Henry parents examine school choice

What factors do parents consider in choosing an elementary or middle school for their child? And how does this differ among schools? A survey by Mt. Airy’s Henry School parents offers a glimpse. Nearly 200 responses were collected, and one clear indication emerged: “Families in Northwest Philadelphia are very serious about choosing” schools.

You can download the full report from http://whatmatters.uwde.org/henry.pdf.

Here’s a summary from United Way’s “What Matters” report:

Henry School parents surveyed
In October 2007, The Henry Group, an informal group of parents whose children attend Mt. Airy’s C.W. Henry School or are considering sending their children to the school, surveyed families in the Mt. Airy community to understand how they choose elementary and middle schools. The group was interested in the demographics of the respondents, and how these differed between Henry families (those who did/do send their children to Henry) and non-Henry families (those who did not choose Henry), as well as the factors driving school choice, and how these differed between Henry and non-Henry families. The group also surveyed the participants on how Henry and non-Henry families feel about Henry School, and whether the Henry Group meetings were helpful in making school decisions.
A total of 192 survey responses were collected and yielded the following information:
Demographics. Despite differences in race and income level, there were few significant demographic contrasts between the Henry families and the non-Henry families.
Factors in School Choice. In general, Henry and non-Henry families sought the same characteristics in elementary and middle schools. The survey indicates that both populations were comparable in their school selection criteria as well as in their demographic profiles.
Henry School Rated. There were several areas in which Henry and non-Henry families rated Henry school similarly (such as opportunities for parental involvement). There were also areas
in which Henry and non-Henry families rated factors dramatically differently (such as teacher quality). The preliminary conclusion is that there are substantive attributes and liabilities which
attract or deter all families. The survey results also indicate that Henry School may want to address promotion and perception as well.
Henry Group Meetings. Most of the respondents who attended the Henry Group meetings found them very or somewhat useful.
The group says that its initial findings suggest that families in Northwest Philadelphia are very serious about choosing elementary and middle schools; that Henry School has strengths as well as practical and promotional challenges; and that the Henry Group meetings have helped families explore school choices. They are sharing their survey results in the hope that the survey provides useful information to Henry School, Henry School families, the Mt. Airy community, the School District of Philadelphia, and the new mayor and administration.