Four Questions to ask When Choosing a Private School
Everyone wants the best schools for their children, but finding the right school can be a daunting task. Not even considering the public schools, the number of private school choices is high. Currently there are 30,861 private schools in the United States. These schools serve approximately 5.3 million students from prekindergarten through the 12th grade. In large cities, private schools enroll 1.5 times as many students as the public schools, and parent satisfaction with private school education is very high. Typically, 80% or more of private school parents teport being very satisfied with the education their children are receiving.
That?s good news, but it is still necessary to find the best middle schools, high schools, or elementary schools for your students and your How Does the School Match Your Family Values?
Religious convictions can of course come into play here, but your family’s values can encompass far more than this. Consider your take on homework. How much do you want your children to be doing? Some parents want their children packing in as much school learning as possible and learning through homework to improve their self-study skills. Other parents want their children to have plenty of time to learn life skills and other intangibles from parents and other adults outside of school. Your family’s personal style could even influence your choice when it comes to starting and ending times. What time does everyone get up? When do parents have to be at work? How far is the school from home or from work? Is there a lunch program, and if so, does it serve meal options you feel comfortable with your child eating? These are all basics to ask when looking for the best schools. It’s very important to know how the school Will respond when discipline is required. The school’s discipline policy should be clear and direct so that both parents and students always know what will happen. Disciplinary policies can very widely, so it’s worth checking finding a school that will deal with issues in a way that you find positive. Of course, difficulties do not only come up with students! How will the school interact with you? How will they help to resolve issues between parents, if at all? These are important questions when looking for a good private school. This may seem like the wrong question. Surely your primary concern is what the school is doing for its students? In reality, the way a school treats its teachers can tell you a lot about its culture. Teachers should be held to high standards, but they should also be supported and compensated in a way that encourages and motivates them. There should be opportunities for professional development, and teachers should be collaborating. The teacher to student ratio of each class should be as low as feasibly possible. Of course this is primarily so that teachers can engage individually with every student, but a low ratio also helps to avoid teacher overwork and burnout. These can include after school activities, extra courses in the arts or sciences, and other activities such as chess club. It’s also important to find out what extra academic help to be made available for your child, as well as what the school can offer for children with learning disabilities. The best schools should also have accelerated programs to challenge gifted learners. If considering a high school, it’s also worth asking what they can offer in terms of college prep guidance counseling and tutoring. whether or not a school Will be one of the best schools for your child depends upon more then simple chart rankings of schools in your area. Take the time to ask the questions you need to find the best schools for your child and your family. How Does the School Resolve Difficult Issues?
What is the School Doing for its Teachers?
What Does the School Offer in Terms of ?Extras??
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