All children need early education. A survey by The Perry Preschool Project shows that children who graduate preschool have higher high school graduation rates and higher-paying jobs down the road. There are lots of advantages to preschools, including critical knowledge and social interaction. So this leaves parents with an important question: Which preschool should they select?

Parents have lots of preschools to choose from, especially if they live in a big city. Some are in the local public school system, while others are charter schools with unique curriculum. Finding the best pre-K school is no easy selection. Here are three effective strategies that can help make this choice easier:

Ask Around

The best resource for finding the best preschools in your area are parents who have children who attended preschool recently. These people have valuable insight into the program that they selected (and maybe those that they didn't. After a few conservations, you'll have a better idea of the pre-K schools you want to look into.

Visit Rating Websites

Try a Google search for "top-rated preschools in (your area)" and you'll likely find two result categories: specific preschools and ranking websites. These websites will include reviews and rankings for lots of different preschools in your area. We're not saying you should run with whatever pre-K school the site ranks first. But it will provide you with information to make the choice easier.

Take a Tour

Before you make your decision, visiting a few of your favorite preschools is a must. This gives you the chance to talk to teachers and see if the school fits your criteria. Call in advance to find out when these preschools welcome visitors.

Following these basic steps will ideally lead you to selecting the top-rated preschool for your child to receive their early education.