When it comes to your child’s education, there is often a endless strong of questions when trying to decide where to send them to school.
- What sort of reputation does a school have?
- How do the teachers or instructors help children learn?
- What will my child learn and how will they learn it?
- Should i send my child to public school or private school?
- What are the advantages of attending private schools?
The list can go on and on. After all, choosing the best school for your child is a big commitment and one that can shape your child’s development for a long time. Choosing where to send your child to school boils down to one essential question: where is the best place for them to further their educational journey?
In the United States, 24 percent of all schools are private schools. Approximately 2.63 million students were enrolled in private elementary schools in the United States in 2016.
There are many advantages of attending private schools and they offer numerous benefits to students. After all, the top private schools in America are rated that way for a reason: they’re the best at what they do.
- Student Motivation: 21 percent of public school teachers report that student apathy is a problem compared to just four percent of private school teachers reporting this as a problem.
- Parental Involvement: 24 percent of public school teachers report a lack of parental involvement as a problem, compared to just three percent of private school teachers.
- Increased Counseling Help: Counselors at private schools spend about 55 percent of their time on college-related counseling, compared to just 22 percent for public high school counselors.
There are many additional advantages of attending private schools that can help increase a child’s love of learning and further their education.
Private schools often have smaller class sizes and more staff, allowing your child to receive more individual support. In 2015, 87 percent of five-year-olds in the United States were enrolled in preprimary programs and having more individual support allows for increased comfort and enthusiasm for learning.
Private schools offer flexibility with their curriculum and more class choices. This gives parents and students greater options for picking which school is right for them. A performing arts school can help your child follow an educational path in theater or music. A fine arts school can help your child take an educational path in art, music or dance.
Private schools can also offer teachers who specialize in certain forms of education and an overall culture that’s focused on helping students succeed and get the most out of their education.
When it comes to choosing the best preschool for your child, many of the same principles of picking a private school apply.
There are many benefits of preschool that can be afforded to your child and your family, but it’s important to take several factors into consideration:
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions: Ask for reviews of a school from parents who already have kids attending a school you might be interested in. Talk to administrators and teachers about the culture of the school and what the curriculum is like.
- Review the curriculum: Preschoolers are usually taught their ABCs and 123s, but a preschool’s curriculum should do a bit more than that. Find out how the basics are covered, if reading will be taught and encouraged and what other tools for learning are available in a classroom.
- Nurturing: At such a young age, children who are preschoolers are very impressionable and teachers make an important impact. Teachers who lead with a gentle approach can be a source of comfort for a child who may be uneasy about leaving Mom and Dad behind at home.
- Home vs. School: With exposure to a new environment at school, a child can be confused about how to act there versus how they act at school. That can mean situations where a teacher must teach a child right from wrong or administer discipline. If you have a certain approach to dealing with conflict at home, it’s important to find out how the school handles conflict.
When it comes to choosing the best preschool for your youngster, don’t hesitate to ask questions. It’s important for children and their parents to feel comfortable and excited about learning.
