Is Private Scool the right choice for your child?

Private Schools do not have to abide by the rules that the government sets down for Public Schools because they do not receive funding from the government. This often means that children who attend Private Schools are not required to take the yearly achievement tests that many states require. This can be a big plus when you consider that many states have mandatory retention laws if a student doesn’t receive a passing grade on this exam. Many children suffer from test anxiety or learning difficulties that may affect their ability to pass such an exam. The Private School may provide an alternative to retention. Most Private Schools do follow the guidelines set down by the state with regard to class content and curriculum. Therefore, what they are learning in this type of school should be similar to what is being taught in the public school. Some Private Schools are religiously affiliated and therefore add classes in religion to the courses that they offer. Other Private Schools provide special assistance aimed to improve the lives of students with special learning needs. Class size in Private Schools is usually smaller than that of a Public School and therefore allows a teacher to provide more individual attention to a student.

Private Schools are funded for the most part through student tuition. The amount of tuition varies from school to school, and some schools offer scholarships for students who may be athletically talented, academically talented or financially challenged. Research the Private Schools in your area to see what the tuition cost are and what they may have to offer your child with regard to scholarship money.

A few websites that you may want to visit to obtain information about the Private Schools in your area are: privateschoolreview.com and nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/. These websites provide information about the school’s philosophy, classes offered, and school population. They may assist you in determining whether a Private School is the best choice for your child. Both of these websites are for schools in the United States but I am sure that there are similar websites available to you if you reside in another country.