Nancy Ginsburg Gill’s “Parents Guide to School Selection in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties” has, since 1985, helped Bay Area parents choose the right school for their child. A longtime Los Altos teacher, education writer and consultant, Gill collaborated with psychologist Brendan Pratt on the recently released sixth edition.
The authors give guidelines for evaluating a school on the basis of school data, atmosphere, teaching style, the needs of the child and other criteria. Praised by school officials and parents alike as an objective and comprehensive guide to school selection, the book is as even-handed as Gill can make it, she said.
“Ideally, people will find it a good place to start their selection process,” she said. Rather than recommend specific schools to parents, she added, “the goal is to let people know what options are out there.”
A self-described “education junkie,” Gill has observed some surprising changes in her 36 years in education. The current pressure to find the best school for one’s child is fueled, in part, by successful parents’ high expectations, she said. Increasing competition to get into top colleges creates extra stress, Gill said, and high school kids are piling on loads of activities and advanced-placement classes to keep up and compete. But the highly academic-driven culture in the Bay Area has prompted some parents to steer away from notable public schools and look more closely at alternatives.
“People used to be concerned about not having enough academic rigor in public schools,” Gill said. “Ironically, the biggest concern for some parents today is too much stress and testing.” In response, the book describes different types of private and public schools, including charter schools and alternative programs.
The book also lists elementary schools that specialize in helping children with special needs, including those with learning disabilities and the highly gifted. Pratt wrote a chapter to clarify the role of psychological evaluation in school selection.
“The healthiest change I see,” Gill said, “is that there are more options now for students who don’t fit into the typical school scene.”
In addition to detailed information about considering a child’s individual needs, the book provides a list of nearly every private elementary school in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
The 250-page soft-cover book is available from the Pratt Center (www.prattcenter.com) for $19.95 plus tax and shipping.
