Parent survey for schools: what to ask and when during the school year

At a school, the decision to move a child is made months before re-enrollment. By the time the withdrawal letter arrives, it is too late to fix whatever was bothering the family. A well-timed parent survey gives you time to react.

With one response per family, a school with 300 families collects around 250 responses per survey when it is sent well. Three surveys a year means over 700.

Three moments in the year

The mid-year survey is the most useful: there is still half a year left to fix things, and parents already have a formed opinion.

What to ask

• Which level is your child in? (preschool, elementary, middle school). If they have several children, one response per child.
• School communication with families (1 to 5).
• Safety on campus (1 to 5).
• How do you prefer to get notices? (WhatsApp, email, school planner, school app).
• How likely are you to recommend the school to another family? (0 to 10).
• What would you like the school to improve?

Avoid asking about named teachers in this survey. That is what the teacher evaluation is for; here it only produces emotional answers that are hard to use.

How to send it so parents answer

• Through the channel the school already uses with parents, often a messaging app. Email gets opened far less.
• With a message from the principal, not from "administration".
• Saying how long it takes and what it will be used for.
• Just one reminder, three or four days later.

Comparing by level

Preschool parents and middle-school parents experience different schools. In preschool there is daily contact; in middle school, sometimes only the report card. Looked at together, the average hides the problem.

And tell parents what will change because of the survey, even if it is just one thing. They will answer more next time.