This is the "$64,000 question" everyone wants to know about a school. Research confirms what most people remember from their own schooling-- good teaching is the key to a good education. But how can you tell about the teachers at this school? Finding out the credential and experience level of teachers is just the first step. For high schools, you also need to know how many teachers are teaching subjects in which they have no training. In particular, you might want to ask if math and science teachers have degrees in math or science--or similar technical disciplines.

To form your own judgment about the quality of teaching, you will need to visit the school, take a tour of classrooms and see for yourself. Spend more than a few minutes in each classroom and try to talk to as many teachers as you can. Among the questions you might ask: 1) What expectations do the teachers have for students and how do they communicate those expectations? 2) Do the teachers appear to have a clear plan for what students should be learning? 3) What kind of help do teachers offer to students who need extra support? Visit classrooms at all levels and compare for yourself. Observe and talk to students as you visit classrooms. Do students seem interested in learning and in school? What are their attitudes toward their teachers and each other?

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