All Categories:

• Choosing a School (43 articles)
• Paying For It (17 articles)
• School Life (21 articles)
• News (3 articles)
• Employment (35 articles)
• Facts (2 articles)
• FAQ's (3 articles)
• Admissions (35 articles)
• Schools (54 articles)
• Running a School (20 articles)
• Teaching (16 articles)

• An Interview with Joann McPike, founder of THINK Global School
  Some schools offer trips abroad, even semesters abroad. Think Global School students live abroad. Joann McPike explains the concept and workings of the school she founded.
• Why Would Anybody Want to Establish a Private School?
  Why would anybody want to found a private school? Through the years civic-minded people and parents with a vision have done just that. In most cases done it successfully too.
• Making Social Media Work for Your School
  An introduction to using Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest to promote your school.
• SEO for Private Schools - Part 3: Using Social Media
  Social media for private K-12 schools is a bit different from social media for businesses. Some tips and strategies here.
• Handbooks
  A private school handbook is essentially a set of guidelines for life in the school community.

• Private School Jobs
  Teaching in a private school is different from teaching in a public school. Find out more here including information on duties, compensation and where to find jobs.
• Why Private School?
  Is private school right for your child? Learn about the things you should consider and the unique benefits of a private school education.
• Seattle Area Schools
  The Seattle area is home to many fine private schools as well as to Microsoft and Boeing.
• Why Should I Send My Child to Your School?
  There are many reasons why you would want to send your child to a particular school. Let's examine the main ones.
• 4 Things to Know Before You Choose a Private School
  There are way more than four things to know about private school. But this will get you started.

We cover every aspect of the admissions process so that you and your child know what to expect.

How Admissions Works

• Admissions to Primary and Pre-School: A-Z
  For many reasons it can be more difficult to get your child into a preschool or kindergarten than into a prep school. Here's an overview of the process.
• Why Should I Send My Child to Your School?
  There are many reasons why you would want to send your child to a particular school. Let's examine the main ones.
• 5 Admissions Mistakes
  These five common admissions mistakes can and should be avoided.
• 5 Admissions Tips for International Students
  In addition to complying with all the usual admissions requirements, international students must also obtain a student visa. Here are five tips to help you navigate the admissions process.
• Admissions to Private School: A-Z
  Admissions to Private School: A-Z puts all the information you need to navigate the private school admissions process in one convenient place. Whether you are just beginning or have been through this before, you will find help and advice to guide you.
• Application Calendar
  Keep track of all aspects of choosing a school as well as the application deadlines.
• The Scramble for Places in Primary Schools
  It is almost as tough getting your child into a good Manhattan or Bay area primary school as it is getting them into an Ivy League university.
• They Didn't Accept My Child!
  You thought everything was set. The test scores were excellent. She had glowing teacher recommendations. The visit and the interview went well. But the school didn't accept your child. What do you do now?
• Waitlisted? What Next?
  Being waitlisted is not the end of the world. More here.
• What If I Miss The Deadlines?
  Finding a school which will accept your child after the normal admissions deadline has passed is not easy. But it can be done.
• Why Should I Admit Your Child?
  Why should I admit your child? We examine some of the things needed to get into private school.
• Your Admissions Profile
  The admissions process can seem confusing, even intimidating. In reality all the admissions staff want to do is to get to know you.

Applications

The applications process consists of several parts.

• Admissions: The Acceptance Letter
  The desired result of taking the admissions test, visiting schools and submitting all that paperwork is to receive an acceptance letter. Here's how to handle this part of the admissions process.
• Applications - The Candidate's Statement
  Among the many forms which you must complete when applying to private school is something called The Candidate Statement. Here's what it is all about.
• Applications - The Parent's Statement
  Part of most school's admissions package is something called the Parent's Statement. We take a look at this document and offer advice on how to complete it.
• Applications - Principal/Head/Counselor Recommendation Form
  Most schools require confidential recommendation forms as part of the application process.
• Applications - Teacher Recommendations and Transcripts
  Teacher recommendations and transcripts are an important part of the applications process.
• First Choice Letters and Personal Letters of Recommendation
  Getting your child into a competitive school is a tough assignment. Before you tear your hair out worrying about all the details, there is a simple solution.
• How Do I Apply?
  You can apply online or submit a paper application via snail mail.
• Is It Too Late to Apply?
  Starting the admissions process and getting into a private school in late spring and early summer is a challenge.

Test Preparation

Standardized admissions tests require thorough preparation and practice. You will find test prep texts and other materials here.

• Admissions Testing: Preschoolers
  The pressure to get your child into the right school starts at a very early age. We look at some of the assessment hurdles your child might face depending on which school you are considering.
• Admissions Test Preparation: 2 Strategies
  Admissions tests are supposed to measure accomplishments. But what if your child has serious problems in math or English? What do you do then?
• COOP, HSPT and TACHS
  You will encounter COOP, HSPT and TACHS if you are applying to some Roman Catholic high schools.
• Do My SSAT or ISEE Scores Really Matter?
  SSAT and ISEE scores are one part of the total picture which most private school admissions staff review.
• How To Read The Test Scores
  SSAT test scores can be mysterious to most parents. What do they mean? How does the admissions staff use them?
• Preparing for Admissions Tests
  Don't leave admissions test preparation to the last minute. Adequate test preparation will give you the confidence to take the test and do as well as you can.
• Preparing for TOEFL
  Applicants to American private schools for whom English is not their first language must take a test known as TOEFL.
• Should You Prep Your 4 Year Old?
  To prep for the preschool admissions test or not to prep. That is the question.
• SSAT and ISSE
  Most private schools use standardized tests as part of their admissions process. The SSAT and ISEE are the common tests you will encounter at independent schools.
• The Writing Sample
  At some point in the admissions' process, your child is going to have to write an essay sometimes referred to as The Writing Sample. Here's how to cope with that challenge.

School Visits and Interviews

After exploring schools on the web, you need to explore the ones which you are considering applying to in person.

• 5 Things Every Private School Applicant Should Do
  Most of these suggestions are common sense. The secret to applying to private schools is to get a head start on the process.
• 5 Tips for a Successful Admissions Interview
  When you meet with the admissions staff, create a favorable impression by following these tips.
• The Interview
  Part of the admissions requirements of almost every private school is the interview. While it sounds as though this is a one sided exercise, you should be interviewing the admissions personnel as well.
• The Visit
  Visiting the schools on your short list is very important. You need to inspect the campus yourself.
• What If You Cannot Visit The School?
  Distance and finances may preclude your actually visiting schools. But you have some other options.

Step by step guides and tips on finding the right school.

Getting Started

Issues to consider and points to ponder.

• 4 Things to Know Before You Choose a Private School
  There are way more than four things to know about private school. But this will get you started.
• 5 Factors for a Successful Private School Experience
  As you consider sending your child to private school, think about these five factors which make for a successful private school experience.
• 5 Questions Your Consultant Can Ask and You Can't
  Use an educational consultant to ask those tough questions you are not comfortable asking.
• Before You Spend $30k on Private School...
  Before you spend $30,000 or more on a year at private school for your child, you need to ask five questions and be guided by the answers you receive.
• Changing Schools and Moving to New Area
  Find out tips and services for changing schools and moving to new area.
• Choosing an Elementary School
  You would think it would be easier to get your child into an elementary or primary school than into a prep school. But in fact it is almost as complicated.
• Choosing a Prep School
  Here's a recap of the steps you need to follow to find the right school for your child. Work through the process in sequence from beginning to end.
• Don't Just Look at Price!
  Identifying schools which fit your requirements includes dealing with paying for that education. But don't just look at price.
• How to Convince Your Child to Go to Private School
  You want your child to go to private school. But how will you convince her to go?
• IDEA
  Use this simple mnemonic to help you organize your search for a private school for your child.
• Is It Worth Using a Consultant?
  Here are the reasons why using the services of a professional educational consultant is worth it.
• The Rumors About Private School are True
  What is private school really like? Is there any truth to the rumors you keep hearing? Let's find out.
• Should You Send Your Child to Private Primary or High School?
  If you had to choose when to send your child to private school, would you send her to private school for the primary grades or high school?
• Small Is Good
  Private schools offer individualized attention to their students because their class sizes are generally small.
• The Value of a Private School Education
  Why pay $30,000, $40,000 or more for something which public education gives you for free? Here are five reasons why you would do so.
• What Overseas Parents Need To Know
  If you live outside the United States, choosing an American private school can be a confusing process. Here is an overview of the process.
• Why Private School?
  Is private school right for your child? Learn about the things you should consider and the unique benefits of a private school education.
• What Do Schools Say About Ranking?
  Ranks really don't matter. I have said that for years. But let's see what the schools have to say about the matter.
• What If They Won't Have Your Child Back?
  It's spring. You receive a letter from the school advising you that it will not be renewing its contract with you for next year. How can this happen? We offer some answers.
• What is Really Important in Choosing a School?
  What is really important in choosing a private school? Ranks? Academics? Financial aid? Sports programs? Arts programs? One of these criteria doesn't matter. The others do.

Identifying Schools

Make lists of schools which seem to fit your requirements.

• Saving Time and Money Choosing a School
  The Internet has made finding schools and finding out more about them much more efficient than it was ten years ago.
• Choosing Schools: Look Beyond the Competitive Schools
  Competitive schools are wonderful. But they are not the only game in town. Here's why.
• Should You Consider Sending Your Child to a New School?
  You have just heard about a new private school opening soon in your area. Should you consider sending your child there? A look at the pros and cons of such a decision.
• Choosing Schools: The Safe School
  The idea behind a safe school is that you know your child will get into at least one of the schools on your short list. Let's start by reviewing the steps in the process.
• Considering a Jewish Education
  Should you send your child to a Jewish school? We explore the issue and suggest some talking points.
• Boarding or Day School?
  Many parents agonize over sending their child to boarding school or keeping them at home and sending them to day school. A look at the pros and cons here.
• Do Ranks Matter?
  How do I know how this school compares with the others I am considering? Has anybody ranked private schools?
• If We Did Rank Schools...
  Ranking private schools is almost impossible because it is so difficult to gather the data needed to compare statistics. If we did rank schools, this is how to do it.
• Single Sex or Coeducation?
  Sooner or later you ought to consider a single sex school as opposed to a traditional coeducational school. Why? For several reasons.
• When Should You Consider A Special Needs School?
  Dealing with the reality that your child has a learning difference can be a defining moment for many parents. So much is at stake. Special needs schools offer programs and highly trained faculty.
• When Should You Consider a Therapeutic School?
  It is a heart-stopping moment for any parent when you realize that your child needs much more help than you can give him at home and at his current school. Perhaps a therapeutic school is the answer.
• Which School Is The Best For Your Child?
  It depends on your requirements. But in the end only one thing matters most anyway.

Evaluating Schools

Doing your due diligence.

• Visiting Schools: Open House, Shadow, Overnight or Tour?
  Visiting schools is a necessary part of evaluating the schools on your short list. Here are several ways schools will arrange those visits.
• 5 Reasons Why You Might Change Schools
  Here are five reasons why you might want to change schools.
• 5 Questions You Need To Ask
  As you begin to evaluate schools, keep these five basic questions in mind.
• How Do They Teach?
  Part of evaluating the schools on your short list is examining how the teaching is done.
• Checklist For Comparing Schools
  Use this checklist to help you compare schools on your short list.
• Checklist for Comparing Schools: Administration and Faculty
  Here are some of the questions to ask and things to look for when comparing schools' administration and faculty.
• Checklist for Comparing Schools - Curriculum and Instruction
  What's being taught and how it is being taught are important parts of your checklist for comparing schools on your short list.
• Evaluating and Choosing a Private School
  How should parents evaluate and choose a private school? Read about some helpful tips regarding this important decision.
• Open Houses
  You must visit schools on your short list. Open houses are an efficient way to do this. More on organizing this task here.
• Sports Programs
  Sports are important in private schools. But they are also balanced properly by the emphasis on solid academics.
• Technology in Private Schools
  Private schools use technology to support and enhance their academic programs. Most of them have been doing this since the early 1990's.

How to find a private school position.

• Do I Need to be Certified?
  Each state sets its own teacher certification requirements. While many private schools do not require you to be certified, it is in your best interests to obtain certification. This article includes contact information for state education offices so you can begin the process.
• Private School Employment Do's and Don'ts
  It's a tough job market out there. Observe these Do's and Donts to keep yourself ahead of the competition.
• Private School Jobs
  Teaching in a private school is different from teaching in a public school. Find out more here including information on duties, compensation and where to find jobs.
• What About Teaching Overseas?
  With the job market looking bleak, teaching is an option many recent college graduates are considering. Teaching overseas has all kinds of attractive features. We look at private school teaching jobs and explain what is involved in finding one, applying and more.

Applying and Interviewing

How to apply for a private school job

• Employment: Creating Value in Your Resume
  Creating value will get your resume noticed. Here's how to do it.
• 5 Common Employment Application Mistakes
  Submit your employment application the way a Swiss watch craftsman builds a watch. With precision and accuracy.
• 5 Tips for a Successful Job Interview
  You have a lot riding on your job interview. Here are some tips for a successful interview.
• Are You the Right Person for Our Job?
  For starters we won't know unless you present your application in the format and in the manner we specify.
• How to Apply for a Private School Job
  Do five simple things when applying for a private school teaching position and you will be successful.
• Marketing Yourself in Tough Times
  Marketing yourself in tough times requires attention to details. Here are some tips to help you achieve success.
• What's the Difference Between a Letter of Interest and a Cover Letter?
  Letters of interest and cover letters are frequently used interchangeably even though they have different purposes.
• How to Write a Cover Letter
  When you apply for a position at a private school, you need to use a slightly different approach than you would use if you were applying for a sales job somewhere.
• What To Wear at Your Job Interview
  First impressions are lasting impressions. What you wear at an interview for a teaching job is important. Almost as important as your qualifications and credentials.
• Job Search: Matching Your Qualifications
  Matching your qualifications with what the school is looking for is one of the most important parts of the job process. Get it wrong and you might miss getting an interview.
• Answering the Expected Questions
  Be prepared for questions which you know will be part of any interview for a private school position.
• Asking Good Questions
  Asking good questions at your job interview will improve your chances. Conversely asking bad questions will damage them.
• Making It Accurate and Truthful
  You must not fudge the facts on your private school employment application. Tell the truth. Put a positive spin on any potentially negative areas. More here.
• Staying Positive While Unemployed
  Staying positive while being unemployed is never easy. But it is a critical part of the process.
• Why Should I Hire You?
  Let's think about the employment process from the point of view of your making me want to hire you. Here are some points to ponder.

Basics

Information about working in private schools

• Do You Need a Rebranding?
  If you have been teaching for a few years, chances are that you will need to consider rebranding yourself.
• Looking for a Job: Easier When Employed or Unemployed?
  Looking for a job in these tough economic times is a challenging process. But is it easier to do when you are employed or unemployed. It depends. Here are some answers.
• Conducting a Job Search Via Social Media
  Social media such as Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs and Facebook offer special opportunities for the private school job-seeker.
• Employing Foreign Nationals
  Can non-U.S. teachers get employment in American private schools? The answer is "No" in 99.9% of cases.
• How to Find a Private School Job
  You can send in a resume and use an agency, but the very best way to find a private school job is to use your network. You do have a network, don't you?
• Is Your Network Keeping You Connected?
  The non-unionized private school teacher has to create her own ways of staying connected. Staying connected keeps you informed and gives you a sense of solidarity.
• Job Search Resources
  This guide is designed to provide teachers and administrators seeking employment in private schools a road map for the job search process.
• Conducting a Job Search Via the Web
  The Web offers job seekers all sorts of efficiencies. The same is true with respect to private school job searching.
• Timeline for Finding a Private School Job
  Finding a private school job takes time. Lots of time. This time line will focus your efforts on what has to be done and when it ideally should be done.
• Your Job Application: Making It Easy to Read
  Making your job application easy to read will help your application make the first cut.
• Your Job Search Is Taking Forever
  A search for a teaching job in the midst of a severe recession takes much longer than it does in good economic times. Here's how to handle this situation.
• Your Teaching Contract Hasn't Been Renewed?
  Private school teachers are not unionized. So, if the school decides not to renew your contract, you have little recourse. Here are five suggestions for safe-guarding your employment.
• What About Being an Intern?
  Thinking of teaching in an independent school? Several schools have teaching internship programs. Here's what's involved.
• What Do Teachers Make?
  What do teachers make? Teachers' salaries vary from state to state, indeed, from school to school.
• What's Your Marketability Quotient?
  Finding a good job requires some market savvy.
• Why Should We Renew Your Contract?
  Here are some reasons and strategies for making sure that the school will renew your contract. Eagerly.

Data to help you research schools.

• Summer Sessions
  Summer sessions offer a chance to experience a private school in a relaxed, less stressful environment. More here.
• Top Ten Myths About Private Schools
  There are a lot of misconceptions about private schools. This is probably because private schools are indeed private.

Commonly asked questions about schools.

• What is AP?
  AP is short for the Advanced Placement Program offered by the College Board. More here.
• What Is IB?
  What is IB? IB or International Baccalaureate is a curriculum offered by the International Baccalaureate organization based in Switzerland.
• Do You Know....?
  If you know the answers to all these questions, you probably teach or work in a private school. Be that as it may, these questions contain links with the answers.

News and information pertinent to the world of private K-12 education.

• Ask Mr. Chips
  You have questions about private schools. We have answers.
• Blogs, Pods and More
  Education blogs, podcasts and sites worth a read and a listen.
• Education News
  Education news from around the country.

Guidance on paying for a private school education.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

How to apply for financial aid and find scholarships.

• 5 Things You Didn't Know About Financial Aid
  Financial aid can be complicated, even confusing, for most of us. But don't be intimidated by financial aid.
• Can I Ask For More Aid?
  Many parents are finding themselves short on funds to pay for private school tuition. What to do? Here are some answers.
• Don't Need Financial Aid? Step to the Front of the Line!
  The fallout of the economic and financial meltdown of 2009 is far reaching. Private schools have not escaped the consequences either. But that may be a good thing for you.
• Financial Aid 101
  Private schools give families millions of dollars annually to help them afford a private school education. Here's how it works.
• Fees and Financial Aid For Overseas Parents
  A brief look at fees and financial aid for overseas students.
• The Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS)
  The Parents’ Financial Statement allows schools to determine the amount you will have to pay for your child's tuition and fees.
• Paying for Private School
  Some people can write a check for a year's tuition and never miss it. The rest of us have to be creative. Here are some options for paying for a private school education.
• Private School May Be Free If You Make Less Than $75,000
  Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth set the pace. Now several top private schools are offering free or greatly reduced tuition for children from families making less than $75,000.
• Scholarships
  Scholarships for private school students are few and far between. Most are local in nature. Here are links to organizations offering funding.

Tuition and Fees

• Affording Private School
  Borrowing money to pay for your child's private school is one of several options you have.
• How Do They Pay for That?
  Scholarships, tuition payment plans, loans and more.
• How Much Do Schools Cost?
  Private schools charge everything from nothing at all to well over $50,000 a year for their services. Here are some examples of what the various types of private schools charge.
• Private School Supplies
  Find out which supplies you might need in the school.
• True or False: Do Declining Endowments Mean Less Financial Aid?
  The impact of the 2009 financial meltdown on private school endowments has not been as severe as it was on college endowments.
• Which Is The Most Expensive Private School?
  Tuition at private schools varies from nothing at a few schools to just under $100,000 for the top tariff charging school.
• Why Are Tuition Costs Rising?
  Private school tuition seems to go nowhere but up. We look at some of the reasons why and offer the opinion that a private school education is still good value.
• Will The School Give Me A Refund If My Child Withdraws Early?
  What happens if my child suddenly takes sick before the end of the school year? What if he is expelled? Answers here.

Different kinds of schools, schools in various locations, associations and directories.

• Reviews: Gossip Girl and NYC Prep
  Two television series about private schools have received a certain amount of buzz recently. Gossip Girl airs on CW. NYC Prep is on Bravo.

About Schools

• An Interview with Joann McPike, founder of THINK Global School
  Some schools offer trips abroad, even semesters abroad. Think Global School students live abroad. Joann McPike explains the concept and workings of the school she founded.
• 5 Features Every Private High School Should Have
  These features are the main reason why you are considering sending your child to private high school.
• 5 Things Not To Like About Private School
  What are the five things critics like the least about private schools? Start with the fact that everybody who goes to private school is rich. Or are they?
• A Timeline of Private School Events and History
  What was the first private school? What's the oldest school? What are some of the educational philosophies commonly found? Some answers here.
• An Interview with the Founder of Hyde Schools
  Joseph Gauld is a distinguished educator who founded Hyde Schools in 1966.
• Charter Schools and Vouchers
  Are charter schools private schools? What do vouchers have to do with private schools? Some answers here.
• Being an Expat and Educating Your Children Abroad
  If you have the chance to move overseas, don't worry about educating your children. You have several options.
• Comparison of Montessori, Waldorf & Reggio Emilia
  A table comparison of the three popular early childhood education approaches.
• Private Schools Jargon and Terms
  Private schools have their own jargon just like any activity or affinity group has. Here are some of the more common terms you are likely to encounter as you explore private schools.
• Safe Schools
  There are several reasons why private schools are safe places for children. More here.
• What's an Independent School?
  A look at the different names and types of private schools.
• Why You Won't Find Cheating in Private Schools
  Strict codes of conduct are one reason why cheating in private schools is not a major issue. Not teaching to the test is another.
• Top Roman Catholic Boarding Schools
  These Roman Catholic boarding schools offer good value, great educations and a faith-based community experience.
• What's Being Taught?
  What curricula do private schools follow? Who accredits private schools? What kind of standards prevail? More here.
• Private and Public Schools Compared
  This table sets out the basic characteristics of private and public schools so that you can compare them.
• What's a Private School?
  Is a private school the same thing as an independent school?
• Which School Do Malia and Sasha Obama Attend?
  Many famous children have attended private schools. Here is a sampling of schools and the famous folk who graced their hallowed halls.
• Why Do Private Schools Not Have To Teach To The Test?
  Private schools don't have to teach to the test because they do not accept public funds.

Associations

National, state and regional association of private schools

• National Associations
  As you research schools, check the national and state associations. Is the school you are considering a member? If not, why not?
• Regional Associations
  Some states do not have their own private school associations. Schools band together across state lines forming regional associations. These associations have the same purpose as state associations. More here.
• State Associations
  Do the schools you are researching belong to state independent school associations? If not, find out why not!

Directories

Guides and web sites with lists of schools

• Directories
  A list of directories of private and independent schools.
• Guides To Private Schools
  Do you prefer to peruse a book rather than going online to find private schools? If so, there are some excellent guides to private schools available.

Kinds of Schools

Various kinds of schools

• 5 Clues That It Might Not Really Be Montessori School
  Of the approximately 8,000 Montessori schools in the U.S. only 1,100 schools are members of the American Montessori Society. Does this matter? What else should you look for to determine if a Montessori school is the real thing?
• 5 Facts About Progressive Schools
  Progressive schools are different from traditional schools. These five facts highlight some of those differences.
• 5 Facts About Montessori Schools
  Here are five facts about Montessori schools to bear in mind when exploring preschools and primary schools for your child.
• 5 Facts About Reggio Emilia
  Reggio Emilia is an approach to early childhood education which has gained popularity throughout the western world.
• 5 Facts About Waldorf Schools
  Here are five facts about Waldorf schools to consider when choosing a private K-12 school for your child.
• Alternative Schools
  Categorizing schools is not a neat process. But there are several educational approaches and philosophies offer some alternatives to traditional schools. Here are some pros and cons about alternative schools.
• Alternative Schools
  Sometimes a regular school is not the right fit for a child. Perhaps she needs an alternative school.
• Resources for Parents of Gifted Children
  As one writer puts it, "Parenting a gifted child is like living in a theme park full of thrill rides..." Fasten your seat belt and let's go for a ride.
• Classical Christian Schools
  Classical Christian schools combine strict adherence to Christian beliefs with classical principles of education.
• What's Happened to Catholic Education?
  Schools are closing. Student populations declining. Why? Here are some answers.
• You Know You Are in a Montessori School When....
  Montessori classrooms are different from the classrooms in conventional schools. Here's what to look for.
• You Know You Are in a Progressive School When...
  In many ways progressive schools epitomize the uniqueness of the genre of K-12 education known as private or independent schools.
• Semester Schools
  A semester school allows you to experience new surroundings, new environments, different ways of life and much more.
• Hockey Schools
  Got an aspiring hockey player in your family? Many American private schools enjoy a great reputation for excellent hockey teams as well as superb academics.
• Free Schools
  There are but a few free private schools in the United States. Most of them were founded by visionary businessmen who believed that children from working class and poor families should have the same educational advantages as children from families with money.
• Progressive Schools
  Progressive schools have been around since the early 1900's. Some educators think that progressives are rebels against traditional rote learning. The progressive educators like to think of themselves as reformers. The truth is somewhere in the middle.
• Schools for Gifted Children
  Teaching gifted children requires deft handling. These children need intellectual and sensory stimulation. But they also need guidance and careful nurturing so that they grow up handling their special gifts and themselves appropriately.
• International Schools
  Sending your children to an international school might make sense if you plan on being in the U.S. only for a few years.
• Lab Schools
  What is a lab school? It's a K-12 school or school with some variation of those grades which is operated by a university or college.
• Military Schools
  Military schools offer structure and discipline as well as a top-notch education.
• Montessori Schools
  Montessori schools are popular world-wide with parents of children in the primary grades.
• The Oldest Schools
  The oldest American private school is Collegiate School in Manhattan founded in 1628.
• Religious Schools
  Religion is important to you. You want your children to be educated in a school where your religion matters.
• Schools For The Arts
  Schools for the artistically gifted child are in short supply.
• The PG Year
  A PG or Post Graduate year offers time to mature and time to perfect a sport or other interests.
• Special Needs Schools
  Do you think your son has a learning disability? Not sure what to do? A special needs school might be the way to go.
• Waldorf Schools
  Waldorf schools offer a well thought out approach to K-12 education.

Locations

Schools in major cities

• Boston Area Schools
  The metropolitan Boston area offers a wide range of academic and cultural activities. Just as impressive is the area's selection of private schools.
• Litchfield County Schools
  Litchfield County, Connecticut, is home to a couple of dozen excellent schools catering to just about every need. The setting about 90 miles north of New York City is convenient to one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world.
• Seattle Area Schools
  The Seattle area is home to many fine private schools as well as to Microsoft and Boeing.

What is life like in a private school? Find out about programs and activities. Read books and watch DVD's about private schools.

• Is Your Grandchild Going Away to Private School?
  There are several ways in which you can stay connected with your beloved grandchild.

About Schools

• 5 Things Every Parent Should Do
  Every private school parent is encouraged to help the school in whatever way he can. Here are some things you can do to make a contribution to your school.
• Athletics Are Not Optional
  Athletic programs are an integral part of private school life. They are not optional as they often are in public schools.
• Books About Private School
  What's private school really like? Find out from people who have been there.
• Extracurricular Activities and Why They Are so Important
  Extracurricular activities are not an extra in a private school. They are an integral part of the program each school offers.
• The Private School Survival Guide for Parents
  It's a big step sending your darling off to private school. She will probably survive the transition just fine. But how about you?
• Computers in Private School
  Some schools require you to purchase a laptop as part of their book fee. Others let you bring your own computer.
• Books for Educators and Parents
  These titles have been recommended by other educators. Add these to your vacation reading. Enjoy.
• DVDs About Private Schools
  While it is not a long list, movies set in private schools include several classics such as the Harry Potter series and Dead Poets Society.
• Graduation Gifts
  Graduation is always a warm, happy occasion. Mark this important milestone with a memorable gift. Here are some suggestions.
• School Year Abroad
  Several private schools offer a whole academic year abroad. Still others offer a summer abroad.

Issues

Diversity, harrassment, cellphones and other important issues commonly found in private schools

• Handbooks
  A private school handbook is essentially a set of guidelines for life in the school community.
• Codes of Conduct
  Discipline in private schools generally begins with a code of conduct.
• 5 Things You Must Not Do With Personal Technology
  Young people take personal technology devices for granted. We parents and teachers must make them aware of how such devices are used in the real world.
• Cindy Springsteen and Robert Kennedy on Teen Issues
  Cindy Springsteen writes for the Long Island Examiner. She and I had a go at a couple of the major issues confronting parents of teens.
• How Diverse Are Private Schools?
  Decades ago private schools could have been accused of being elitist. You had to have money to attend. The student populations were fairly homogeneous. Fortunately that has changed.
• My Child Has Been Expelled For Smoking Pot!
  If your child is caught smoking pot or drinking on her private school campus, the consequences will be severe.
• Preventing Teen Suicide
  Teen suicide is the 3rd largest killer of young adults between the ages of 15-24. It can be prevented.
• Summers are a Great Time...
  Most private schools enjoy a long break over the summer. Use this time wisely and effectively to benefit your child.
• Uniforms and Dress Codes
  School uniforms are largely found at religious, parochial and military schools. Dress codes have replaced uniforms at most schools.
• What Do I Do When....
  Here are some answers and some resources to help you deal with those tough questions such as "What I do when my child has been expelled?"

• Making Social Media Work for Your School
  An introduction to using Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest to promote your school.
• Why Would Anybody Want to Establish a Private School?
  Why would anybody want to found a private school? Through the years civic-minded people and parents with a vision have done just that. In most cases done it successfully too.
• Hiring A Headmaster
  Hiring a headmaster is one of a board of trustee's most important jobs. Here's how one search firm handles the hiring process.
• Safe Schools
  A safe school does not happen. A safe school is the result of a concerted effort on the part of your school community to have a safe school.
• Raising Money for Your School
  Raising money for the newer, small private school is a job for professionals. We examine the three major components of private school fund-raising.
• State Regulation of Private Schools
  State Regulation of Private Schools provides a brief description, by state, of the legal requirements that apply to private schools.

Administrative

Issues relating to your back office

• Are Employees Stealing From You?
  Part of a trustee's job is to ensure that sound business practices are in place. Employee fraud occurs all the time. Here's how to prevent it.
• Does Your School Avoid Politics?
  Does your school avoid politics? You might want to make sure it does if you are set up as a non-profit corporation.
• Developing A Strategic Plan
  Developing a strategic plan is an exercise your school will probably undergo once a decade or so. Read what Alan Kennedy has to say on the subject.
• For Profit vs Not for Profit Schools
  What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of a for profit versus a not for profit school? Is one kind of school better than the other?
• Preventing Cyberbullying
  Bullying has gone electronic. It's called cyberbullying and it is rampant.
• SEO for Private Schools - Part I: Basics
  If you are responsible for marketing your school, you probably have encountered the term SEO. If you are unfamiliar with SEO, this article will introduce you to the basic concepts.
• School Strategic Planning - How To Ensure Success
  Strategic planning is a disciplined effort to produce fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, what it does, and why it does it, with a focus on the future.

Fund-raising

Help and guidance with raising money for your school.

• 5 Ways to Support Your School
  Supporting your school is more important now than ever. Here are five ways to lend a financial hand.
• Keeping In Touch With Your Graduates
  Keeping in touch with your graduates is not easy these days. You must communicate via snail mail, web portals and social networks.
• Major Gifts to Private Schools
  The only way private schools can build their financial security is through gifts. Major gifts offer proof of how deeply many donors feel about their private schools. Their munificence is a wonderful example to others.

Technology

Issues relating to technology in your school

• SCVNGR: The Newest Social Media Tool
  SCVNGR adds a new layer to the social media world. Jeff Kirchik explains what SCVNGR is and how it works.
• SEO for Private Schools - Part 2
  SEO is an important consideration for any private school. Getting it right will make your school easier to find.
• SEO for Private Schools - Part 3: Using Social Media
  Social media for private K-12 schools is a bit different from social media for businesses. Some tips and strategies here.
• Technology Products for Schools
  Your community expects the best technology to be in place in your classrooms. Take advantage of the fast moving market which is always coming out with new products at ever lower prices.

• Cellphones In School
  Cellphones are leading the wave of the future. Convergence is here. It is changing the way students learn and how teachers teach.
• Be Careful What You Post in Facebook!
  Teachers need to learn how to be Facebook savvy. Otherwise Facebook will cause them lots of problems.
• Are You a 21st Century Teacher?
  21st century schools need 21st century teachers. Are you a 21st century teacher?
• Don't Leave Any Evidence!
  Future and current employers can find out all sorts of things about you these days. Make sure that you don't leave behind any damning electronic evidence.
• Froebel, Montessori and Steiner: Champions of Children
  Friedrich Froebel, Maria Montessori and Rudolf Steiner were trail blazers in early education.
• Gay Teachers
  Several prep schools have pushed the envelope of diversity by allowing committed same sex couples to live on campus in school housing.
• Interactive Learning the Harkness Way
  Students sitting in rows of desks listening to a teacher lecture? You are not likely to find this scenario in a school which uses Harkness Tables.
• The Private School Survival Guide for Teachers
  There are several differences between teaching in a private school versus teaching in a public school.
• What's In A Grade?
  The letter grade at one school may or may not be the same as the letter grade scheme at another school. Some answers to the inconsistencies here.

Humor

• How Do You Get Two Piccolos To Play In Tune?
  Musicians are passionate about their instruments. They also are sometimes not as tolerant as they should be towards other instruments and instrumentalists.
• A Candidate Should Always Renounce His Words Carefully
  Politics and civics are hard to understand. Students often confuse their facts. Malapropisms and misunderstandings abound, to the amusement and frustration of every teacher.

Teacher Training

• Becoming a Teacher Later
  Many people have successful careers only to realize that something is missing. Teaching can satisfy that missing 'something'. Explore the possibilities of becoming a teacher in your 30's, 40's and even your 50's.
• How Do You Become a Private School Teacher?
  How do you become a private school teacher? We look at internships, licensing and more.
• What Is Praxis?
  Praxis is part of the teacher licensing process many states require.
• The Pros and Cons of Teaching Overseas
  Hundreds of private schools, and for that matter, public schools, outside the United States will be happy to have you as a teacher for a few years.
• A Teacher's Influence
  Never underestimate the influence you have on your students. You may not think that you are getting through, but you are! This little bit of fiction shows the influence teachers had on some famous people.

• An Interview with Joann McPike, founder of THINK Global School
  Some schools offer trips abroad, even semesters abroad. Think Global School students live abroad. Joann McPike explains the concept and workings of the school she founded.
• Why Would Anybody Want to Establish a Private School?
  Why would anybody want to found a private school? Through the years civic-minded people and parents with a vision have done just that. In most cases done it successfully too.
• Making Social Media Work for Your School
  An introduction to using Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest to promote your school.
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