Families Who Want to Send Their Children to Private Schools Should Find a Good Investment
Private does not always mean posh. Elite does not always mean educational.
As the Washington politicians consider a tax break that could mean as much as a $10,000 a year deduction for private kindergarten through 12 grade tuition, a growing number of Americans might look at this educational option for their children. Not all private schools are alike, however, and if your family finds itself looking for one of the best prep schools in your area it is important to consider the factors that make a school great. From engaging and rigorous curriculum to well trained and experienced teachers and from a wide range of activities to small class sizes, finding the best prep schools should be a process of research, visits, and interviews.
The Benefits of Private School Educational Opportunities Provide Engaging and Rigorous Curriculum
Today’s world is both competitive and challenging. As a result, it is important that students are prepared with a curriculum that is both engaging and rigorous. From a wide range of Advanced Placement classes to engaging forums for discussion, the curriculum that is offered in a school will have a direct impact on the education a student will have.
Parents of nearly 80% of students enrolled in a religious private school in the year 2011 and 2012 and 82% of students in other private schools reported being very satisfied with their child?s school. Part of that satisfaction is surely a result of the variety of class offerings that are available.
Talented Teachers Are the Backbone of Any Good School
Private schools have nearly 1.5 times as much of their enrollment in large cities, when compared to public schools. In many cases, the reason that large cities see so many families enrolling in private schools is that many great teachers work in private school settings. Finding a school with well prepared and experienced teachers means that your students will be challenged, and that the curriculum will be thoroughly covered. Schools cannot offer Advanced Placement classes if they do not have the right staff. To teach an AP class, for example, the instructor has to have at least a Master’s Degree in the content area where they are teaching.
The Best Prep Schools Offer a Wide Range of Extra Curricular Activities
What goes on in the classroom is only part of an educational experience. In addition to challenging classes taught by well qualified teachers, today’s students also need to have opportunities for leadership roles and to contribute to both school and local community projects. From sports to chess club to student government and honor societies, it is important that a school offer students enriching opportunities outside the classroom.
Class Size Always Matters in Educational Settings
Even the best teachers will be more successful if they are assigned manageable class sizes. Trying to teach in a room with 30 students, for instance, is far more difficult than having the opportunity to instruct a more manageable class size of 15 to 20. From classroom management to the material that is covered, a small class size is often one of the greatest indicators of a well performing school.
Serving 5.3 million PK-12 students, tere are now as many as 30,861 private schools in America. If you decide to invest in a private education for your children it is important that you take the time to consider curriculum, teachers, extra curricular offerings, and class sizes when making your decision.