One of the reasons we moved here was to provide our kids with a better education. However, we’ve found out that it really depends on the school. We don’t have OFSTED in the US or anything similar. However, you may be able to get reports about a school from government websites like the US Department of Education. However, I doubt it contains much useful information, except, perhaps, national exam reports.

I know it was not a very scientific way of doing it, but when our second daughter was ready to enter school, we felt she was already ahead of the public school system. So, we did not want her to start at the school our older daughter attended, especially because they only had half-day kindergarten (3 hours total). She was also very picky and had already developed the habit of not talking. So, we visited some private schools. She was the one who chose the school and it turned out the best. Expensive, but it was worth it. At least for that year. They were homeschooled after that.

There is not one single thing that determines how good a school is or how successful a child would be at that school. You need to prioritise your goals and visit the schools and assess for yourself based on those goals. Personally visiting the schools, talking to the staff and even other parents are probably just as important as getting statistics on the school.

Thanks for an interesting article! My nephew is 10 and due to move to New York. We are worried about his education, the upheaval and also whether the schools are as good as the ones here in the UK.

Have you any advice? Is there a school monitoring system in the US similar to OFSTED, and is it worth comparing?

Thanks a lot for any info!

All the best,
MattyS