We've all looked for a home to buy or rent. You know it is impossible to find the perfect residence. Along with budget constraints, there are also reality constraints. When you look at what is available, the place with the best kitchen may have the worst bathrooms or inadequate closets. Your best option features wise might be in an inconvenient location. You know the drill. You have to figure out which option will be best, knowing that there is no perfect choice. School is similar.

It's highly unlikely you will find the perfect schooling situation. And if you do, because families change, children change, and groups change, it likely won't remain perfect year after year. Just like when looking for a home, you need to do an honest examination of what matters to you most.

There are four main categories of services that schools offer: support, academics, structured enrichment, and culture.

Support is one of the biggest and most important considerations in today's world. Few parents have extended family to help with childcare, while more and more families have two working parents. More than ever, the childcare aspect of school is critical to families. No teacher likes to think of school as babysitting, but the reality is, for some families, this is exactly what they need.

Within the support category are programs like before-care and aftercare, transportation to and from school, and food preparation on campus. These services can significantly cut down on time obligations for busy working parents.

Realistically, if you don't have one parent functioning as a stay-at-home caregiver, support will be a very important category for you. Everyone is a better parent when they aren't over-extended and frazzled. How well a school fits into a parent's schedule and commute is a practical factor to consider for the sanity of the whole household.

Next, let's look at academics. What does your child need academically? Do they fall into a sweet spot where they'll blend into pretty much any classroom? Do they require extra help and need instructors with specialized training to succeed? Are they a rapid learner who needs the freedom to move more quickly than a most classrooms allows? Are you looking for a specific style of instruction or a particular curriculum?

Along with how your child learns, how important are academics to you? Are they important enough that you're willing to support your child through an academically rigorous program? Or would less rigorous academics be a better fit? No matter how intelligent your child is, they will need support to complete a demanding academic program.

Structured enrichment refers to enrichment activities run by adults with coaching, commitment, and expectations. Examples include sports, theater, and art programs. This does not include young people organizing their own games, bands, or plays.

Some schools focus heavily on specific enrichment activities. For instance, some are well known for their football teams, while others might emphasize an arts program.

Finally, the fourth side of the square is culture. This encompasses socialization, time with friends, and learning how to function in a group—all within a cultural environment that aligns with your values. The culture parents seek is usually one they are comfortable with and see as positively shaping their child. This could include religious affiliation, socioeconomic diversity, a group of similar affluence, “granola”, or other cultural characteristics.

These are the four main categories that a school provides for families. Which is most important to you? And which are you willing to compromise on to prioritize something in another category? What do you think best fits your family, public school, private school or homeschooling?