The Good School: How Smart Parents Get Their Kids the Education They Deserve

As Vice President of Outreach at LePort Schools in Orange County, CA, I hear from many parents how difficult it is to choose a good school. All too often, families come to our school after trying one or several other schools, public or private, and being very disappointed. "If only I'd known back then what to look for and what questions to ask", is a sad refrain of parent comments.There's lots of good writing out there about what works in education, but what's unique about this book is the combination of key research and parent anecdotes in an easy-to-use, practical guide you can read in just a few hours.As Mrs. Tyre writes, choosing a school is likely one of the most important decisions you'll ever make for your child. You owe it to yourself to be an educated consumer: it's the only way you'll be able to ask the questions, and discern the difference between your school choices, before your child ends up at a school that doesn't serve her well.Once you read this book, do read the school's web site, thoroughly. Ask the tough questions Mrs. Tyre discusses. Meet the teachers, and engage them in a conversation about their background and the subjects they teach. Look at textbooks and other teaching materials. Request an extended classroom observation. Be critical, very critical: if you can't understand how the school works after doing this research, if the people you talk to don't seem passionate and eager to work with you, if the answers you receive are not compelling (or if you aren't invited to see inside the classroom or speak with teachers), that's a red flag you should take seriously!As someone at a private school who is in charge of educating parents about the difference between our school and other options, I love it when parents are educated and probe deeply before committing to our school. As Mrs. Tyre writes, "Administrators and teachers at good schools want you to ask questions when you go on an Open House tour. They want you to have a sophisticated idea of what you should look for when you visit a classroom."I will recommend this book to our staff and potential parents, to help them make better, more informed school choices, and to educate themselves on one of the most important decisions they'll ever make.

This book did its job well; it established a framework, it convinced me of its main points, and it was a very fast read. It has a chapter devoted to preschool, which (the author says) has a fairly different role to play than elementary school. It has chapters devoted to research on reading and mathematics, and I was pleased by Ms. Tyre's focus on research and what is shown to work worldwide. Moreover, as a teacher myself, I am acutely aware of the truth of Ms. Tyre's assertions about the civilized detachment with which we treat teaching and teachers, saying "ah... that's just his teaching style," rather than "why are all of his students failing?"After reading this book, I feel like I have several new lenses through which to evaluate my children's teachers. Right now, I'm trying to work up the courage to ask them where they all did their undergraduate work. I'm not sure I'm going to like the answers....

Wow! What an eye opener of a book! Our educational system has gone down hill and we as parents need to know what goes on behind the scenes of our schools. We need to stand up and be a part of our kids education and work together. I love how the author explains how we look under the hood of a car before we buy it and we get an inspection before buying a house but we don't ever think twice about looking more into the schools where our children go to school and ask more questions. Read this book... You won't regret it, it will only make you a better parent and more educated of public, charter and private schools!

I like it. I am learning things that I didn't know, like class size is not as important as a good classroom teacher and that standardized test are rigged or dumbed down to reach the majority and that beefs up scores. That means you shouldn't buy a house in a certain school district because the school scores high on standardized text, because all that means is that a majority of the students are average or below...how sad.

Great hands on advice for the parent looking to be an active consumer of, participant in, and supporter of their child's education. Provides great historical context for primary education, reviews research on what works, and lays out take-aways for parents that are constructive and practical. Best of all, this book sticks to manageable solutions within the control of parents rather than jump in the fight and take a side on school reform. I'm feeling so much better about touring elementary schools in a few weeks!

I am only 1/2 way through - but it is excellent. I am a teacher and a parent. Although I knew a lot of the history and stats, the organization and evidence presented to support her claims are strong, coherent and relevant for teachers and parents.

I am learning so much about what goes on inside a school, the history of education, and questions to ask when choosing a school. It has told me what topics matter and what matters not as much. It has a great section on choosing a preschool too. I highly recommend this book. It is very "eye-opening."

Really fantastic book, I'd recommend it to anyone. This book will tell you what *really* matters when choosing a school for your child and what to look for. (Hint: NOT how expensive the school is.) If you read one book to prepare for your preschooler's future this book should be it.