Choosing a school for your child

Questions to ask

1. How many students are in each class?

   Class size is the single biggest predictor of individual attention. A class of 6 is a fundamentally different experience from a class of 15. Ask for the actual number, not the maximum.

   At Open Wings

   Our average class size is 6 students, with a teacher and a teaching associate in every room.

2. What is the adult-to-student ratio?

   Ratio tells you how many adults are available to notice, respond to, and teach your child. Look for schools where every classroom has at least two adults, so no child waits.

   At Open Wings

   Our ratio is 1:3. Every classroom has two dedicated adults.

3. What specific curricula does the school use?

   A school that names its curricula is a school that has chosen them deliberately. You should be able to look up those programs independently and find published research behind them.

   At Open Wings

   We use Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, Math Expressions and Illustrative Math, Mystery Science, and 7 Mindsets for social-emotional learning, among others.

4. Is the school accredited, and by whom?

   Accreditation means an outside organization has reviewed the school's programs, governance, and finances. Not all accrediting bodies are equally rigorous. Ask which one, and look it up.

   At Open Wings

   Open Wings is accredited through ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States), one of the most respected independent-school accrediting bodies in the Midwest.

5. How does the school describe its approach to learning differences?

   Listen to the language. A "neurodiversity-affirming" school sees your child's differences as part of who they are. A "special education" school may frame the same child as having deficits to remediate. The distinction shapes everything from how goals are set to how your child feels about themselves.

   At Open Wings

   We are neurodiversity-affirming. We teach to each child's strengths, and we define students by what they can do, not by a diagnosis.

6. How many days per week does the school operate?

   Some schools run a four-day week. That can work for some families, but for working parents it means arranging an extra day of care every week. Ask, and plan accordingly.

   At Open Wings

   Open Wings operates a full five-day school week.

7. Can I see the school in action before enrolling?

   A tour tells you what no website can. Watch how staff speak to students. Notice whether children are engaged or waiting. See whether the environment feels calm or overstimulating.

   At Open Wings

   We welcome tours and offer shadow days so your child can experience the classroom firsthand before you decide.

8. Does the school accept the Wisconsin Special Needs Scholarship?

   The SNSP is a state-funded voucher for eligible students with disabilities. Schools that accept it can make tuition significantly more affordable. Ask every school you are considering.

   At Open Wings

   Yes. Open Wings accepts the SNSP, and most of our families use it. We also offer income-based tuition adjustments for the remaining balance.