If you are moving to Colorado Springs and you are looking for a good public school, whether it be an elementary school, a middle school, or a high school, there are a few things you need to consider first. To begin with – where are you moving? Though wherever you move to, you will still have your choice – there are nine public school districts serving the entirety of Colorado Springs. Serving the southern most parts of the city are Widefield School District 3, Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8, and Cheyenne Mountain School District 12. For the north end of Colorado Springs, there is Academy School District 20; for the central and eastern portions, there are Colorado Springs School District 11, Falcon School District 49, Harrison School District 2, and James Irwin Charter Schools. There is also the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind.
That being said, depending on where you will be located, there are certain things to look for when considering the individual schools in whichever district applies. First of all, think about what you want to get out of a public school. If it is an elementary school, do you want it to have a small teacher to student ratio? If it is a middle school, do you want it to have a band program? If it is a high school, do you want it to focus on sports, thing like art and theatre, or a mix of everything?
Choosing the right public school based on what your child wants is important as well. If you have lived in Colorado Springs long enough for your child or children to make friends in your neighborhood, consider the school that the majority of the other children attend. Better yet, ask around – the mothers and fathers of your child’s new friends will be happy to give recommendations.
If, on the other hand, you are brand new to Colorado Springs and have to find the right public school rather quickly, look at all of your options. Just visit as many schools in the district as you can in the time you have, observe the students, talk to the teachers, the principals, and introduce yourself to some parents.
Given the abundance of public schools in Colorado Springs, it is a fairly safe bet that you will find the school which is best for your children – or yourself. Each will be more than help you in your decision making process.