School and academics: 18 decisions to make together
Public, private or home; homework, grades, tutoring and what comes after high school.
1. School sector
What kind of school you choose: neighborhood public, public school of choice, charter, or private.
4 options · Your call · Preschool
2. Language of instruction
Which language your child is taught in, such as English with some French, French immersion, or a bilingual program.
5 options · Your call · Preschool
3. Home-based and self-directed schooling
Whether your child goes to a regular school or learns at home.
5 options · Your call · Preschool
4. Pedagogical tradition
The teaching approach: a mainstream curriculum, project-based learning, Montessori (child-led, hands-on) or Waldorf (arts and imagination), classical education (a structured, language- and logic-based approach), or the International Baccalaureate, an international program.
5 options · Your call · Preschool
5. School-choice criteria
What you weigh most when choosing a school: nearby and community, results and rankings, teaching approach, the mix of students, or your child's happiness.
5 options · Evidence leans one way · Preschool
6. Moving house for schools
Whether you would move, use out-of-area options, or pay for private school to get a school you prefer.
4 options · Evidence leans one way · Toddler
7. A child who is ahead
How you would respond if your child is far ahead of their classmates: enrichment, a gifted program, subject acceleration or skipping a grade.
5 options · Evidence leans one way · School age
8. Learning or developmental concerns
How you would respond if you suspect a learning difficulty or developmental difference: watching, informal support, school assessment or a private one.
5 options · Experts disagree · School age
9. Single-sex or co-ed
Whether your child attends a school with both boys and girls or a single-sex school.
3 options · Evidence leans one way · School age
10. Boarding school
Whether you would ever send a child to live at school, and from what age.
4 options · Evidence leans one way · Tween
11. Involvement at school
How involved each of you is with your child's school: one parent handles it, you split tasks, or both attend everything.
3 options · Your call · School age
12. Homework involvement
How much you help with homework: hands-off, setting the routine and space, available on request, sitting alongside, or teaching and correcting.
5 options · Evidence leans one way · School age
13. Homework in the early grades
How you treat homework for young children, from opting out to doing it lightly to treating it as a firm habit.
4 options · Evidence leans one way · School age
14. Grade expectations
What you expect from your child's grades: top marks, their personal best, effort over results, or leaving it to them.
4 options · Your call · School age
15. Rewards and consequences for grades
Whether you pay or reward for grades, reward effort, only praise, or give consequences for poor grades.
5 options · Evidence leans one way · School age
16. Growth-mindset and grit messaging
A growth mindset is the idea that abilities grow with effort and practice; grit is sticking with long-term goals.
3 options · Experts disagree · School age
17. Tutoring and test preparation
Whether your child gets extra academic help: none, only when struggling, enrichment to get ahead, or ongoing programs.
4 options · Evidence leans one way · School age
18. Post-secondary expectations
What you expect your child to do after high school: university, any further training, trades, a gap year, or their own choice.
5 options · Your call · Teen