Type: zoned public, charter, magnet, private, micro-school, or homeschool co-op

Grades served and total enrollment

Admission method: address, lottery, application, audition, or test

Commute time door-to-door at the actual morning hour

Total annual cost including fees, meals, activities, and transportation

State report-card growth scores, not just proficiency

Class size and student-teacher ratio at your child's grade

Course offerings: AP, IB, dual enrollment, world languages, arts, CTE

Reading and math intervention available for students who fall behind

Gifted, honors, or acceleration pathways

Special-education and 504 supports actually staffed on site

English-learner programming if relevant

Counselor-to-student ratio and mental-health supports

Chronic-absenteeism rate and teacher retention

Discipline approach and the published behavior policy

Rate each school 1–10 on your family's top five priorities the same day you visit

Talk to two current families per school, outside official events

Confirm every deadline and put them in one calendar

Name your first choice and a real backup before lottery results arrive