You have made the decision to give your child a private school education. With so many choices, how to find the right one to fit your child’s needs? The first step is to consider your priority, your own arm with a long list of questions and start preparing appointments. Your child’s education is too important not to take the time to choose the perfect one.
Why choose private school education?
Those who send their children to private schools have various motives behind their decision. For some decisions based on moral and religious values. Others feel that private education offers better academics and wants their children in smaller classes that will offer benefits from more personal attention.
It is important to have a list of priority education before you start looking for school. For example, if academics are more important for you than religion, but religion is more important to you than extracurricular activities, having academics into number one on your list, religion becomes number two on your list and extracurricular activities in the number three list.
Private school considerations
As part of choosing a private school that is right for your child, you must go through the elimination process to get the number of schools you consider to be a manageable number.
You might want to consider:
Finance. What can you pay for education in a private school? Ask if there are financial assistance or scholarship programs available for you. In addition, several states, including Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, offered income tax breaks if you send your children to private schools.
Class level. Do you want your child to have the choice to stay through Middle School? Not all private schools offer TK value up to 12.
Location. You have to decide how far you are willing to drive. When you get closer to choosing a school, you can also ask if there are other students in schools living in your area. You can then carpool.
Question to ask
Additional questions to ask include:
Accreditation. Is school accredited? If so, who is the accreditation body?
Instruction model. What is the philosophy of school education? Does it have a traditional or alternative approach to education? What are school policies about homework, assessment and testing?
Service staff. What kind of staff owned by school? Is there a school nurse at the location? Does school have psychologists or counselors? Is there a librarian about the staff?
The main turnover or principal. If the school caught fire through the principal, the school might have a problem.
Teacher change. What is the Turnover Teacher Rates at school? Usually speaking, private schools have a higher level of change of teacher than public schools. In addition, smaller private schools have a bigger turnover than larger private schools. However, the level of change of teacher 40% or more is likely to be an indication of problems at school.
Plan a visit
When you get closer to choosing a private school, you must schedule an appointment with the Principal or Principal of your candidate.
Ask about student friction. The longer students live in school, the more likely the school will be managed properly.
Ask for the names of parents who have children in school for reference.
Is the school textbook in the latest?
Does school have enough computers? Does school use the latest technology in teaching?
Does school have a program for parents’ involvement?
How do you feel school? Do children interact, smile and participate?
How does school meet their teacher requirements? Does the school offer teacher additional training?
If your child has special needs, what type of program is the school offered to help?
Look at reasons and facilities. How new amenities? How good facilities and reasons are maintained? Is the library well stocked with books?
