More and more parents are realizing the benefits of private versus public schools. Currently, 25% of the schools located throughout the United States are private. While some parents may conduct extensive research and engage in debates over the types of programs that would be best for their children, those that are preparatory in nature are popular for obvious reasons. These types of programs are designed to prepare children to succeed academically so that they are more prepared for advanced coursework, college, and beyond.
Public schools tend to have specific types of issues that aren’t as prevalent at private schools. Student apathy is just one of these issues. According to a recent survey, 21% of public school teachers indicated that this was a problem at their school. Just four percent of private school teachers, however, reported that this was a problem where they taught.
Another issue that is prevalent at public schools is a lack of parental involvement. The aforementioned survey found that 24% of public school teachers stated it was a problem, while just three percent of private school teachers indicated that it was. Unlike many of its public school counterparts, parental involvement is actually encouraged at private schools.
Public school counselors reported that they only spent 22% of their time providing college-related counseling to their students. Private school counselors reported that roughly 55% of their time was devoted to counseling students on college-related matters. It’s not surprising that more private high school students apply to and enroll in four-year colleges and universities. This amounts to approximately 95% of non-parochial private high school graduates. When compared to public school graduates, just 49% will apply to and attend post-secondary institutions, according to recent data.
One of the reasons why so many private high school graduates attend colleges and universities is due to their high Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) scores. The national average for all schools within the United States is 1060. Private school students, on the other hand, earn an average of 1235 on their SAT.
The best prep schools provide a rigorous academic curriculum along with other enriching programs that include fine and performing arts. In addition to having state-of-the-art computer labs, the best prep schools also encourage the use of digital textbooks and private tablets. Many private schools also have athletics programs and other extracurricular activities to provide opportunities to learn how to work as a team and develop social skills while maintaining a healthy exercise regimen.
You’ll realize that your child is attending one of the best prep schools when they look forward to going to school in the morning. When children of all ages are excited to learn and participate in other school-oriented activities, it’s an excellent sign that they are happy and thriving. Furthermore, when children have a strong support system and are in a positive state-of-mind, they are more likely to take on new challenges and succeed.
Since you’re planning to enroll your child in a private prep school, you may want to find out whether or not they have a summer program. This is an excellent way for your child to acclimate to their new school before the fall semester begins. When you contact a local prep school, you will be able to learn more about the available programs, enrollment procedures, and other important information.
