Ladies and Gentlemen, Place Your Bets!

The time has come to make some decisions here.

I've done just about as much research as a normal parent can do. Granted, I've known some folks to visit the same school multiple times in one year, and I didn't do that. I've known some folks who didn't go on any tours at all, and I didn't do that. I'm somewhere in the middle. Although, because of my job as a writer at GreatSchools, I had greater leeway than most to visit a wider variety of schools, I still functioned within the normal range.

I think most people would, after touring several schools, know in their heart of hearts which is the best one for them. Even though I have a pretty good idea which one I'll put first, I'm going to make a chart and compare the top candidates, pros and cons, to see if I can gain any more clarity.

Here's my chart:

Pros and Cons of My Top Choices

School
	Pros	Cons
The Up and Comer	Smaller student body (900 students) Good band program Beautiful building Strong parent involvement School definitely on the upswing A 20 minute drive from the house Italian is offered (a continuation of the language Alex is already studying in elementary school)	Test scores lower than the other four
The Hidden Gem	Small, cozy K-8 school Best test scores Very clean, orderly, quiet environment A 10 minute drive from the house	Music and sports programs are not as impressive as the bigger schools
His Sister's Old School	Italian is offered here too 10 blocks from our house Test scores are high Great music program Lots of sports (even though Alex doesn't care about sports now, he might in the next few years)	Tons of homework Building looks like a concrete fortress Huge (1300 kids)
Top of the Heap	Great test scores Beautiful building with awesome views of Golden Gate Bridge and downtown Outdoor education trips to Yosemite and Olympic Pennisula Great music program Lots of sports	30 minutes from the house Tons of homework Huge (1200 kids)
Number Two in the Test Score Wars	20 minutes from the house Test scores are high Great music program Lots of sports	Tons of homework Huge (1300 kids)

Hmmm, let's see. If all things were equal, then The Up and Comer would win, just based upon the number of Pros. But all things are not equal, and I have to give greater weight to the fact that His Sister's Old School is so close to the house. Proximity makes life so much saner.

Plus, I'm familiar with His Sister's Old School. I know the teachers, the administrators and the procedures. I'm just nervous about the amount of homework they give there. It was tough on my daughter, and I'm concerned that Alex won't handle it as well as she did.

Well, for better or for worse, I decided to rank my choices on the district application this way:

1. His Sister's Old School

2. The Hidden Gem

3. Top of the Heap

4. Number Two in the Test Score Wars

5. The Up and Comer

There, I did it!