Are you considering a private school for your child? If so, be sure to research and visit the schools that interest you to find the best fit for your child’s educational needs. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) reports that as of 2007, there were 6,152,000 million students in private school, or 11 percent of all U.S. students in grades K-12. The 28,384 private schools in this country represent 25 percent of all U.S. schools, so there are plenty to choose from. Of these, nearly 50 percent are Catholic schools, 18% are non-sectarian, 15% are conservative Christian, and nearly 4 percent are Jewish, with the remainder mainly representing Christian denominational schools, such as Lutheran and Episcopal. Others, like Muslim or Buddhist schools, are not included in the report.

Parents select private schools for various reasons. Some want their children to learn from a particular world-view, while others appreciate the specialties offered by certain schools, such as in-depth reading skills, problem-solving or critical thinking curricula, strong math or science programs, and college prep. Smaller teacher-to-student ratios, extracurricular opportunities, and academic enrichment options provide additional attractions.

When looking at private schools, it is a good idea to browse websites to learn more about the school’s mission, administration, curriculum, and faculty. Teaching pedagogies and learning strategies also should be considered. Some children are better visual than auditory learners, which can impact the student’s ability to grasp concepts and build skills. Other learning styles include hands-on and movement-based (moving from one learning station to another or games and rhythm activities). Try to determine from observing your child his or her preferred learning style. This can help to guide your choice of private school.

Private schools may have restrictions or limitations that public schools do not have. These can include uniforms or strict dress codes, stern behavioral standards, and community service or other character-building components. Some private schools expect parents to take an active role in attending parent-teacher organization (PTO) meetings and participating in fund-raisers, as well as helping with field trips or special classroom activities, depending on the parent’s availability.

To assist your private school search, consider the following questions:

What advantages does this school offer over public school?
Does this school meet state educational requirements? Is it accredited with the appropriate agency?
How does this school equip a student with life skills and/or prepare him or her for college?
What expectations beyond learning objectives will my child need to meet?
What role are parents expected to play?
Questions like these can help to identify the advantages or disadvantages of a particular private school.
Children only go through an educational system once to receive instruction that will be needed for the rest of their lives. Parents can positively impact their children’s education by taking time to sort out the options and make a careful choice of academic environment and educational program that will help each child reach necessary learning goals.