How to Choose the Right School for Your Child: The 2025 Guide

Understanding how to choose the right school for your child means balancing academics, values, environment, and personal growth. Every child is unique with distinct learning styles, strengths, and needs.

At UNIS Hanoi, we believe in partnering with parents to make informed choices that nurture each child’s potential. In this guide, we walk you through essential criteria, practical steps, and how our school can serve as the ideal environment for your child’s growth.

4 Factors To Consider When Choosing Your Child’s School

Understanding these factors will guide your search and help you determine how to choose the right school for your child more effectively.

1. Establish Your Child’s And Family’s Priorities

Start by identifying your child’s learning style: are they visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners? Recognising this helps match them with teaching approaches that bring out their best.

Next, consider your family’s core values and how the school’s ethos aligns, whether it emphasises international-mindedness, community service, or academic excellence.

1. Establish Your Child’s And Family’s Priorities

Ask yourself practical questions:

Does your child need specific support, such as English as an Additional Language (EAL), learning-difference assistance, or gifted education?
How do logistics like commute time, proximity to home or work, and after-school care fit your family routine?
What are your non-negotiables versus preferences? Writing down “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves” helps prioritise decisions.

2. Examine Academic Quality and Curriculum

A school’s curriculum shapes both the content and style of your child’s learning. Investigate whether the curriculum is international, national, or bilingual, and whether it fosters the intellectual curiosity and adaptability your child will need for future success.

Consider:

Teacher qualifications, ongoing professional development, and staff retention. Quality teaching depends on educators who are skilled, motivated, and supported.
Class sizes and student-teacher ratios, which directly impact how much individual attention your child receives.
Assessment methods: how frequently and transparently does the school report on student progress?
Integration of technology and how it enhances rather than replaces real learning.
Opportunities for creativity, problem-solving, and independent inquiry in teaching methods.

A strong curriculum should foster curiosity and independence, not just memorisation.

3. Review School Culture, Support Services & Extracurriculars

Academic performance is only one part of a fulfilling education. The school’s culture, values, and social environment are equally decisive in shaping a child’s sense of belonging and motivation.

Look at:

The school’s atmosphere: does it foster diversity, inclusion, empathy, and mutual respect?
Support services such as EAL programmes, counselling, and learning enhancement support.
Extracurricular options from arts and athletics to debate and robotics that allow children to explore and express their interests beyond the classroom.
How clearly the school’s mission and values are defined, and whether they are reflected in everyday teaching and student interactions.
Parent involvement: are families encouraged to engage meaningfully with the school community? A strong parent-school partnership leads to more consistent support for children.

4. Practical Considerations: Cost, Logistics, Future Pathways

Beyond philosophy and academics, practical factors heavily influence long-term satisfaction.

Key considerations include:

Tuition fees, scholarships, and extra costs such as uniforms or field trips.
Location, transportation options, and campus safety.
How the school manages transitions from early years to secondary or towards university preparation.
Accreditation and reputation: does the school hold recognised credentials?
Future adaptability: will the school continue to meet your child’s evolving needs?

A Step-By-Step Process To Choose Your Child’s School

Once you understand what to look for, take a systematic approach to find the right fit. The following steps can help guide your decision-making process.

Step 1: Research And Gather Information

Begin by exploring school websites, brochures, and accreditation reports. Build a comparison checklist covering academics, support, facilities, and cost to organise your findings.

Align each school’s profile with your family’s priorities. Contact admissions offices for detailed information on recent academic results, class sizes, and curriculum outcomes to ensure transparency and fit.

Step 2: Visit, Talk To Staff And Observe The School Environment

A school visit offers invaluable insight into its daily life. Schedule tours to observe classrooms and witness teacher-student interactions.

Engage with school leadership to discuss teacher development, diversity, and student well-being. Observe campus conditions from facilities to the community atmosphere.

Conversations with current parents and students can also provide authentic perspectives that online resources may not capture.

Compare your impressions across schools to see which environment aligns best with your child’s personality and needs.

Step 3: Reflect And Make The Decision

After gathering information, take time to reflect.

Review your checklist to see how each option performs across key areas. Consider intangible factors: your intuition, your child’s comfort, and overall family alignment.

Think long-term about how the school will continue to support growth.

If your child is older, include them in the decision; their perspective and emotional comfort matter greatly.

Why UNIS Hanoi Could Be The Right School Choice For Your Child

UNIS Hanoi is an independent, non-profit, co-educational English-language day school serving students from Discovery (age 3) to Grade 12. Representing over 60 nationalities and more than 35 home languages, we provide a truly international learning community that fosters respect, collaboration, and global citizenship.

We are proud to offer the full continuum of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP).

Our accreditation by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) reflects our commitment to academic excellence and continuous improvement.

Why UNIS Hanoi Could Be The Right School Choice For Your Child

Our campus features state-of-the-art facilities, including flexible learning spaces, maker spaces, a swimming pool, a sports complex, and a performing arts centre.

Beyond academics, we emphasise service-learning and sustainability, honouring our United Nations heritage through programmes that connect students with global issues and real-world problem-solving.

At UNIS Hanoi, we are more than a school; we are a dynamic community where students are encouraged to lead, explore, and connect. We cultivate academic success, integrity, resilience, and compassion, the qualities that prepare our graduates for life beyond the classroom.

Your Child’s School Journey Starts Here With UNIS Hanoi

Deciding how to choose the right school for your child is both a practical and emotional journey. At UNIS Hanoi, we are ready to support your family at every step.

Schedule a campus tour or virtual visit to experience our community firsthand, and meet our admissions team to discuss how we can meet your child’s unique learning needs. Together, we can ensure your child’s educational journey begins in an environment where they can truly flourish.