Early education is very important for all children. A study by The Perry Preschool Project shows that kids who attend preschool have higher high school graduation rates and better jobs down the road. There are lots of advantages to pre-K education, including critical knowledge and social interaction. The real decision that parents need to make is which preschool they should choose.

Families in large cities have many preschool choices. Some are in the public school system, while others are charter schools with unique curriculum. This decision can be very intimidating for the parents of a future preschooler. To help, here are three effective tips for finding the top-rated preschool for your student:

Ask Around

Do you have any friends or family members who have been through this process? If so, try talking to them. These people have valuable insight into the program that they selected (and maybe those that they didn't. A few casual conversations can provide you with a few preschools that you can look into.

Ranking Websites

Google "best preschools in (your area)" and you will probably find two types of results: actual preschools and review websites. These websites will include rankings and reviews for a number of different preschools in your area. You don't need to choose the pre-K school with top ranking automatically, but these sites will help make your choice easier.

Visit Preschools

Before you make your decision, visiting a few top-rated preschools is a must. Call in advance to find out when these preschools allow visitors.

If you follow all of these steps, it should be much easier to find the best early education option for your future student.