Academics · Subject Resources

Weigh the schools
on what matters to you

Decide what matters before you rate anything, then score each school from 1 to 5 on academics, fit, support, activities and logistics. The matrix ranks them by your weights, names each school's weak spot and flags any must-have a school misses.

Start a comparisonWhat you get

Comparisons

The worked example is made up: three middle schools, where a strong charter loses ground on the commute, and two kindergartens with one rating still blank. Use initials or a code for the child.

Loading the comparison form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

Academics · Subject ResourcesFree

What you finish with
A saved comparison per decision: how much each of five things matters, each school rated 1 to 5 with its yearly cost and commute, the questions still to ask, and a next step. The flags rank the schools by a score out of 100, name the strongest and weakest point of each, call out a must-have rated 2 or lower and say when the top two are too close to call. A side-by-side table prints.
Who it is for
Parents and guardians choosing a school, and students old enough to weigh in on the choice.
Format
Browser tool with a saved record per decision. Prints a side-by-side table with the scores, the full record, every comparison in a table or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Subject Resources space in Caveat Academics.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Set how much each thing matters.
  2. Add the schools you are considering.
  3. Rate each one after a visit.
  4. Settle the questions still open.
  5. Print the side-by-side table.

Start a comparison

How the score works

From your weights to a score1Weights firstNot a factor counts 0, nice tohave 1, important 2, must-have2Rate 1 to 5Each school on each thing thatmatters, after you have seen3Multiply and addWeight times rating for everyrow, added up per school.4Out of 100Divided by the most thatschool could score on the rows5Must-haves lastA 2 or lower on a must-have isflagged, whatever the totalFrom your weights to a score1Weights firstNot a factor counts 0, nice to have 1,important 2, must-have 3.2Rate 1 to 5Each school on each thing that matters,after you have seen it.3Multiply and addWeight times rating for every row, addedup per school.4Out of 100Divided by the most that school couldscore on the rows you rated.5Must-haves lastA 2 or lower on a must-have is flagged,whatever the total says.
Lakeview Middle in the example scores 82: its weighted ratings add up to 45 of a possible 55.

Where to find the facts

Every state publishes a yearly report card for each public and charter school, with test results, attendance, graduation rates and staffing; the Every Student Succeeds Act requires it. The federal school search from the National Center for Education Statistics lists enrollment and student-teacher ratios. Private schools are not on state report cards, so ask them directly.

When the score is close

A few points apart means the ratings cannot separate the schools. Go back to the questions still open, visit on an ordinary day, and ask the child. The score is a way to see your own judgment laid out, not a ranking of schools.

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Education. Every Student Succeeds Act: state and local report cards (ed.gov).
  2. National Center for Education Statistics. Search for Public Schools and Private School Search (nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch).
  3. U.S. Department of Education. Choosing a School for Your Child (ed.gov).
  4. Your state education department. School report card site for public and charter schools.

The worked example and its schools are made up. The score adds up your own ratings and weights; it does not rate any real school. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.