Hi! My name is Tom Bonenfant and I am a Real Estate Broker for the Bean Group, LLC living in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. One of the most asked questions I recieve from families is "Where are the good schools, and are homes available for sale in those neighborhoods?". So, I have comprised some helpful tips and some great links to assist you in this important family decision of matching a good school with a good home.

Choosing Your Child's School:

There is no one better to know your child's personality, strengths, and weaknesses than you and your family members. You know what interests will light a fire in your child's belly and what types of environments will help him or her thrive. Being a part of your child's education is the best way to ensure academic achievement and individual growth and development for your son or daughter. Being a successful contributing member to any society starts with a good education.

Think about what you want a school to do for your child. Write down the things that are most important to you in a school. If appropriate, ask your child to write down what he or she wants from a school. You should also consider your child's age and developmental level. Picking a school for a young child is different from selecting one for an adolescent. As youngsters move through academic life, they begin to take more ownership of their school programs. Asking your child what they want from school helps them to be more responsible for their own future educational growth.

As schools and families listen to these youngsters "what I want to do and be when I grow up" talks, they encourage that growth and responsibility. Schools are often the bridge to a youngster's future, and educators often say that it is the middle years of schooling that are crucial to higher education, high school completion, or employment readiness. So be proactive and search wisely for a good match for the best possible outcome in your child's educational future.

Now that you have determined what are important priorties for you, you can start the next process and become familiar with some of the educational choices available throughout the state. I have included a few links to help you gather relevant information to research the local school districts, locations, and their contact information. You may want to make phone calls, collect written and electronic material from different schools, and look for reports in your local newspapers to get more specific information once you have narrowed down your search. Check out these links as a good starting point:

NH School Districts Seacoast Region Listed by Town

School Directory for Local Portsmouth New Hampshire Schools

NH Department of Education

check out this link for kids afterschool and summer programs:

City of Portsmouth Rec Department

Here are some specific areas you may want to consider in your search:

Curriculum - Does the school have a strong program of core academic subjects such as English, history, mathematics, science, arts, and world languages? What courses does the school offer in addition to the core subjects?

Approach to Learning - Does the school have a particular approach to teaching and learning (this may include project-based assessments, individual portfolios, and frequent testing)? Do you think your child will enjoy and learn from the approach the school employs?

Academic Performance - How do the school's test scores compare to those of other schools? How well have children similar to yours performed on these tests?

Behavior Policy - Does the school have a discipline policy that makes sense for your child? What does the school do to help develop character and citizenship? Does the school have a program and support mechanisms to prevent and address behavioral problems?

Safety - What measures has the school taken to ensure safety? How does the school prevent and handle problems with drugs, alcohol, and tobacco?

Special Offerings - What extracurricular activities does the school offer? Do all students have the opportunity to participate?

Facilities and Services - Do students have access to computers and to the Internet in the classroom and library? Is there a well-stocked library or media center where students can check out books and do research?

Admissions Procedures - Is there an application process? Are there eligibility criteria? Are there other admissions requirements?

You may always visit a school before selecting it as the right fit for your child. If possible, tour the building during school hours and visit a few classes. Avoid visiting schools during the first or last week of a term in order to get a realistic sense of how the school operates. Meet with the Principal to get your questions answered. You may also want to attend an open house or a parent-teacher association meeting.

So, now that you have some homework to do on locating the best fit of a school for your child/children, I hope you will keep me in mind when it comes time to sell your current home or search for a new one. I would be happy to answer any questions you have whether the move is just across town, or across the county, I can help with your relocation needs.

You may also want to check out my Community Profiles for some detailed information on individual towns demographics, population, property taxes, education, transportation, etc...

Thanks for reading my hub!

Tom Bonenfant | Associate Broker NH & ME

The Bean Group LLC

72 Mirona Road Suite

17 Portsmouth, NH 03801

Direct Line: 603.433.3007 | MOBILE 603.502.9007| OFFICE 603.766.1980 | FAX 206.666.4306

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