Nothing dramatic happened. There was no single bad day. But somewhere between last spring and this fall, your child started dragging their feet in the morning. Homework that used to take twenty minutes now takes an hour, or gets done in five without much thought. When you ask about school, the answers get shorter.
Sometimes a rough stretch simply passes. Other times, it's a sign that a school and a child no longer fit the way they once did. If you're starting to look at private school options in Van Nuys or nearby, the most useful first step is getting clear on what your child needs that they aren't getting now.
A child who's under-challenged and a child who's falling behind can both seem checked out. Both may avoid homework, complain that school is "boring," or act out in class. The difference matters, because it changes what you're looking for next. Ask your child's current teacher what they see. Look at recent work. Is it easy and rushed, or hard and unfinished? That one question narrows your search considerably.
Changing schools comes with real trade-offs: new routines, new friends, new expectations, and sometimes a dip in grades during the first months. If a meeting with the current teacher, a different classroom, or some extra help might solve the problem, try that first. A move makes the most sense when the mismatch is about the school itself, such as its size, its structure, or its approach, rather than one tough year.
Once you know what's missing, judge every school against that, not against a general checklist. If your child needs more challenge, look for evidence of how teachers extend work for students who are ready, and ask for an example from the past month. If your child needs more structure, pay attention to how the day is organized and how expectations are explained to students. If they need more support, find out whether help happens inside the classroom, in small groups, or both. A school can be excellent and still be strong in a different area than the one your child needs.
Joining partway through elementary school is different from starting in kindergarten. Most of the class already knows each other, and teachers are meeting your child in the middle of the story. Ask how a school learns about a new student before the first day. Valley School asks families applying to grades 1 through 6 for records from their current school, along with a teacher recommendation, which gives the school an early picture of the child. Then ask what happens during the first few weeks, and who checks in on how a new student is settling in.
Not every reason to change schools is academic. Friendships change, peer groups split, and sometimes a child just needs a place where they aren't defined by last year. That's a legitimate reason to look around. A new school won't solve everything, though. Talk with your child about what they hope will be different, and look for a community where those hopes seem realistic.
You know your child's mornings, moods, and homework habits better than anyone. Write down what you've noticed over the past few months, including the good days. Bringing those notes to school visits keeps the conversation focused on your child, rather than on a general pitch.
At our Van Nuys campus, students are supported by a full-time learning specialist who works across all grades and subjects, a math specialist, and a credentialed guidance counselor. Read about our support programs and admissions process, then schedule a campus tour so we can talk about what your child needs.
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