Why Private School
A comprehensive look at private schools and why they might be right for your child. Explore the history of private school education, weigh the pros and cons of public vs. private school, and get valuable advice on making the best choice for your child. Learn more about the various types of private schools from military to progressive and review directories from a variety of resources including private school associations and offline publications.
View the most popular articles in Why Private School:
Classical Christian schools combine strict adherence to Christian beliefs with classical principles of education.
Christian schools as a genre have been around since the 1950's. 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 simply will not tolerate shoddy disciplinary standards, sloppy dress codes, violence in our schools and underachievement and low expectations. As a result they start their own schools.
A classical Christian school proclaims Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It also adheres to the principles of a classical education as set out by educators such Dorothy Sayers, John Milton Gregory, St. Augustine and Douglas Wilson. Parents and students enroll in a classical school because they too embrace the mission and teachings of the school. Teachers are required to sign a statement of belief as well. The result is a school community which is tightly focussed on its aims and objectives. Put another way, if you cannot subscribe to these beliefs, then you need to look elsewhere for your child's education if you are a parent.
You won't find computers and fancy technology being used in classical Christian schools. They use the trivium (grammar, rhetoric and logic). A classical Christian school seeks to produce excellent students well-schooled in their faith.
There are a lot of misconceptions about private schools. This is probably because private schools are indeed private.
There are a lot of misconceptions about private schools. This is probably because private schools are indeed private. But unfortunately it has more to do with the reality that many journalists do not understand private schools. On the 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. However, they do enjoy some perks public school teachers do not have such as housing, meals and reduced or free tuition for their children. But, as a rule, compensation is about the same in both sectors. The real disparity seems to occur within private schools themselves. For example, most parochial or religious schools tend to offer compensation which is on the low end of the scale. This video discusses some of the things schools like to see in your application file.
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
. . .read more
The Seattle area is home to many fine private schools as well as to major companies such as Microsoft, Boeing and Starbucks.
The Seattle area is home to many fine private schools as well as to major companies such as Microsoft, Boeing and Starbucks.
- 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
- 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 Overlake School, Redmond
- Providence Classical Christian School, Bellevue
- Puget Sound Community School, Seattle
- Saint Catherine School, Seattle
- Saint Alphonsus Parish School, Seattle
- Saint Charles Borromeo, Tacoma
- Saint George's Parish School, Seattle
. . .read more
The metropolitan Boston area offers a wide range of academic and cultural activities. Just as impressive is the area's selection of private schools.
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 decidely world-class. Perhaps one of these fine schools should be on your short list.
- 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 School, Waltham
- Charles River School, Dover
- The Chestnut Hill School, Chestnut Hill
- Concord Academy, Concord
- Cushing Academy, Ashburnham
. . .read more
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.
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. Picturesque vistas, rolling hills, ancient stone walls as well as quaint New England villages and towns dot the county's landscape. Plenty of acceptable restaurants and accommodations can be found for those inevitable parents' weekends and other family occasions.
- Canterbury Schoool, New Milford
- The Glenholme School, Washington
- The Forman School, Litchfield
- The Gilbert School, Winsted
- The Gunnery, Washington Depot
- The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville
- Indian Mountain School, Lakeville
- Kent School, Kent
- Litchfield Montessori School, Northfield
- The Marvelwood School, Kent
- Rumsey Hall, Washington Depot
- Saint Anthony School, Winsted
- Saint John the Evangelist School, Watertown
- Saint Mary Magdalene School, Oakville
- Saint Peter School, Torrington
- Salisbury School, Salisbury
- South Kent School, South Kent
- The Taft School, Watertown
- Washington Montessori School, New Preston
- The Woodhall School, Bethlehem
Recent Articles
July 25, 2017
A table comparison of the three popular early childhood education approaches.
July 25, 2017
How do I know how this school compares with the others I am considering? Has anybody ranked private schools?
July 20, 2017
