Things to watch out for:
1) Grades must be going up and not down
2) Any extracurricular activities, and leadership positions (like captain or president) in those activities. Activities can include sports, community service, school newspaper, etc.
3) Any working experience during the summer
4) SAT scores
5) TOEFL scores if necessary
6) How many AP courses your child is taking
7) Know the schools: college visits