Private Schools Resurging

Worried that your child’s public education is a sinking ship? You’re not alone.

Parents do not want to take on unnecessary expenses if they will not ultimately benefit their child. And it used to be that you could count on public schools to provide a solid educational foundation. But these days, more and more parents are opting to make sacrifices elsewhere in their lives, in spite of economic woes, to enroll their children in private schools, because of budget cuts to public schools. A private school can run, on average from 12,000 to 30,000 dollars a year, the benefits of a private education can still far outweigh the costs depending on the local options parents may face. Students who attend private schools can be more academically challenged, exposed to clearer value systems, given greater access to teachers, and may simply feel safer than local public school options. If you do decide to pursue private schooling for your child, start the research process early. Admission to private schools can be competitive, and finding a school that is a perfect fit for your child where he or she will be also be accepted, may take some time.

High Academic Standards
Private schools can be more academically rigorous than public schools, and private school students may have to meet more criteria to keep up their grade point averages. According to The Condition of Education 2001, from the National Center for Education Statistics, “Private high schools typically have more demanding graduation requirements than do public high schools. Compared with public schools, private schools required more coursework (in 4-year high school programs).” The push to meet this higher standard often results in a greater level of student performance. In a recent NAEP report it was found that, “Students in private schools scored significantly above the national average in grades four, eight, and twelve. As the report put it, ‘Performance results in 2002 show that, at all three grades, students who attended nonpublic schools had higher average writing scores than students who attended public schools.’” In general, a student given the opportunity to attend a private school will most likely reach a higher level of academic achievement.

Exposure to the Arts
Private schools have the ability to create their own curriculum. Although, they must ultimately prepare students with the same basic course as any other school, private schools also have the option to add various elements to their programs. Private school administrators often develop programs that emphasize the Arts, even in schools like the Girls Math & Science Academy, which specializes in science education. In public schools, government regulations on public schools prevent them from spending more than a certain percentage of school funds on the Arts. Private schools, however, are not subject to the same regulations, and they have more freedom to develop and expand these programs as they wish.

Extraordinary College Preparedness
Data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, “Fourth Follow-up” (NELS: 1988/2000) show that, “Students who had attended private school in 8th grade were twice as likely as those who had attended public school to have completed a bachelor’s or higher degree by their mid-20s (52 versus 26 percent) and far less likely to have had no postsecondary education.” Private schools often encourage their students to take an active role in their own college admission process. Students may be given more access to information about college options, and they may be made more aware of the requirements they must fulfill to qualify for a specific school.

Excellent Teachers
Because teachers at private schools are not required to earn the same certifications as public school teachers, some parents worry that the teachers are not as qualified. This is not necessarily true. Private schools must maintain their reputations and create positive word of mouth to survive. Toward this end, private schools are generally very selective about who they place in front of their students, and they choose educators with training specific to the subject they will be teaching.

A Community in Itself
When you decide to enroll your child in a private school, your family becomes part of a network of families with the same goals. Parents at private schools are more involved in the lives of the students and various school events. As a parent, you may have the opportunity to connect with other parents to discuss the lives of your children. Such relationships allow parents to learn from each other and support each other. The students also benefit from the community atmosphere of private schools. The very specific personalities of private schools often lead the students to have a strong sense of pride and loyalty to the school and its community. The student may also benefit from affiliation to the school far beyond graduation day. Many private schools have alumni mentoring programs that connect older alumni with newer ones. Recent graduates may find internship opportunities with alumni who have been working in their field of interest.

Conclusion
Despite facing economically uncertain times, or perhaps because of economically uncertain times, parents are opting to enroll their children in private schools rather than public schools to ensure their children’s future. Families previously loyal to their public school, are not able to stomach recent cutbacks in public education, and are opting to sacrifice other lifestyle areas, than their child’s education.