Every year as the new school year approaches, a lot of questions are raised about what school should the children attend after their parents are divorced and living separately.

Each parent naturally wants their children to attend the school most convenient to them and nearest to their home. Sometimes the only resolution to this disagreement between the parents is for the court to take a decision on the matter.

Often time parents think it helps to provide reports of a school’s rating, the school having better educated teachers or extra-curricular activities that the school may have.

Below are some of the many factors that the court will take into consideration:

• The child’s educational needs;
• The curriculum of the school;
• The method of teaching;
• The quality of instruction at each school;
• The child’s past academic achievements and how they may or may not be achievable in the new school;
• If they child has any special medical needs and how or how well the new school will be able to serve those needs;
• Extracurricular activities;
• Existing relationships that the child has with teachers, classmates, or administration; and
• The child’s ability to adapt to a new environment

Notwithstanding the different factors listed above, the court will ultimately look at what is in the best interest of the child before making a decision.