Find the kind of school that's right for your family.
Every school has a different idea of how children learn best. Before you choose one, find out which approaches match what matters most to you.
Take our free 10-question quiz to discover your family's school fit, understand the trade-offs, and find schools near you worth exploring.
We'll ask for your email and ZIP code at the end to send your results and find nearby schools.
There are fewer grades and tests, so "is my kid on track?" can be hard to answer without asking.
Example results
Two good schools can give your child two very different experiences.
At one school, teachers lead lessons and students follow a set curriculum.
At another, children choose much of their own work.
Some build their days around great books and discussion. Others emphasize projects, hands-on learning, or time outdoors.
These aren't small differences. They shape your child's entire school day.
The question isn't simply whether a school is good. It's whether the way it teaches matches what you want for your child.
A school tour can only tell you so much.
You can see the classrooms. Meet the teachers. Hear about the curriculum.
But what happens when your child struggles? How much freedom will they have? What does discipline look like? How involved are parents expected to be?
Those answers matter just as much as the things you see on a tour.
Know what you're looking for before you walk through the door.
Three minutes now. Better questions when you tour.
Discover your school fit
Answer 10 questions about what you believe children need, how they learn, and what matters most in their education.
See what each approach gives up
Compare your answers with seven kinds of school. See what an ordinary day might look like, where your answers pull in different directions, and what families may not realize until after enrolling.
Find schools worth exploring
See schools near your ZIP code that align with your results, compare practical details, and take better questions into your next tour.
What if your child is already in school?
Maybe something feels off. Maybe they're having a hard time adjusting. Or maybe the school simply isn't what you expected.
Before you decide to stay or leave, it helps to understand whether you're dealing with an adjustment, a problem at that particular school, or a mismatch with its whole approach.
The quiz can help you start sorting that out.
Built by a school founder. Not to sell you a school.
I'm Ben, and I founded and run a learner-driven school in Virginia.
I've seen how easily families can fall in love with a school's vision without fully understanding what everyday life there will be like.
I built AlignEd to help parents ask better questions before making that decision.
The quiz compares seven approaches to education, not school brands. My own school is an Acton Academy, and Acton isn't one of the results. Every scoring weight is published, and schools aren't ranked by who pays us. Your contact information isn't shared with schools.
And no, a quiz can't make this decision for you.
But it can help you understand what you're choosing.
Which one sounds like your family?
Tap one to see what a day looks like.
Stop chasing enrollment. Start finding families who fit.
Meet families who already understand your approach and are looking for something like it.
The quiz is free. Help is there if you want it.
The quiz
- Your match across all 7 kinds of school
- The trade-offs of your top match
- Schools near you, ranked by fit
- Questions to ask on a tour
- A link for your partner to compare answers
School Fit Clarity
- Two one-hour video calls with a school founder
- A written decision guide you keep
- No pitch for any school, including his
Founder Readiness Assessment
- Three one-hour video calls
- A written go, pause, or reconsider
- Before you sign a lease
Before you start
Is the quiz really free?
Yes. There's no cost and no account to create. You answer a few quick questions, then enter your email and ZIP code to see your results.
Why do you ask for my email and ZIP code?
Your ZIP code is how we find schools near you. Your email lets us send you a link to your results so you can come back to them or share them with your partner.
Do you share my information with schools?
No. We don't share your contact information with schools. If that ever changes, we'll update our privacy policy and ask for your permission first.
How do you find schools near me?
We research schools within 30 miles of your ZIP code, using public school lists and AI web research, then sort them by how well they fit your results. A school only shows up if we found it on a real web page, but details like tuition change, so always confirm with the school.
Is the quiz biased toward a certain kind of school?
It's built not to be. Every answer is scored against all seven philosophies the same way, and you can see every weight on our How Scoring Works page. Named school networks like Acton Academy aren't results at all; we show them as blends of the philosophies they draw on.
We just started at a new school and I'm not sure it's working. Can you help?
Yes. The first months in a new kind of school are often bumpy, and that's usually normal. A School Fit Clarity session can help you sort out whether it's an adjustment, a problem with how this particular school runs, or a real mismatch with your family. Sometimes the best answer is to stay.
What ages is this for?
Any age from preschool through high school. It's most useful when you're choosing a preschool, elementary, or middle school, since that's where the differences between philosophies show up most.
What if two philosophies are close?
That's common, and it's useful to know. Many schools blend approaches. Tour a school from each of your top two and see which one your child lights up in.
There's no perfect school. Find one that fits.
You don't need to become an education expert to make a more informed choice.
You just need a clearer picture of what matters to your family and which schools teach that way.
Find my school fit10 questions · 3 minutes · Completely free