Why consider a private school?
You have begun to think about private school as an option for your child's education. Dozens of questions come to mind as you ponder sending your child to private school. Regardless of whether you are considering sending your child to primary school or to a prep school, the aim is the same: you want the best possible education for your child. But it is all so confusing. There are so many choices to make. And which is the best school for my child anyway? Once you figure that out, then how do you get your child into the school you want?
What are private schools really like? You probably have heard in the popular media that they are elitist or just for rich kids.
That used to be true for some schools, but it is a different world today. Diversity is not just something schools talk about. Diversity is a real, tangible part of most private school communities. Diversity has come about because private school administration and boards of trustees have made it a major policy initiative.
Perhaps you have heard that the homework is hard and that there is lots of it. That is true. If you send your child to a private high school, she will do more work than if she attends public school. How is that possible? Because class sizes are smaller, resulting in a low student to teacher ratio. The other factor is that students are going to the school because they want to be there. They expect to work hard. They expect to be stretched. You cannot hide in a private school because it is too small. Everybody knows you. You know everybody.
Another big consideration in deciding to go to private school is that it is cool to be smart. Private schools are also safe places to learn.
Finding the best private school is all about getting the "fit" right. Why? Because your child's happiness and future academic well being are at stake. Getting the right fit will make the difference between success and failure.
Choosing a school is like buying a fine suit or dress. It's a sizable investment. It needs to fit correctly or you will feel uncomfortable and have wasted your money. Your child needs to feel comfortable in his or her new school. And the school must feel comfortable with your child.
What about ranks? Ranks are not as important as whether the school is right for your child. You can't compare private schools. It's like comparing apples to oranges if you try. Each school is unique. Uniqueness is the essence of a private school.