Should Your Kids Attend the Same School?

In families with more than one child, parents usually assume—at least when the kids are very young—that they'll end up attending the same school. Often, parents move to an area specifically for the schools, planning their lives around the likely educational paths of all their children.

As kids get older, however, sometimes a school that seemed right for the first child isn't as good a fit for the second or third. The children may have very different personalities or learning styles; one child may thrive in a particular school while another seems to languish.

In such situations, carefully evaluating the educational needs of each child is crucial. Although sending everyone to the same school may be more convenient or desirable from other standpoints, doing so is not always the best decision.

Consider, for example, a family where the oldest child is quiet, introverted, and "bookish," while the youngest is highly social and very involved in sports and other school activities. The former may not do well in a large public high school where no one notices her and she feels too shy to approach teachers or other students. Her sibling, on the other hand, may be much happier and more successful in that environment than in a small, academically rigorous private school.

Financial considerations may also play a role in deciding whether or not to send kids to the same school. Although children from the same family might all do well at and be admitted to a nearby private school, their parents may only be able to afford to enroll one. This type of situation is particularly difficult, and because of the potential long-term ramifications of choosing one child over the other(s), keeping all the kids in public school may well be the best decision.

In sum, deciding whether or not your children should attend the same school isn't always easy. Sometimes the answer is clear, but more often, it isn't. Taking a close look at each child's educational needs, learning style, and personality—as well as the family's finances and any other relevant factors—is key to making a decision that will be in the best long- and short-term interests for as many family members as possible.