After researching information about schools and hearing what information was found by others, it helped show me the variety of schools offered and how each school can bring something  unique to the table. I enjoyed this project and digging deeper into what schools are really like behind the scenes; my tops five insights from this experience are as follows:

1. The size of a school and/or their district does not determine whether or not it is successful. What makes a school successful is the amount their students gain, the opportunities given to them, and the sense of community throughout the school. Just because a school is small does not mean they cannot accomplish this. Of these, I think that building a strong community is most important because it gives a feeling of welcoming and positivity, and makes the students feel encouraged, appreciative, and they enjoy their time there.
2. Test scores should not represent a school. There is a lot more to a school than how they score on standardized tests. I believe that the schools who do not stress these tests and move focus away from them are superior because one test should not define you as a student. You can receive a great education without scoring perfectly on a standardized test.
3. Purpose for students is important and should be a focus for schools. I believe that students should see the purpose behind the curriculum and understand why they are learning it. I think this will lead to them taking classes more seriously and seeing the potential this has on helping them have more options for future careers. Keeping an open mind is very important, and I think this is one way to do it.
4. Providing opportunities for students is important! The more opportunities you can provide, including clubs, sports, and advanced classes, the more students will be involved because there are options for them to choose from. If students can find something they will enjoy and interests them to be involved in, they will be able to make friends who they share interests with and participate in something they love. Schools should also offer students the opportunity to start their own clubs so that students can work to become leaders and learn how to organize events.
5. Sharing information with parents is something that can help students be successful. Providing many ways for parents to know what is going on at school, seeing their child’s grades and attendance, and giving them the options to easily contact teachers allows them to talk to their child about school. They can help them and encourage them if they are struggling, and contact teachers if things need to be changed or cleared up. This allows not only the teachers to push a child to be successful, but their parents to as well.

Like I mentioned before, I really enjoyed researching and finding new information about schools. I did some research on the high school I came from, and after hearing from the principal what they aim to do for their students, it showed me how lucky I was to attend a school where they cared so much for their students. This project was meaningful to me because it showed me what to look for in schools in the future. The more opportunities provided, the more enjoyable it will be, and you should not be afraid to challenge yourself because a caring school will be there to support you through it. I also found meaning in the fact that there are many different types of schools to choose from that will be best for you and your learning style. There are many school types to choose from, and choosing what is right for you will help lead you into even more success.