Have you been exploring the advantages of your children attending private elementary schools? It’s likely that you are already aware that private elementary schools have smaller campuses and fewer students per class. This means that your children will have more one-on-one attention from their teachers as well.
While some private schools are larger, 86% have an enrollment of less than 300 students. Furthermore, they also tend to have 12.5 students for every teacher. It’s not surprising that most parents choose private schools because they believe the teachers are more dedicated. The Fraser Institute conducted a study with private school parents in 2007. The results of this study showed that 91% of the parents decided to send their children to private school for this very reason.
In addition to teacher dedication, many parents believe that their children are more safe within a private school setting. The Fraser Institute study found that 72% of the parents “strongly agreed” that their children’s school was safe.
Since you’re considering a private elementary school for your children, did they already attend a private preschool program? Three different studies revealed that 80% of the children that were in these types of high-quality programs were more academically successful than their counterparts. Furthermore, when children participated in early childcare and education programs, they scored 21% higher on their kindergarten math and reading tests than their peers that didn’t attend these types of programs.
While 80% of the parents that participated in the survey indicated that they were happy with the academic standards of their children’s private schools, it’s also important to note that there are more opportunities to explore the performing arts and other creative enrichment activities. Furthermore, children in private schools are also introduced to technology, which is integrated into the curriculum.
Even though your children won’t be attending high school and college for some time, private schools prepare them for future academic and career success. The national averages for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) are also higher with private rather than public high schools. Private school students scored an average of 541 in reading, 579 in math, and 550 in writing. Public school students, however, scored 497 in reading, 514 in math, and 489 in writing.
Due to these higher scores, private school graduates are more likely to attend college. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics showed that 88% of private high school students apply to colleges and universities. This is compared to a little over half, or 57%, of public high school students.
Once you visit the private elementary schools in your area, you’ll be able to learn more about their enrollment, class size, academic curriculum, and enrichment activities. When your children begin attending private school, chances are that you will immediately recognize the difference between public and private schools.
