Visit A School

Education today looks...and is...different. If you are researching schools for your child, or if you're just curious, visit one of the Detroit Public Schools.....and expect the unexpected.

In any elementary school, you might see the desks pushed to the walls and students sitting on the floor in "reading circles" to discuss a book from the Detroit Public School core literature list. In a middle school, you might see French and Social Studies teachers teaming up to present a lesson on West Africa. And in high school, you may learn students spend part of their day out of the building...taking a course at a university, or working as an apprentice at a computer repair company.

Learning is happening in these classrooms. It just looks difference than it once did.

When you are visiting a school, you should look for:

• Student work on display, from early draft to final product
• Class involvement in active, hands-on learning
• Small groups of students working together
• Variety in classroom materials, including textbooks, library books, a computer, calculators and magazines
• Teachers circulating among students, or collaborating with other teachers on special projects.

On any visit, it's important to ask good questions of the teacher and principal, such as the following:

• What are your instructional goals for the students this year?
• How do you involve families in learning?
• What is your plan to help students meet the District's promotion requirements?
• How will you help those who don't meet the standards?

Please remember to make an appointment before visiting any school.