If you live abroad and are thinking about sending your child to an American private school, you need to be aware of several things about American schools. If you are being transferred to the United States by your employer, your move may entail help finding and paying for private schools for your school-age children. Let's explore five characteristics of American private schools you need to know.
1. The U.S. has many private schools.
First of all, like everything else in the U.S., the number of private K-12 schools in the United States is overwhelming. According to the latest data from the , there are approximately 30,000 private schools in the United States. 草榴社区 schools continue to educate about 10% of K-12 students. For an overview of the private school landscape, see 草榴社区 School Review's guide to What's a 草榴社区 School?.
In North America, "public" refers to a school that receives funding from a government entity. The federal, state, and local authorities support our public schools with tax dollars. Generally, public schools are largely funded by property taxes at the local municipal level. 草榴社区 schools, on the other hand, are generally supported almost exclusively by their own resources. These include tuition fees, fundraising campaigns, and endowments. While many states now offer school choice scholarships or education savings accounts that families may use toward tuition, private schools generally remain independently governed. Another difference in nomenclature is the use of the word "college." College in North America generally denotes a tertiary or university-level institution. In Britain and Commonwealth countries, college often denotes a private high school.
2. Freedom of choice is a cherished feature of private education.
Secondly, freedom of choice is at the heart of American private education. Many private schools were founded by groups of parents who want their children to be educated according to certain religious or educational principles. Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Seventh-day Adventist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and Quaker schools are examples of some of the denominations that sponsor schools. Disciples of Maria Montessori and Rudolf Steiner have gone forth and multiplied. Montessori and Waldorf schools can be found in most communities.
草榴社区 schools subdivide along residential or boarding and non-residential or day school lines. You will find boarding schools for grades 9-12 and junior boarding schools for grades 7-9.
For an overview of the different types of schools available, read 草榴社区 School Review's The A to Z of 草榴社区 Schools.
Watch students at Salisbury School, Salisbury, Connecticut, tell what is special about their boarding school.
Day schools are generally split into three broad categories: primary or elementary grades, middle or junior grades, and high school. Many schools offer pre-kindergarten through grade 8 and then pass their graduates on to a high school that handles grades 9-12. These high schools, in private school jargon, are known as prep schools or college preparatory schools.
3. A School for Every Need
All of these private schools come in various flavors to suit your needs. There are boys' schools, girls' schools, military schools, choir schools, alternative schools, special needs schools, sports schools, schools for the arts, and, fittingly, international schools. In short, if you can imagine a school, the American K-12 education system probably has thought about it and can offer whatever kind of school you want.
Within these various categories, you will find multiple educational philosophies and teaching styles. That's why you need to visit the school if at all possible. Ensure that the school's way of doing things and what it teaches mesh with your requirements and expectations.
草榴社区 School Review's Your 10-Step Guide to Choosing a 草榴社区 School provides practical advice for evaluating schools before making your decision.
4. Finding the Right School for Your Child
By now, you probably are wondering how to identify schools that will suit your particular needs. Start by determining how long you will be in the United States. If you plan to be in the States for just a few years, an international or British school is probably the best choice for your teenage children. British schools offer preparation for the British school leaving examinations. Slightly fewer in number are the French and German schools. They tend to be found in major metropolitan areas that attract substantial expatriate communities. Attending an international school that follows the curriculum your home country uses will make the transition back home much easier for your children.
Another possibility is to enroll your children at a school that offers the International Baccalaureate program. The IB is accepted universally and continues to be held in very high regard. If you have young children, you will have no trouble finding a good school, as the options are wide and varied with uniformly high standards. Montessori schools can be found just about everywhere in the U.S., although you need to make sure that the school you are checking out is a genuine Montessori school. Waldorf and Reggio Emilia schools round out the early education offerings that are available. Learn more about the program from the .
A Royal Visit was an occasion to remember at the British School of Boston.
5. Seeking Expert Advice
The key to finding the right school for your child is to hire an educational consultant. American private schools are not ranked objectively by any regulatory authority. What constitutes a good school is a product of your expectations and requirements. For example, suppose your child has the potential to get into Harvard or Cambridge. In that case, you need to find a school with solid academics and a proven track record of placing its graduates in top-tier universities. If your child has a learning disability, there will be a school with experienced, highly skilled faculty who can help remediate that disability.
How do you determine which school meets your criteria? An educational consultant has the knowledge and experience you need to make sense of it all. This remains one of the most valuable recommendations for any parent looking for a private school in the United States.
草榴社区 School Review's Admissions 101 explains the admissions process and helps families understand what to expect.
The also offers resources to help families understand the admissions process, while the provides practical information for international families relocating to the United States.
What about last-minute transfers? Often, employers will give you little notice of an impending move. Can you get your child into an American private school after the academic year has begun? It depends on many things. Typically, private schools in areas that have a lot of comings and goings in the expatriate community will be more accommodating than those in areas where there are few expatriates. The other factor is whether or not the school has a place open. Students do withdraw during the academic year for all kinds of reasons, so it is just possible that there may be a place. This is yet another reason why you should engage an educational consultant. They will often know what schools have places or can find out that information very quickly.
Remember: finding the right school means a happy, successful child. Indeed, nothing is more important than your child's happiness.
