Private schools are relatively new to the education system. They have risen in popularity over the years, becoming a more attractive option for parents who want to give their children an education with an accelerated curriculum. Some of the best private schools in my area are also the most expensive ones. But they offer a more intimate learning environment with smaller class sizes and personalized learning plans for each student. They also tend to have higher graduation rates and higher college acceptance rates than public schools.
A private school is an alternative to a public school. Private schools offer a different type of education, usually a more rigorous curriculum that prepares students for college. The tuition is usually much higher than in a public school.
Are private schools part of a school district? Private schools are not part of a school district and have their own educational system, but they have to follow the same rules and regulations as the state in which they’re located. Private schools also have to take state standardized tests. The best private school websites have links to various types of private school data, including tuition rates, admission requirements, student-teacher ratios, and SAT scores for last year’s graduating seniors from each high-school program.
Making decisions for a child’s education is a daunting, intimidating, and extremely important responsibility for every parent. Indeed, getting your child’s education off to a good start will literally shape their entire lives!
The first decision a parent must make regarding their kid’s education is whether to send their kids to public or private school. When a parent is involved and supportive of their kid’s education, both public and private schools can provide extremely successful educational paths. It is the parent’s job to fully vet out the school choices a child has and to decide what meets his or her needs best. Studies show, parents who decided to pursue private education for their children, did so for the following reasons:
1. Class and School Size
Most private schools are smaller than their public counterparts. 86% of private schools have less than 300 kids. In fact, nearly 25% of all the schools in the United States are private, yet they hold only 10% of the students. Smaller schools and class sizes means closer attention from teachers paid to each individual child.
2. Safety of Children
It is every parent’s greatest priority to keep their child safe. Many parents opt to put their kids in private school because they believe their child will be in a safer environment. The Fraser Institute study of private schools in 2007 indicated that 72% of parents who had children that attended private schools strongly agreed that their child’s private school was a safe environment.
3. Academic Advantage
Private school educations have a longstanding record of academic excellence. When SAT scores are compared, the average reading score across the nation is 497, and the average among private school students is 541. The national average for math scores is 514, whereas private school students averaged 579, and in writing the average score is 489, while private school students scored 550.
4. Extra Curricular Opportunities
Many parents choose to put their kids in private school because of the opportunities outside of the core curriculum. Many private high schools offer superior sports programs for student athletes. Also many times campus facilities, such as the technology in the school library, are better than that available in a public school setting.
5. Early Education
Attending a great preschool has been proven to help children throughout their entire educational career. Three separate studies were conducted on the value of preschool, which all show that 80% of children who attended a quality preschool out-performed the children who didn’t start their education until provided by the public school system.
