25 Things Parents Notice on School Tours

Choosing a school is one of the biggest decisions parents will make. During the decision process, most parents visit a school to evaluate the facilities, ask academic questions, and meet the faculty. While it’s important to share information about your curriculum, programs, and extracurriculars on a tour, it’s critical to remember that parents are considering other factors like school culture and environment, too. Here are 25 things parents notice during their school tours.

Pre-Tour

Visiting a school for the first time is a big step for a family. Parents and children may be nervous, excited, hesitant, or overwhelmed at this point of the enrollment process. Make the pre-tour experience supportive, simple, and streamlined, so parents don’t arrive flustered or confused.

Here 5 things parents notice before their tour begins:

1. Was I sent a confirmation email and given directions about what to do upon arriving at the school?

2. How easy was the school to find? Could I see the building and signage from the road? Did I know which entrance to use?

3. Was there parking available for me?

4. Was the exterior of the school, the parking lot, and the playground area clean, well-maintained, and up-to-date?

5. Is the school fenced? Did it seem secure?

First Impressions

The first five minutes inside your school set the tone for a school tour. Parents look around and wonder:

1. Does the school feel taken care of?

2. Were the entrance, hallways, and reception area clean, bright, and tidy?

3. Was someone there to welcome me? How was I greeted?

4. Were there security procedures in place? Did I have to go through a check-in process to tour?

5. Did it feel like a home away from home for my child? Could I picture my child here?

Tour Time

1. Did the tour guide listen? Did he/she have enough time for my questions?

2. Was the tour guide knowledgable about the school’s curriculum, programs, technology, extracurriculars, and parent volunteer opportunities?

3. Did the tour guide have knowledge of other educational options, programs, and schools in the area?

4. Did I get to see student work in the classrooms or on the walls?

5. Was the tour guide enthusiastic about the school and believe in its mission?

A Look in the Classrooms

1. What did the inside of the classrooms look like? Were the spaces organized and educationally-focused? Do things feel “up-to-date” or do things feel outdated?

2. Did the teacher look up and smile? Were the teachers professionally dressed?

3. Did the kids look happy and engaged?

4. How did members of the staff talk about the school? Was there a sense of energy, positivity, and well-being from faculty and staff?

5. Would my child feel welcome and at home here?

End of Tour and Follow-up

1. Did I get to meet the principal or director? Did they have energy and warmth?

2. Did the person in charge of admissions tell me the next step in the admissions process?

3. Will it be easy to follow the admissions process? Do I know who to go to for help?

4. Did someone thank me for coming and follow-up within a couple of days?

The BIG Question

This list of questions is not an exhaustive one, but the overall heart of these questions is the same. The big question parents have when visiting your campus is this: Can I trust this school with the education and care of my child?

Parents make assumptions based on their first experiences with your school:

• The communication prospects receive before and after a tour will give them a taste of the communication they receive as school parents.

• The way in which the building is cared for exemplifies the care you give to all your programs.

• The interactions a parent has with your tour guide show them what it will be like to work with other members of a school’s faculty and administration.

• The professionalism of your admissions processes foreshadows the professionalism of your educational processes.

Every aspect of a school tour is an opportunity to build trust with parents, as well as exemplify how much you care about families. Practice giving tours, be intentional about creating a warm, positive experience, and ask for feedback along the way.

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