Traditional Private Schools

Many parents tend to dismiss the idea of sending their children to private school without exploring it in depth. Similarly, many teachers flirt with the idea of teaching in a private school without delving into the matter deeply. Supporting your alma mater financially is another concept many alumni figure is somebody else's job. Of course, it isn't.

Send my child to private school?

You would want to send your child to private school for several reasons. The public schools in your area may not offer all the academic programs you want your child to have as she prepares for college a couple of years from now. The local public schools may have had to cut extracurricular activities because of financial constraints. You want your child to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities. Sports programs may have been cut as well. Many school districts are struggling with their budgets and that impacts academics, extracurricular activities, and athletic programs across the board. Those kinds of fiscal pressures make the extras problematic at best. Who wouldn't want their child to be in academic surroundings where anything is possible as this short video suggests.

In this video, a student explains his math project.

Making the decision to send your child to private school requires some serious analysis and discussion of your aims and objectives. When we were having that discussion, we had two concerns: 1) stretching out children

Late Night Show host David Letterman retires at the end of May 2015. So, with his famous Top Ten lists in mind, here is my list of Top Ten Facts About Private Schools.

10. There are schools for just about every need you can imagine.

Perhaps this should be number one on the list. In any case, it is true. There are private schools for just about any need or requirement you can think of. Private schools come in all shapes and sizes. There are primary schools, K-8 schools, junior boarding schools, Roman Catholic schools, military schools, schools that offer programs for students with learning differences, schools in urban areas, schools out in the country, large schools, small schools, schools with instruction in languages other than English and on and on. With approximately 29,000 private schools in the United States, the chances of your finding what you are looking for are pretty good.

9. Private schools are more affordable than you think.

Private school is an extra expense and a substantial sacrifice for many families. On the other hand, most private schools offer need-based financial aid. The individual schools determine the amount of aid. Some schools even provide a tuition-free education if your family's financial situation is below a specific threshold.

This video offers an overview of Ravenscroft, a day school in Raleigh, North Carolina.

8. Everybody participates in sports in private schools.

Private schools

Many years ago, I had no clue what a private school was, much less how to get into one. I can remember one of my public school classmates announcing that he would be attending a private school beginning the next academic year. Indeed, about three of my classmates went to what is still a prestigious old Montreal private school, Lower Canada College. I also had a few friends who had transferred in from a boarding school in the Eastern Townships. As I learned a little later, they had been asked to leave the school. In any case, I am trying to make the point that you are not the only person who isn't sure how private schools work, how to get your child in, and so on.

So, let's keep this really simple. You won't get too stressed. You might find it enjoyable to find the right private school for your child.

Find!

The first step in the process is to find schools that you can explore and investigate as part of your personal due diligence. Sending your child to private school is a major commitment both financially and in terms of your investment of your personal time and energy as a parent. So it is important that we get it right.

Fortunately for us, every private school has a website. Look for a statement of the school's philosophy about educating young people. Does it match yours? If so, add it to your

1. Private schools are really private.

By design, American private schools are really private. While in most cases they observe applicable state laws with respect to minimum requirements concerning what is taught, private schools are answerable to their boards and their clients, i.e., the families who send students to them.

2. Private schools are more affordable than you think.

Granted, some private schools are very expensive. Especially boarding schools. However, since they generally seek to attract a diverse student population, most private schools offer generous financial aid packages.

3. Several private schools are free.

This video gives an overview of one of the free schools, Girard College in Philadelphia.

Years ago several benefactors established schools that will cost eligible students virtually nothing to attend. In more recent times the Cristo Rey Network of schools has made a private school education almost free for families of limited means.

4. Some private schools are residential.

Residential private schools are known as boarding schools. Your child will attend classes as well as eat and sleep at the school. Professional, experienced adult supervision ensures the safety of your child 24/7.

5. Most private schools are day schools.

In a day school your child attends classes during normal daytime hours. Extracurricular activities and sports are typically included within that day time schedule.

6. Some private schools offer a blend of day and boarding options.

Boarding schools located in a

As you consider sending your child to a private school, you will quickly become aware of at least ten challenges you will face. If you are intrinsically well-organized and able to cope with a major project, tackling all that's involved with getting your child safely off to private school shouldn't be too difficult. There's just a lot to the project. If you find projects daunting, hopefully, this short essay will help you focus on the main sections of the process. Let's get started.

1. Deciding whether to send your child for primary grades or high school

I assume you have decided to send your child to a private school. Several articles in Private School Review explain the differences between private and public education. If you still need help making that decision, then read those first. Then, circle back and pick up with this first challenge.

There are two schools of thought about whether you should send your child to primary grades or high school. One line of thinking is that your child needs a solid foundation in core skills such as reading and math. That approach's proponents are adamant that you should send your child in the early, formative years. The other school of thought touts the idea that a solid college preparatory education in the high school years is essential. The thinking is that intensive preparation for college-level studies will help your child get into a good college or university, perhaps even a top-tier one.