{"id":15225,"date":"2021-09-02T16:11:31","date_gmt":"2021-09-02T16:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.metrokids.com\/index.php\/2021\/09\/02\/what-makes-a-school-great\/"},"modified":"2023-08-16T22:53:52","modified_gmt":"2023-08-16T22:53:52","slug":"what-makes-a-school-great","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.metrokids.com\/what-makes-a-school-great\/","title":{"rendered":"What Makes a School Great?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>
Photo by Katerina Holmes from Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gina Hubbard, principal of Joseph J. Greenberg Elementary School in Northeast Philadelphia, says that when judging the quality of a school, parents should look beyond test scores and rankings.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are so many great schools in Philadelphia that have not earned high rewards for test scores, but the parents and the community are very happy,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

According to Hubbard, a great school:<\/p>\n

1. Connects with parents<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about building those relationships so you really do become family,\u201d Hubbard says. \u201cWe conscientiously make a point of creating a climate that\u2019s welcoming, supports and listens to parents and conveys how much we care about their children.\u201d<\/p>\n

This starts the minute that you walk through the front door. \u201cWe train our secretaries and staff to welcome parents into the building, answer all of their questions and respond to their needs,\u201d she says.\u00a0 \u201cEverybody in the building is expected to be accommodating to create that welcoming atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Has thoughtful, caring teachers<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cTeachers who show that they care about the kids down to the minute details of each child,\u201d Hubbard says.<\/p>\n

She says that having teachers who understood \u201ceach child\u2019s idiosyncrasies and needs and what motivates them\u201d helped her school get through the challenges that emerged this year while dealing with the pandemic and remote learning.<\/p>\n

3. Offers programming, afterschool activities and clubs<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to have some fun in school to counter all the serious work you\u2019re doing,\u201d Hubbard says.<\/p>\n

And, Hubbard says, when a school has all those elements, \u201cwhether it has great test scores or not, parents will tell you it\u2019s a great school.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Gina Hubbard, principal of Joseph J. Greenberg Elementary School in Northeast Philadelphia, says that when judging the quality of a school, parents should look beyond test scores and rankings. \u201cThere are so many great schools in Philadelphia that have not earned high rewards for test scores, but the parents and the community are very happy,\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1039,4,3,1],"tags":[3099],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Makes a School Great? - Metrokids<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Gina Hubbard, principal of Joseph J. 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