Contracts hmmm. Well the best advice I can give you about them, if your school has them, is look at the advanced classes do they retain their Dan's? Also if you get a chance watch a few classes just not one, take a couple of weeks just stop in unannounced a few times look at the way the teacher interacts with his/her students. Unfortunately most schools that are run as full time endevours are forced to use contracts. Not that that is a bad thing, I just have mixed emotions about contracts in general. But anyway good luck in your search and remember choosing a school is a very personal thing and if you choose the right one it could be a place that you are involved with for the rest of your life.