There are many reasons you might choose a private school for your child. Whether you are looking for strong academics, smaller class sizes, special programs, or a specific teaching philosophy, chances are there is a school out there for you. 

Depending on where you live, your public school options may be largely decided for you. Once you choose to look at private schools, you have more choices and more factors to think about. 

The first thing you may want to consider is if you wish to send your child to a religious school. If you do, you can start by asking at your church, synagogue, or mosque if they have a school recommendation. 

If you want a non-religious private school, you can start by asking friends and family who have children in private schools for their suggestions and reviews. 

Depending on the size of the school, you may find a K-12 school where your child can go to one school for their education from kindergarten through high school. However, in many cases, you’ll need to look at separate private elementary schools, private middle schools, and private high schools. 

One of the most important things you can do is visit the school and get a sense of the atmosphere and student body. Chances are this will be necessary anyway, as your child will likely have an interview before they are admitted to a school. 

Before you visit a school and meet with administrators and teachers, make sure you have a list of the things that are important to you and specific questions to ask. 

 

Some things you may consider: 

• Class size 
• Teacher qualifications and certifications
• Teaching philosophy
• College acceptance rate
• Safety protocols
• Attendance policies
• Uniform requirements or dress codes
• Special programs 

Of course, one of the biggest differences between private schools and public schools is tuition. Make sure you know your budget and understand all the associated costs for the schools you are considering. Some schools will offer financial assistance or scholarships if you need help with tuition costs. Be wary of scholarship scams as you search. 

 

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