t initially considered. There are no application fees and typically no other requirements to attend. Many schools do not even require prior registration to participate (but double-check the school’s website to confirm if they would prefer pre-registration).

The Open House offers access to teachers, parents, and students from the school community- all in an approachable way. Open Houses sometimes take place during the typical school day. These school day events may allow for a look into active classrooms. However, more often than not, they are held on a weekend afternoon. A weekend event allows for large numbers of prospective families to move throughout the campus and its facilities with no disruption to the school’s student's regular schedules. Some schools go with a structured event and presentation. Others prefer a more family-led approach where you are able to see what most interests your family.

Sound interesting? Pick a few schools you may or may not be familiar with and visit their websites. The Open House date or dates will be right on their homepage! Add the dates and times to your calendar and go visit! If you do, let me know how it went!

My last article offered an overview of independent school Open Houses. You may now be asking, what should a great Open House offer? What questions should I ask? An exceptional Open House will offer three key opportunities to learn more about the school, the community and the program as a whole.

A great Open House offers access to both administrators and teachers. It provides moments to have conversations and to ask questions about the curriculum and programs thus allowing you to gain general knowledge on the school. Staff should be knowledgeable- not only regarding their own content and specialty but on the program as a whole. Think about asking the faculty about the daily schedule, homework philosophy, school values, and culture.
Along with access to school faculty and staff, Open Houses offer opportunities to speak with current parents. A current family is often one of the best sources regarding overall satisfaction and happiness. Current parents are able to share first-hand accounts and experiences as community members. Think about asking current parents about involvement opportunities and requirements, community experience and what they love about the school.
Lastly, a great Open House provides access to current students. Students are a great source of information as they are the true participants in the life of the school each and every day! Connecting with current students is an opportunity to learn what your own child’s experience might be like should they join the school’s community. Consider asking students about their homework load and current classes, how they feel about going to school in the morning, what they love about school and if given the opportunity, what they might change about the school.

As you meet and greet, focus on the aspects of a program that are important to your child and family! When you leave, make some notes. What did you like? What surprised you? Was there something that didn’t resonate? Most importantly, does it “feel” like the right fit, do you “see” your child as a member of the community? Are you now ready to submit an application? The next steps are coming soon!