Choosing Schools: Look Beyond the Competitive Schools

Finding Schools

Make lists of schools which seem to fit your requirements.

• 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.
• 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.
• When Should You Consider a Military School?
  If you are looking for a college preparatory education with a military emphasis, then take a look at military schools.
• Traditional vs Non-traditional Schools
  Early on in the process of choosing a private school for your child you need to decide whether to send her to a traditional or non-traditional school.
• 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.
• Which School Is The Best For Your Child?
  It depends on your requirements. But in the end only one thing matters most anyway.
• 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.
• 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.
• Why Ranking Schools Makes No Sense
  Journalists love to create lists because you and I love lists. But lists such as top ten private schools can be deceptive.
• 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.
• 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: 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.
• Choosing Schools: Look Beyond the Competitive Schools
  Competitive schools are wonderful. But they are not the only game in town. Here's why.
• Considering a Jewish Education
  Should you send your child to a Jewish school? We explore the issue and suggest some talking points.
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• Getting Started (14)
• Choosing a School: 5 Must Haves
  Whether you are just beginning the process of choosing a private school or several months into it, make sure that you keep these five 'must haves' front and center in your thinking.
• 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.
• About Girls' Schools: In Their Words
  Here are a dozen or so girls' schools' public thoughts about themselves and their missions.
• 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?
• Single Sex Education at a Glance
  Think of single sex education as another option as you consider which school is the right one for your child.
• Do Ranks Matter?
  How do I know how this school compares with the others I am considering? Has anybody ranked private schools?
• 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 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.
• Small Is Good
  Private schools offer individualized attention to their students because their class sizes are generally small.
• 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.
• IDEA
  Use this simple mnemonic to help you organize your search for a private school for your child.
• Changing Schools and Moving to New Area
  Find out tips and services for changing schools and moving to new area.
• 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.
• 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.
• Evaluating Schools (15)
• 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.
• 5 Reasons Why You Might Change Schools
  Here are five reasons why you might want to change schools.
• Checklist For Comparing Schools
  Use this checklist to help you compare schools on your short list.
• 5 Questions You Need To Ask
  As you begin to evaluate schools, keep these five basic questions in mind.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Is It Worth Using a Consultant?
  Here are the reasons why using the services of a professional educational consultant is worth it.
• 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.
• How Do They Teach?
  Part of evaluating the schools on your short list is examining how the teaching is done.
• 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.
• 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.
• 5 Questions Your Consultant Can Ask and You Can't
  Use an educational consultant to ask those tough questions you are not comfortable asking.

• Using Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest to Promote Your School
  Social media is an effective marketing tool for your school. Here are some suggestion for using Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest.
• Comparison of Montessori, Waldorf & Reggio Emilia
  A table comparison of the three popular early childhood education approaches.
• 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.
• Choosing a School: 5 Must Haves
  Whether you are just beginning the process of choosing a private school or several months into it, make sure that you keep these five 'must haves' front and center in your thinking.
• 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.
• More articles: Choosing a Private School, Pre-elementary, Elementary Issues, High School Issues, Jobs in Private Schools