Since you want your children to receive the best possible education, you are probably thinking about enrolling them in a college preparatory academy. Private schools, as you’re aware, tend to provide more stringent academic programs, which includes a preparatory curriculum, honors programs, and other opportunities for enrichment. Students usually complete these programs as more well-rounded adults that are better prepared to handle the high standards at the nations colleges and universities.
When considering the advantages of private schools versus their public counterparts, both the campuses themselves and the classes are smaller. Roughly 86% of the private schools in operation have less than 300 students enrolled. The student-teacher ratio for private schools tends to be 12.5: 1. Public schools, however, may usually have a student-teacher ratio of 15.4: 1 or more.
When surveyed about their child’s private school educational experience, 80% stated they were happy with the level of education their children were receiving. Furthermore, these parents also recognized the teacher’s dedication to their students. The Fraser Institute’s 2007 study found that 91% of the parents whose children were in private school cited teacher dedication as their primary reason for choosing a private placement.
Private schools also have a higher graduation rate than public schools. Given their high academic standards and individualized attention, graduates also apply to and attend 4-year colleges at a higher rate. During the fall of 2011, 98% of the seniors that had been enrolled in a private school during October 2010 graduated. Approximately 64% of these students were enrolled in a 4-year college by fall of 2011.
The National Center for Education Statistics found that 88% of students that attended private school applied to college. This is significant when compared to the 57% of students that attended public high schools.
If your child will be entering middle school in the fall, it’s not too early to think about preparing them for college. In fact, when they attend a private middle school, they will be more academically prepared for a high school and a preparatory academy program for college or university.
You may want to consider enrolling your middle or high school student in summer camp. When they attend summer camp, they will have an enriching experience and begin to develop a sense of the school they’ll be attending in the fall.