high school tour

What to Ask on Your K-12 School Tour

Make the most of your visit to ensure a prospective school is right for your family.

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Understanding a school’s culture is essential. Asking staff how they support students’ sense of belonging can demonstrate how leaders are thinking about building an inclusive and supportive space.

Whether your child is entering kindergarten, middle or high school, you’ve moved to a new school district, or you’re exploring private schools, a tour can be a great way to get to know a prospective new school. Here are some questions to ask to make the most of these visits – whether in person or online – and make sure the school you select is one both you and your child feel good about.

School Logistics and Operations 

What looks like a great school on paper, and feels like a good fit when you visit, might not be right if it doesn’t work with the realities of your life. Matt Thornton, director of the Robert C. Parker School near Albany, New York, says many of the questions he gets from families are logistical, and it makes sense to think granularly about what it would mean for your family (and your schedule) to attend the school. Some questions to consider asking about logistics include:

• What time does the school day begin, and when is the earliest children can be dropped off?
• Is before- and after-school care available, and how much does it cost? 
• Is busing available for all students?  

In addition, now that all districts have experience with virtual learning, you might ask whether – and under what conditions – the school would go virtual. Will the school cancel for snow days, or will students be expected to log in from home during inclement weather? And if there is an expectation of virtual learning at any point, find out if the school provides devices. Finally, Thornton recommends asking about COVID-19 and more general health and safety policies, so you are clear about the expectations and environment.

Academics and Learning Opportunities

Before visiting, look up the school online to gather information on academic outcomes, so you can ask questions about any data you find concerning. In addition to checking independent rankings , you can look up state assessments for individual public schools by searching your state report card website .

At the same time, keep in mind that the data captured doesn’t tell the entire story. Andrew Theado, principal at Upper Arlington High School in central Ohio, encourages any caregiver with questions or concerns about a school’s ranking to look into what it’s based on, which can help give context to the data. And Thornton notes it’s important to remember there are other ways for students to demonstrate mastery of a given subject beyond just state assessments.

He suggests asking these questions on tours to understand how schools are measuring student learning:

• How does the school assess children?
• How will I know my child is growing as a learner?
• How engaged in learning are students at this school?

Finally, at the high school level especially, it’s important to ask about the different programs and pathways the school offers learners. Are there Advanced Placement courses? Partnerships with local universities? Career and technical tracks? Students who have strong academic interests in certain subjects might ask about learning opportunities in those areas. And students who are identified as needing services, including through 504 plans and IEPs , can ask how the school would accommodate them – especially at private schools, where special education services are not mandated by law.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives and School Culture

An environment where students feel safe, comfortable and welcome is an environment that’s conducive to learning. That’s why understanding a school’s culture is essential. Asking staff how they support students’ sense of belonging – whether through clubs and activities or schoolwide policies and priorities – can demonstrate how leaders are thinking about building an inclusive and supportive space. Thornton recommends asking:

• How does the school incorporate social-emotional learning?  
• What are the school initiatives around diversity, equity and inclusion? How is the curriculum informed by the work? Who is responsible for supporting these initiatives?
• What is the school’s mission statement, and how is it enacted throughout the building? 

“I think any school worth their salt will have a very robust mission statement that can be shown with examples,” Thornton says. Similarly, Theado’s decisions as an administrator are informed by the building’s strategic plan, which prioritizes fostering a sense of belonging for all students through extracurricular opportunities. “We want to make sure that all students have a place to plug in,” he says.

Limitations of Remote Tours

With some tours taking place remotely, whether due to coronavirus restrictions or for families who haven’t yet moved to the area, getting the overall feeling of the building can be challenging, even once you have all your questions answered.

Columbus parent Katy Macke says she and her child decided against a highly ranked high school after visiting in person, in part because they didn’t find the exterior and grounds welcoming. “We want it to feel like you’re pulling up to a school that you’re proud to go to,” she says.

The entranceway alone can tell you a lot about a school; you might ask to see photos of this area. Other spaces that are important to students – and are often left out of tours – are the bathrooms and the cafeteria. If you feel awkward asking for photos, you can always ask to talk to families of current students to get more information. “To hear it from a parent perspective is really good,” Thornton says.

How to Pick Your Child's High School

Tags: K-12 education , parenting , students , elementary school , middle school , education

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Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa Announce The High School Reunion Tour: See the Dates

Slated to kick off in July, the trek will also include West Coast legends Too $hort and Warren G.

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As for Wiz, he will be a busy man on the road this year. Aside from his upcoming tour with Snoop, he’ll also lead the way for his headlining effort, The Good Trip Tour. The seven-date venture will feature acts such as Joey Bada$$, Smoke DZA, Berner and Chevy Woods. It’ll begin next month. 

Check out the dates for the High School Reunion Tour below. 

2023 High School Reunion tour dates: 

• Fri Jul 07 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
• Sat Jul 08 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
• Sun Jul 09 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
• Tue Jul 11 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
• Wed Jul 12 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
• Sat Jul 15 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
• Sun Jul 16 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis
• Tue Jul 18 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
• Thu Jul 20 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
• Fri Jul 21 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago
• Sun Jul 23 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
• Wed Jul 26 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
• Fri Jul 28 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
• Sat Jul 29 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre
• Sun Jul 30 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
• Tue Aug 01 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
• Wed Aug 02 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
• Fri Aug 04 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
• Sat Aug 05 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
• Sun Aug 06 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
• Tue Aug 08 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
• Wed Aug 09 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre
• Fri Aug 11 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
• Sat Aug 12 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
• Tue Aug 15 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center
• Fri Aug 18 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
• Sat Aug 19 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
• Sun Aug 20 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
• Tue Aug 22 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
• Wed Aug 23 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
• Fri Aug 25 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
• Sat Aug 26 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion
• Sun Aug 27 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre

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See Where High School Musical Was Born

4 Days   •   419 Miles

You know the songs like you know your own name. You’ve still got a fat crush on Zac Efron, even if you won’t admit it. You’ve binge-watched every episode of the new "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" on Disney+ and loved every dramatic second of it. Now it’s time to plan a trip to the iconic Utah sites where the "High School Musical" movies and TV series were filmed.

This four-day itinerary is every fan’s guide to the High School Musical universe. It will take you to the stage where Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez made their musical debut, the golf resort and baseball diamond featured in "High School Musical 2" and to the real-life East High School in Salt Lake City where the cast once walked, sang and danced. 

Just like Troy and Gabriella, Utah’s heart can be found in two places: the surprisingly rich arts and cultural scenes in its urban spaces and its beautiful mountain and desert landscapes. Along with taking you to iconic film sites, this guide will throw you headfirst into both Utah’s performing arts scene and its sports and recreation experiences, with day one spent in the buzzing grid of downtown Salt Lake City and day two spent in the towering Wasatch Mountains that run like a spine down the city’s east edge.

Finally, you’ll end your journey at the striking red rocks of St. George and one of Utah’s natural leading ladies: Zion National Park.

Arianna Rees is a freelance writer living in Salt Lake City, but her heart is in Cache Valley, where she grew up. Her work has been featured in over a dozen publications, including Deseret News, The Startup, and The Beehive. When she isn't hurriedly typing away at her computer, Arianna can be found hiking and bouldering in the mountains or neck deep in a good book. Follow her on Twitter @AriWRees.

Header photo provided by ©2006 DISNEY CHANNEL. All rights reserved. NO ARCHIVING. NO RESALE.

Live Like A Wildcat

• Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City has a thriving film scene that puts you on-set as well as in front of it. Run by the Salt Lake City Film Society, Broadway Centre Cinemas  downtown plays exceptional independent films that make for great post-lunch matinees. After you’ve cozied up to a good flick, get a taste of what it would be like to be in one by swinging by  East High School , where "High School Musical" was born and the "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" ("HSMTMTS") was filmed. The cast sang “Stick to the Status Quo” in the cafeteria and Troy led the Wildcats to victory in the gym. Sharpay’s locker(s) are even still painted pink to this day. (Note: East High School allows self-guided tours Monday-Friday, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

End your day the way Troy might by catching a  Utah Jazz  game and watching Utah’s favorite basketball team fight for a win.

Foodie Pick:  Grab an espresso and a delicious piece of gourmet toast at  Publik Coffee Roaster , which was featured in episode four of "HSMTMTS." 

Alternative Nighttime Activity:  If you’d rather indulge your musical-loving side than your sports side, plan a trip to the  Eccles Theater  downtown, which features several award-winning Broadway plays a year, or hit some pins at the  Bonwood Bowl , featured in episode five of "HSMTMTS."

Overnight:  Salt Lake City

Extend Your Trip:  If you’ve got extra time to explore downtown, visit the Utah State Capital Building and meander through  Temple Square  to learn some of the more fascinating parts of Utah’s political and religious history.

Photo provided by ©2006 DISNEY CHANNEL. All rights reserved. NO ARCHIVING. NO RESALE.

Hit The Slopes & The Stage

• Murray High School
• Hale Center Theatre
• Alta or Snowbird

While most of the "High School Musical" movie was filmed at East High, you can see the stage where Troy and Gabrielle auditioned at  Murray High School  — just make sure to call ahead and set up an appointment to see it beforehand. Travel east from Murray and bop to the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon to spend the day at  Snowbird  or  Alta  ski resort. Though you might not find true love and a duet partner there, you’re sure to find  The Greatest Snow on Earth® . Snowbird boasts 2,500 acres and has the longest ski season in Utah, while Alta offers over 116 runs and enjoyable skiing for beginners. Both resorts are spiderwebbed with a network of trails that can be accessed for hiking, mountain biking, and beautiful wildflower viewing in the summertime.

After you’ve spent the day on the slopes or on the trails, wind down by seeing a musical in-person at the famous  Hale Centre Theatre , one of the most technological theatrical spaces in the world with a stage that will make your head spin.  

Foodie Pick:  Utah got its first Shake Shack in 2019, and its burger is one of the best in the state. 

Overnight:  Provo/Utah County

Extend Your Trip:  If you’re visiting Utah at the end of January, consider purchasing tickets for the  Sundance Film Festival , the largest independent film festival in the U.S. You’ll get the very first look at upcoming films and might also run into a celebrity or two.

Photo provided by ©2006 DISNEY CHANNEL. All Rights Reserved.

Getcha Head In The Game

• St. George Area
• The Entrada Inn And Canyons Complex
• Tuacahn Amphitheatre

Set out from Utah’s urban center and drive south to play among the dramatic red rocks of St. George just like a Wildcat. St. George is a sports and recreation lover’s paradise, with great cycling, golfing, and climbing among other thrilling sports. For the full "High School Musical" experience, visit  The Inn at Entrada  and hit the same greens Troy and Gabriella danced on in the second film, then catch a softball game at the  Canyons Complex  where the Wildcats won the staff baseball game. Near the end of your day, head northwest to  Tuacahn  where you can watch a musical under the desert sky on the weekends. 

Foodie Pick:  Eat at the Cliffside Restaurant for breathtaking sunset views of the city. 

Overnight:  St. George

Photo provided by ©2006 DISNEY CHANNEL. All Rights Reserved.

Break Free and Visit The Wild

• Riverside Walk
• Zion Canyon Drive

Utah’s national parks aren’t featured in the "High School Musical" films, but you’ll catch them in hundreds of other films and TV shows because of their goosebump-inducing landscapes. Zion, which is an hour away from St. George, is no exception. Once in the park, step aboard a shuttle bus where you can relax and enjoy a brief history of the park while you get humbling views of its red rock cathedrals. Take the gentle Riverside Walk (which is wheelchair accessible) for a snippet of Zion’s beautiful scenery. Expert hikers can take the harrowing Angels Landing Trail to see the park from a dizzying bird’s eye view. Just be extremely careful when hiking it. Extend your stay:  Trek deeper into  Zion National Park  to explore the world-famous Narrows and other popular backpacking trails.

The Story is Utah – 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series'

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