Making the decision about where to send your child to school is one of the most important decisions you will ever make for them. When you are evaluating the best private schools compared to public school settings, there are a few things you should keep in mind about why parents find private schools as the better option.
A Focus on Academic Excellence
What is taught in public schools is often predetermined by public law. Public schools have very little wiggle room when it comes to the curriculum and how it is taught. In private schools, a lot of effort is put into the best teaching practices, the best curriculum to use, and changes can be made without an act of congress. The best private schools do not focus on “teaching to the test” to satisfy public law constructs, instead, they focus on creating a nurturing environment for academic excellence.
Teachers are Highly Qualified in Private School Settings
Many public schools offer a lateral entry program, which means as long as a candidate has a four-year degree in any subject, they can teach while they work on the necessary “teaching classes”. This type of program is a necessity because public education is not well-known for compensating teachers well. However, it means that your child can be taught science and math by a teacher that has a degree in 18th-century literature. In other words, the teacher in public schools may or may not be qualified to teach the subject they do not have a degree in.
In private education settings, teachers typically have degrees in the subject that they teach. As a matter of fact, between 60% to 80% of teachers in private school settings have advanced degrees in the subject they teach. Private schools require teachers to be licensed before they start teaching, public schools do not in many cases.
Smaller Class Sizes Allow More Focused Attention
At the helm of each classroom, there is a highly qualified teacher in private school settings and the classrooms are less crowded, which means your child will get more expert attention in every subject. Instead of finding teachers that are overwhelmed by the sheer number of kids in the class, you find teachers that are focused on getting to know their students and providing one on one support.
It is important that you give your child every opportunity to succeed academically in all subjects. The best private schools are proven to do just that. Learn more today by contacting us!
