Families of children attending private schools offer many reasons for choosing a private school:

• Quality college preparation,
• Small classes,
• Individualized attention,
• Ethical and moral guidance, and
• Competitive athletic programs

Private schools differ greatly in size, location, and educational philosophy. Only you and your child know which of these are most important to your family, and finding the right match will open the door to endless possibilities for achievement and personal growth for your child.

Begin this journey by identifying your child’s needs, strengths, weaknesses, goals and personal preferences. Does your child need a superior mathematics program? Will your child need extra help with writing skills? Is there a sport in which your child excels, and would like to pursue at the college level? Is your family looking for a school with a religious affiliation? This information will help you narrow your choices later on.

Next, research area schools to gather information regarding transportation, tuition, the admission process, size of campus, teacher to student ratio, accreditation, diversity of student body, and special services to students. College counseling and graduation requirements are also areas to explore when researching private high schools.

Once you have an idea of the choices available to your family, arrange visits to each school. Attending a school function or two (such as an Arts Festival or a field hockey game) will give you and your child valuable insight into the atmosphere and culture of any school. Meeting with administrators and staff enables you to gain understanding of each school’s mission and philosophy. Speaking with teachers (especially those that teach subjects in which your child excels or struggles) is another way to ‘get a feel’ for a particular private school.

The right private school can facilitate personal, social and academic growth, and put your child on the path to independence, a successful college experience and adulthood. Investing the time and energy to fully research your options is a worthwhile and rewarding endeavor.