Why Private School

Private schools are generally organized as for-profit or not-for-profit (nonprofit) entities.

A corporation or a private individual typically uses the for-profit version to make a profit, but is not eligible for tax-deductible contributions to the extent provided by law.

Most private schools opt to operate under a not-for-profit status, enabling them to generate revenue while also receiving tax-deductible donations to the extent permitted by law.

Advantages and Disadvantages

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a for-profit versus a nonprofit school? Is one kind of school better than the other? Let's look at some answers.

For-Profit Schools

A for-profit school is set up by allowing it to be controlled by an owner. That owner could be an individual or a group of individuals, as is often the case with many preschools and some elementary schools. Another form of ownership is a corporation.

This is often a corporation owned and operated by a group of local individuals. Typically, for-profit private schools are owned by a corporation that operates schools in multiple locations.

For-profit schools are typically in business to generate revenue or make a profit. They pay taxes on those profits. Parents pay for the school's services just as they would for any other service.

Examples of this sort of school include Le Rosey in Switzerland, Sylvan Learning Centers, the Nobel Schools, and thousands of small nursery and primary schools.

The school can be incorporated, a sole proprietorship, or some other

Christian schools as a genre have been around since the 1950s. Recently, a subset of Christian schools known as classical Christian schools has become popular. This seems to have come about because standards in public education have steadily fallen. Many parents will not tolerate shoddy disciplinary standards, sloppy dress codes, violence in our schools, underachievement, and low expectations. As a result, they start their own schools.

Background

Classical Christian Schools trace their origins back to the revival of classical education in the late 20th century, particularly influenced by the works of scholars like Dorothy Sayers and Douglas Wilson. These schools seek to combine the rich heritage of classical education with a distinctly Christian worldview. The approach used in Classical Christian Schools is centered around the trivium, a three-part division of learning that includes the grammar stage, the logic stage, and the rhetoric stage. In the grammar stage, students focus on the foundational knowledge and facts of various subjects. The logic stage emphasizes critical thinking skills and logical reasoning, while the rhetoric stage focuses on effective communication and persuasive expression. Throughout all stages, the integration of Christian faith and principles is a guiding principle, with biblical teachings woven into the curriculum and classroom discussions. The goal is to cultivate students who are not only well-educated but also deeply grounded in their faith, equipped to engage with the world thoughtfully and confidently.

A classical Christian school proclaims Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It also adheres to the principles of

There are a lot of misconceptions about private schools.

This is probably because private schools are indeed private, and often reluctant to release information to the general public.

• Unfortunately, this has more to do with the reality that many journalists don't understand private schools.
• On a couple of occasions when I have been interviewed about private schools, the interviewers asked very pointed questions designed to support their preconceived notions that private schools were only for rich kids or kids with issues.
• They were always surprised when I refuted those kinds of leading questions with facts.

With that experience in mind, here are some common myths, together with the reasons why they are simply that: myths.

Myth #10: Private school teachers make less than public school teachers

Not true. This might have been the case years ago.

• Private school teachers are not unionized.
• They do enjoy some perks that public school teachers do not have, such as housing, meals, and reduced or free tuition for their children.
• Compensation is about the same in both sectors.
• The real disparity seems to occur within private schools themselves.
• Most parochial or religious schools tend to offer compensation that is on the low end of the scale.
• Administrators are not unionized either.
• Deans, admissions directors, development directors, business officers, and heads of school are generally paid competitively.
• You can research the facts by examining not-for-profit schools' Form 990, which has to be filed annually.

Myth

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The Seattle area is home to many fine private schools as well as to major companies such as Microsoft, Boeing and Starbucks.

Private Schools in the Seattle Area

• Annie Wright School, Tacoma
• Auburn Adventist Academy, Auburn
• The Bear Creek School, Redmond & Woodinville
• Bellevue Children's Academy, Bellevue
• Bellevue Montessori School, Bellevue
• Bertschi School, Seattle
• Bishop Blanchet High School, Seattle
• Billings Middle School, Seattle
• Brighton School, Lynnwood
• Brightwater School, Seattle
• The Bush School, Seattle
• Chrysalis School, Woodinville
• The Clearwater School, Seattle
• Concordia Lutheran School, Seattle
• Community Christian Academy, Lacey
• Eastside Catholic School, Sammamish
• Evergreen Academy, Bothell & Woodinville
• Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, Bellevue
• Fremont Community School, Seattle
• The French American Immersion School of Washington, Bellevue
• French American School of Puget Sound, Mercer Island
• Holy Names Academy, Seattle
• Holy Rosary School, Seattle
• Hope Lutheran School
• Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle
• Junior Junction School, Kent
• KapKa Cooperative School, Seattle
• King's Schools, Seattle
• Lakeside School, Seattle
• Life Christian School, Tacoma
• Matheia School, Seattle
• Montessori in Motion, Tacoma
• Northwest Yeshiva High School, Mercer Island
• The Open Window School, Seattle
• Our Lady of Gaudalupe School, Seattle

The historic metropolitan Boston area offers a wide range of academic and cultural activities. Just as impressive is the area's selection of private schools which cater to almost every need.

A fine transportation network and the fact that the Big Dig is finally finished make Boston a wonderful place in which to live and go to school. After graduation, there are thirty-seven colleges and universities to choose from. Head north a few hours and you will find excellent skiing in the winter and a host of recreational activities in the summer. Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard to the east and south are treasures in their own right. Boston's accommodations and restaurants are decidedly world-class. Perhaps one of these fine schools should be on your short list.

Private Schools in the Boston Area

• The Advent School, Boston
• Archbishop Williams High School, Braintree
• Arlington Catholic High School, Arlington
• The Atrium School, Watertown
• Beaver Country Day School, Chestnut Hill
• Belmont Day School, Belmont
• Beverly School for the Deaf, Beverly
• Bishop Fenwick High School, Peabody
• Boston College High School, Boston
• Boston University Academy, Boston
• Brimmer and May School, Chestnut Hill
• Brooks School, North Andover
• Buckingham Browne and Nichols School, Cambridge
• Cambridge Friends School, Cambridge
• The Cambridge School of Weston, Weston
• Catholic Memorial High, West Roxbury
• Chapel Hill-Chauncy