10 Questions to Ask on a Private School Tour
Choosing a private school comes down to a few things: how the school teaches, who is teaching, how large the groups are, and how the school knows your child is learning. Every school has a polished answer to “tell us about your program.” These ten questions help you compare schools on the same footing, whichever ones are on your list.
1. What is the teaching model, and what does it look like on an ordinary Tuesday?
Ask to see it in action, not only to hear it described. Words like “hands-on,” “personalized,” and “inquiry-based” appear on almost every school website. Ask what students are doing at 10 a.m., who decided what they would work on, and how that connects to the approach the school says it follows. A school that knows its model well can answer in specifics.
2. How many students are in each group, and how many adults are in the room?
Ask for the actual number, and ask whether it changes between subjects. A class of 12 and a class of 25 give a teacher very different amounts of time with each student. Also ask whether groups are organized strictly by grade or by readiness, because that shapes how well a school can meet students where they are.
3. What happens when a student is ahead in one subject and still building skills in another?
Many children are not at the same level in every subject. Ask how the school places students in each subject, how often placement is revisited, and where the plan for a student is written down. A good answer includes a process, a person responsible, and a way for families to see the plan.
4. How does the school measure progress?
Grades, portfolios, projects, standardized tests, and mastery checks all measure different things. Ask what a progress report looks like and request a sample with names removed. Ask how often families hear from teachers and whether that includes feedback on work, not only a score.
5. Is the school accredited, and by whom?
Accreditation is an outside review of a school’s program. Ask which organization accredits the school, whether the accreditation is current, and what the review looked at. Then ask the school to explain in plain language what that means for your child’s day-to-day experience.
6. What does the full week look like, and who is teaching at every point?
Ask for a written weekly schedule with start times, end times, and days on campus. If any part of the week happens off campus or at home, ask who plans that work, who checks it, and how teachers follow up. Schools use many different schedules, and the details matter more than the label.
7. What experience do the teachers bring, and how are they supported?
Ask about teaching credentials, years of classroom experience, and how much planning time teachers get. Students do their best work with teachers who have the time and training to know them well, and schools that invest in their faculty usually have a clear answer ready.
8. How does the school support students socially and emotionally?
Ask how the school handles conflict, how it welcomes new students, and how teachers notice when a student is having a hard time. If your child would be joining partway through a school year, ask what that transition looks like in practice.
9. How does the school prepare students for what comes next?
Ask which skills the school builds that will matter later, such as writing, research, managing time, and working with others, and how it knows students are building them. Ask how students take on more responsibility for their own learning as they get older. Strong answers name specific habits and abilities that carry into high school, college, and work.
10. What does the admissions process involve, and what are the costs?
Ask about the full cost of attending and what is included. Ask how financial aid decisions are made, what the timeline looks like, and what the school wants to learn about your child during the process. A clear, friendly answer here usually reflects how the school communicates with families overall.
What This Looks Like at AMPed Hybrid Academy
AMPed Hybrid Academy is a full-time private school for students in kindergarten through 9th grade in Farmington Hills, serving families across Oakland County and Metro Detroit. Students follow a complete academic program with instruction, assessment, and advancement, the same as at any full school. The schedule is where AMPed looks different: students are on campus two days each week plus every other Friday, and the remaining days are faculty-guided independent learning tied to current projects and coursework.
A few of the specifics families ask about:
- Teaching model. AMPed is built around project-based learning. The project is the curriculum, driven by student inquiry and shared publicly, with academic skills built in service of that work. Our guide to project-based learning shows what that looks like day to day.
- Group size. Cohorts are small, with space limited to 12 students, so teachers know each student’s strengths and next steps.
- Individual pacing. Each student has a Personalized Education Plan (PEP), and progress is based on demonstrated mastery rather than age or seat time.
- Measuring progress. Learning is standards-aligned and mastery-based, and it is assessed through projects, portfolios, and ongoing faculty review.
- Accreditation. AMPed is accredited through the Middle States Association and is the first school in Michigan on its Next Generation Accreditation pathway, which was designed for innovative school models.
- The weekly schedule. Independent learning days are planned by teachers and tied to specific work. Our guide to hybrid learning walks through a typical week.
- Teachers. AMPed’s faculty are experienced educators who plan and guide both on-campus and independent learning days. Our Faculty & Leadership page introduces them.
- Social and emotional support. Social-emotional growth is embedded into the learning experience every day, from small-group project work to the check-ins teachers have with students.
- Preparing for what comes next. Students build research, problem-solving, and communication skills through projects they share publicly, document their growth in portfolios, and take on increasing responsibility for how and what they learn as they get older. Our Leadership & Real-World Learning page has examples.
- Admissions. Admission decisions are made without regard to a family’s financial situation, and financial aid is available. Details are on the Tuition & Financial Aid page.
Quick Answers
What should I look for when choosing a private school? Look for a clearly explained teaching model, small enough groups for teachers to know each student, a way to measure progress that you can see, current accreditation, and a schedule you understand in full.
What questions should I ask on a private school tour? Ask what a typical day looks like, how many students are in each group, how the school supports a student who is ahead or behind in a subject, how progress is measured, and who accredits the school.
Is a hybrid schedule a full private school education? It can be. What matters is whether the school offers a complete academic program with qualified teachers, regular assessment, and outside accreditation. At AMPed, the hybrid schedule is the structure of a full-time private school week.
What grades does AMPed Hybrid Academy serve? Kindergarten through 9th grade.
Where is AMPed Hybrid Academy located? 29375 Halsted Rd, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48331, in Oakland County.
Does AMPed accept students mid-year? Mid-year enrollment may be possible depending on cohort availability and fit. Teachers plan a thoughtful transition aligned with current projects and learning goals.
Ready to see how these answers look in person? Schedule a tour or get in touch with questions. We are happy to talk through your list, even if AMPed turns out not to be the right fit.