What Parents Really Want: Going Deeper into Parental School Choice Factors

• In Event: School Choice Policies and Practices

Abstract

Previous studies have examined school characteristics that influence parental school selection, however, no in-depth study has looked closer at those factors to discover the academic experiences and educational environments that parents are seeking when selecting a school. Moreover, few studies examine parental school selection factors in parents who choose inter-district or magnet schools. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the academic experiences and educational environments parents seek for their child when choosing an inter-district, STEM school. Six salient themes emerged: personalized attention, academic rigor, head start in life, academic special interest, racial socialization, and safety. It is important for researchers to go deeper into parental school choice factors so school administrators are better equipped to meet parental expectations.

Author

• Nicole Leach, The Ohio State University