Private Schools Glossary

Published November 08, 2008
Private schools have their own jargon just like any activity or affinity group has. Some of the terms which you will encounter come to us from England where private or public schools as they call them have been around for centuries. That's why you will see words you know with meaning you weren't expecting. 
 
Here are some of the more common terms you are likely to encounter as you explore private schools.
 
 
AD/ADHD
AD and ADHD are really the same thing: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. If your child exhibits any signs of ADHD, you should have him evaluated thoroughly. The syndrome is treatable. Several private schools do an outstanding job of teaching boys and girls with AD/ADHD.
 
Crew
Crew is the ancient sport of rowing. Rowing in shells is very popular in many private schools. Crew is offered in the fall and spring. Schools participate in regional and international competitions called regattas. Events like The Head of the Charles and Henley draw rowers from all over the world.

Dorm Master
If the term sounds a bit scary, it is actually quite the opposite. A dorm master is a teacher who is in charge of and supervises a residential house of boarding school students. He or she in many ways becomes a surrogate parent providing stability and guidance for the mercurial adolescents in his care. 
 
ESL
ESL is an acronym for English as a Second Language. When a student whose mother tongue is Spanish, for example, learns English, he approaches it differently than the student whose mother tongue is English. ESL teachers are highly skilled, certificated professionals who know how to teach English as a second language.
 
Fieldhouse
A fieldhouse is a term which describes an indoor sports arena where basketball, ice hockey and other indoor sports are held. The fieldhouses and other athletic facilities at many schools rival those found at many colleges and universities. Private schools take sports very seriously and set aside Wednesday afternoons and all day Saturday for sports as a rule.

Form
Form is another word for grade. It derives from the British public or private secondary schools. Form I is seventh grade. Form VI is twelth grade and so on. You will come across the term in older American private schools.

Headmaster
Headmaster or the head teacher is a British term for a high school principal or chief administrator of a high school. It is commonly used in older, more traditional schools.

House
House is another British term which has immigrated to American private schools. It describes a physical grouping of students in a residential or boarding facility. It is the essence of the boarding school ethos as it is houses which provide the structure and social framework within which adolescents interact, compete and enjoy a range of social activities.

IB
IB is an acronym for International Baccalaureate. This is a curriculum which is used at a couple of dozen American private schools. You will find the core curricula at most American schools focussed on the AP or Advanced Placement courses.

ISEE
ISEE or Independent Schools Entrance Examination is a standardized admissions test used by many boarding schools.

ISL
The ISL or Independent School League is a group of 16 New England schools who compete in various sports. It is the oldest league of its kind having been founded in 1948. These schools are all members of NEPSAC.

LD
LD or Learning Disability is a term which describes the difference in the way a person's senses and brain process information.
 
Master
A master is a teacher. The word takes its roots from the Latin magister which means teacher. The term is commonly used in older, more traditional boarding schools

NAIS
NAIS or The National Association of Independent Schools is a national organization which provides a wealth of data and support for its 1500 member schools. It also lobbies for private schools in the various Washington, DC, fora and legislative chambers.
 
PG
The PG or Post Graduate Year is a gap year students often take before going to college.
 
Prep
Prep is short for preparatory. You will frequently see a school styled So-and-so Preparatory School. The term comes from the mission of schools which are devoted to preparing their students for the rigorous academic work to be encountered at the college level. In the U.S. it refers to K-12 schools with a college preparatory curriculum.

SSAT
The SSAT or Secondary Schools Admissions Test is the most widely used standardized admissions test.
 
TOEFL
TOEFL or Test of English as a Foreign Language is a test of English language proficiency administered by the Educational Testing Service.
 
Uni
Uni is boarding school slang for uniform. Uniforms and dress codes are an integral part of boarding school culture.
 
Waldorf
Waldorf schools are schools which adhere to the educational philosophy and methods of Rudolf Steiner. Steiner founded a movement known as anthrosophy of which Waldorf schools are a part.
 

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About Schools

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

  • Alternative Schools
    Sometimes a regular school is not the right fit for a child. Perhaps she needs an alternative school.
  • Classical Christian Schools
    Classical Christian schools combine strict adherence to Christian beliefs with classical principles of education.
  • 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.
  • 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?
  • 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.

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