7Benefits of Choosing a Private School

The School year has been everything but familiar or smooth and local students are in a variety of schooling environments; some schools follow a HyFlex model, some remain fully virtual and some have been largely face-to-face since August. As families continue to ride the roller coaster of changes, many parents are exploring what other educational options they have.

In early August, 56 San Diego County schools requested waivers from San Diego’s Health & Human Services Agency that would allow them to reopen; all but five were private schools. As these schools announced plans to return face-to-face, it caught the attention of some parents who wish they had explored this option sooner. For those who are still weighing educational options for your kids, I’m offering the lowdown on private schools as an educator, parent of two and former private school teacher.

There are many benefits to choosing a private school education, including but not limited to:

Enrollment

There are typically fewer students in each grade level and smaller class sizes in private schools. This tends to be important in primary grades when students learn literacy skills, and at the secondary level (middle and high schools) where the alternative is large, comprehensive schools. The student-toteacher ratio ranges from 14:1 to 16:1, compared to the San Diego Unified and California average ratio of 23:1.

“As a public school teacher, moving my child to private school was a difficult decision,” says Elizabeth Anglin, parent at Saint John School in Encinitas. “Ultimately, we chose to move her because as a first grader she needs a small, structured environment with opportunities to interact with peers and receive instructions in the classroom. The private school was able to accommodate COVID-19 health guidelines by delivering instruction in a small cohort. It has been the best educational decision we have made as parents.”

KNOW YOUR OPTIONS

There is no shortage of private school options in San Diego County. In 2019 there were 316 private schools, (typically preschool-8th grade). Roughly half are secular (not religious) and include Montessori, alternative, or special education, while the other half are religious-based schools (Christian, Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish, etc.).

Personalization

Because of smaller numbers in private school, teachers and administrators are more able to remain “nimble.” As a result, the needs of individual students can often be met when it comes to scheduling, supports or curriculum.

“Private school gives our son a chance to excel in areas where he may have been overlooked at public school,” says Sam Sarles, a parent at The Rhoades School. “With a very small class size and breakout groups based on knowledge level, we feel he’s more focused and inspired to learn and achieve his potential.”

Community

Many families are drawn to private schools because of the sense of community; whether it be grounded in religion or long-standing tradition and legacy family members. Private school environments are known for their events, deep connections, network, and relationships between students, between teachers and students, and amongst like-minded families.

Discipline

Private schools uphold high expectations for students with everything from uniforms and behavior to homework and attendance at events outside of school. Similar to the military, this is a known fact amongst the general public and sometimes gives students a “leg up” in future endeavors.

Parent Involvement

Because parents are funding private schools, administration prioritizes parent input and strives to involve parents in a variety of ways.

“The thing I value most [about private school] is that there is a personal investment in our kids,” says Tiffany Nikkel, parent of two at Santa Fe Christian in Solana Beach. “By nature of going to a private school there is a shared accountability between us and the school that ensures our kids are successful.”

Athletics

Private schools historically are very competitive in sports in San Diego County. A quick glance at athletes featured in the San Diego UnionTribune always includes students from private schools. Contrary to popular belief, private schools are not able to recruit due to CIF rules, but they draw top athletes from around the county (without boundary restrictions) because of their incredible resources.

Student Support

According to Juan Trevino, LCSW, of Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad, “Student support is where private schools really shine. At Pacific Ridge School we’re fortunate to have three student support specialists available to work with teachers, students and parents, and support the socialemotional and academic needs of our students. Smaller classes (15:1 ratio in the classroom; 7:1 overall) allow faculty to really get to know students, understand their learning styles and meet their needs. This is in addition to a college guidance department that boasts low student-to-counselor ratios (35:1).”

If you’re ready to take the next step, read “Considering Private School?” for my suggested questions to ask when exploring the private school option: www.sandiegofamily.com/resources/ education-directory.

Dr. Jenny Pieratt is a native San Diegan, award-winning author, speaker, business owner and mother of two. She loves sports, yoga and adventure. To learn more about her work visit www.craftedcurriculum.com.

February 2021 • SanDiegofamily.com • 19