Specialized Institutions

While you are in the early stages of identifying private high schools for your child, you will read plenty of catalogs and scan dozens of school websites. That will uncover a lot of information. Just be aware that all of this is the information which the schools want you to see. These are marketing tools that present the best side to the schools and their programs. While there is certainly nothing wrong with putting your best foot forward, the reality is that you need to lift the hood and see what's inside. Find answers to the following five basic questions as part of your due diligence as you sort through schools and begin to determine which one is the best fit for your child.

Get the answers to your questions two ways: by reading the materials offered and by asking in person. Incidentally, if you have decided to use the services of an educational consultant, these are questions which she can answer for you. Then all you have to do is follow up when you visit the schools and affirm what you already know.

1. What are they teaching?

For most parents, this is the first question on the list. It is our priority #1. It plays to our concern about what kind of college or university our child will ultimately attend. Preparing for that next step is a huge undertaking and we know that we have to get it right. Preparing for college level work is a 3-4 year project.

So,

When you consider sending your child to a private school, you will spend much time reviewing school websites. As you do that, remember that you see what the schools want you to see. Think of the private school website as its front door and entrance hall; you will get the idea. Once you get to the next stage of the school search process, look for the five features every good private school should have. Doing your due diligence will take a lot of your time, but confirming that schools on your short list meet your needs and requirements is necessary.

The challenge for many parents is separating marketing from reality. Nearly every school website highlights academic excellence, strong college placement, and outstanding student experiences. While those claims may be true, they do not always tell the complete story. That is why it is important to understand the characteristics that consistently distinguish strong private schools from average ones.

As you compare schools, focus on the fundamentals. The best private schools may differ in size, philosophy, religious affiliation, or educational approach, but they often share several important characteristics that contribute to student success.

Small Classes

Small classes are at the top of the list of features that every private school should have. If the private high school that you are looking at doesn't have small classes, what is the point of taking your child out of public school?

Obviously, the adjective small can be interpreted in different ways. Typically, a

What is a lab school? It is a K-12 school or school with some variation of those grades which typically is operated by a university or college. Sometimes it is called a demonstration school. A few lab schools are not affiliated with any institution of higher learning.

The school is a lab or laboratory school because teachers in training and the faculty of the college's education department usually have a hand in teaching and running the school. Like scientists experimenting in their labs, these educators use the lab school as their place to try out theories and methods. They also provide student teachers a controlled situation where they can learn the art of teaching.

Most lab schools are progressive schools as well. What are the differences between traditional and progressive schools? This chart from the Wingras School in Madison, Wisconsin illustrates the main differences. Lab schools adopt the progressive philosophy as part of their child-centric approach to education. The flexibility inherent in the progressive approach works well with student teachers who are just coming to grips with how children learn.

The list of schools which follows includes only private lab schools. Many state and public universities operate their lab schools in conjunction with the local school district. As such they do not charge tuition or charge very little tuition. The private lab schools do charge tuition.

A.E. Phillips Laboratory School, Ruston, LA
Grades: K-8
Program: "The school's purpose is to educate students in a wholesome, challenging

Free Schools

There are only a handful of free private schools in the United States.

• Most of them were founded many years ago by visionary, community-minded individuals.
• These public-minded men and women believed that children from working-class and poor families should have the same educational advantages as children from families with money.
• Several schools have a religious connection, such as Regis High in New York and the Cristo Rey Schools.
• While the details vary from school to school, they all provide a tuition-free education.
• The Cristo Rey schools have a work-study component.

Parental involvement is another feature of these schools.

• These schools have had an enormous impact on society.
• They benefit thousands of students, and their families are priceless.

As you read about these schools and watch the videos, remember that all these schools believe emphatically that an education does not consist solely of academics.

• Each school understands that a child needs nurturing and counseling to maximize the opportunities before him.
• These schools expect the child's family to be involved.
• His education is a partnership of three: home, school, and student. T
• hat's what it takes to provide the solid foundation a child needs to succeed in adulthood.

Free Private Schools

De Marillac Academy, San Francisco

De Marillac Academy, San Francisco, is an example of the best educational initiative the Roman Catholic Church sponsored.

• Established by the Daughters of Charity and De La Salle Christian

Use this checklist to keep track of your questions and answers to those questions as you visit each school on your short list. There is a lot of information to assimilate as you make those important visits. It will be easy to forget details unless you note them promptly.