Private Schools Can Offer Educational Advantages for Parents and Students

The first Catholic school in the United States was established in 1606 in the town, which is currently known as St. Augustine, Florida. The school was founded by the Franciscan order. Georgetown was the first Catholic college that was formed in 1789. Georgetown continues to be one of the most prestigious universities in America. Since the 17th century until present-day, thousands of private schools have been established. According to the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), there were 30,861 private schools in the United States during the school year of 2011 and 2012 and more than five million enrolled students. 42.9 percent of students attended Catholic schools, 19.8 percent attended nonsectarian schools and 14 percent attended conservative Christian schools.

Private school education provides parents with the choice to determine which program matches their expectations. Many parents who select private schools over public education are satisfied with overall structure of the programs. Some of the factors that parents consider are the teacher to student ratio, disciplinary effectiveness, academic standards, graduation rates, standardized test scores and opportunities for student to partake in extracurricular activities. Some parents also incorporate the schools’ religious foundations in their school selection criteria.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, parents are more satisfied with the opportunity to select the right schools as opposed to being required to enroll their children in a district neighborhood school. Some parents believe that public school districts may not provide students with a well-rounded education, and many fail to meet the needs of students. Many parents also believe that private schools offer a better learning environment and more one-on-one attention from teachers.

When determining which schools offer the best private education, parents must conduct research on the each school’s ability to provide the right environment and education that's needed for their children. If you’re considering private school, you should first discern the specific needs of your child and jot down your expectations. There are websites available online, such as Private School Review, to help you create a list of schools in your area. You can determine which schools offer the right schedules and curriculum for your child and whether the tuition fit within your budget. If you’re looking for single-gender schools, you can also find this information throughout your online research. There are many schools that are designated as girls’ schools and boys’ schools, like the Archer School for Girls listing. Before making the final decision, tour the school, get a feel for the environment and discuss your questions and concerns with the school administrative staff and teachers.

When a parent is actively involved in his or her child’s education, it can result in a positive outcome as a whole for the child. One of the beginning steps that a parent can make to show support to the child is to select the school that offers the best education all-around. Many private schools have strong foundations in providing quality education and guiding students to become successful and productive citizens in society.