The Private School Search: Where to Start?

With every private school brochure flashing standards imposed on public schools. photos of smiling students thriving in A simple way to begin thinking about which private science labs and onstage, it can be hard to school may be right for your child is to look at how the tell schools apart. Though on closer look, each school school is structured. For example, some schools do not has its own personality, spanning a wider range of assign homework and others group different grades educational styles and often offering smaller classes together in one classroom. By doing this step, it is easy than public schools. to rule out schools that are not of interest. Some schools follow distinct educational philosophies like An easy, simple way It’s time to start thinking about fall of 2021 if your child is about to Waldorf or Montessori. Others to begin thinking begin her last year of preschool or focus on music, offer a girlsabout which private is in fifth or eighth grade. Starting only student body, a year-round schedule, or teach their curriculum school may be right for a year before you actually need to can help relieve anxiety as well as exclusively in French. There your child is to look give you time to do you research. are schools with impressive at how the school is The timeline for what can be a art, sports, drama, and science programs. Some are K–5 or K–8, structured. rigorous search for private schools begins with open house events and others only grades 6–8, and still others are K–12. All tours starting in September; applications in December of these schools have the luxury of complete freedom and January; and acceptance or rejection letters in designing curriculum to fit the school’s philisophy in early March. The sooner you can start checking because they are not subject to the state testing out schools that interest you, the better, whether those schools are independent or parochial. >>>

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Parents who have been through the process before recommend the following combination of first steps: • Look hard at your finances to see what kind of tuition your household is willing to handle. Find out if there are extra costs for books, computers, or after-school care, and if the school offers financial aid. • Weed out schools that won’t work because of things like location or early start times. • Learn basic facts like the number of students enrolled and student-teacher ratio. • Consider your child’s particular learning style by consulting with current teachers (from preschool or day care, for example). • Think about your family’s educational philosophy.

Ask how students are tested, and how teachers convey expectations, teach classes and administer grades. • Make a list of what matters most to you and your child. Perhaps it’s that the school is diverse, emphasizes the arts, has a grassy play area or a dance studio. It could also be that your child needs before-school care, elementary grades only, or an alternative learning environment. • Talk to families whose children already attend those schools. Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions. Ask other families what unique programs their children

have benefitted from. • If your child is entering kindergarten and has a fall birthday, research schools’ age cutoffs. Private schools usually prefer that children turn five before entering kindergarten. Some use cutoff dates as early as June 1st. • Once you’ve got a list of schools to check out, create a list of admission event dates, application and financial assistance registration deadlines.

As parents move through this lengthy process, they should reflect on the desires, needs, and learning styles of their child. This process is different depending on the child’s age. There are things that are clear about a fifth-grader (like how they handle homework and social conflict, whether they favor sports or the arts) that aren’t evident yet with a preschooler. Parents of eighthgraders have the easiest and the hardest time with this. While it’s easier for the parents of a middle-schooler to pinpoint the social tendencies and learning style of their 13-year-old, that teenager often has thoughts of her own about which school to attend.

The school search process is a stressful one. However, with some advance preparation and cclear goals, it doesn’t have to be onerous. You might even gain some new insight into yourself and your child along the way. 

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