Choosing the Right School

Why attend an independent private school?
The reasons cited over and over again by the 400,000 families who send their children to our schools include individual attention, small classes, teacher excellence, and high academic standards. But the main motive for families looking into independent private schools can be summarized in one word: Quality. They want, quite simply, the best for their sons and daughters.

The National Educational Longitudinal Study (NELS), conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, confirms what independent school families have known for years: larger percentages of students in independent schools are enrolled in advanced courses than in public, parochial, and other private schools.

NAIS students:

• Do twice as much homework as their counterparts;
• Watch only two-thirds as much television;
• Are significantly more likely to participate in varsity or intramural sports; and
• Are more likely to agree that students and teachers get along well, discipline is fair, and teaching is good.

With results like these, it is not surprising that NAIS enrollments are increasing at double the rate of all other schools in this country.

Your decision to consider an independent school is just the beginning. You must choose the right school from the hundreds available. While all NAIS schools set high standards and emphasize values, they are wonderfully distinct from each other.

There are day and boarding schools; coeducational, girls', and boys' schools. Enrollment varies from a few dozen to a few thousand students. Some independent schools are centuries old, others just 10 years old; some are progressive, others more traditional in structure. NAIS schools also serve a varying range of students in terms of abilities and interests. Some schools offer special programs such as intensified instruction in the fine and performing arts, experiential learning projects, or travel abroad seminars. Many schools excel at rigorous intellectual preparation; others are dedicated to average learners; and some specialize in teaching bright students with learning disabilities.

Before visiting your first school, sit down with your family and determine your "ideal" educational community:

• Is it small or large?
• Traditional or progressive?
• Coeducational or single-sex?
• A day school or a boarding school?
• What special programs (arts, sports, computers) does it offer?
• Is a diverse school community important to you and your family?
• Does your child have special needs or interests?

Remember, this is just a starting point. You can amend the list as you move through the selection process.

Family Culture Enhances Academic Success

Keep in mind that a supportive family culture can enhance your child's success in school. To ready your child for an academic environment:

• Read to and with your child, early and persistently.
• Eat together as a family and have adult conversations with your child on wide-ranging topics.
• Set high expectations.
• Give your child opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities and support such participation.

Questions to Ask When Narrowing Your Choice

"The special bond of friendship and respect formed between students and faculty members is extraordinary."
--Parent, Massachusetts

After reviewing a number of catalogs, you are ready to start narrowing your choices. If you haven't done so already, contact each potential school for materials dealing with philosophy, curriculum, extracurricular offerings, admission process, and financing options. Compare each school's literature with the items on your list; this should give you a preliminary sense of which schools are a good match. Take into account what type of environment would be best for your child and consider his or her individual strengths as you examine each school's program. Eliminate any school that doesn't meet a fundamental requirement -- for instance, if your child wishes to study Japanese, but the school doesn't offer this course, you may need to look further.

Here are some questions to start with as you look through each school's materials:

• Is the school accredited and by whom?
• What is the school's mission and does its philosophy appeal to you?
• Does the school have a special or particular educational focus?
• Are academics rigorous?
• Is the environment competitive? Nurturing? Are there high expectations?
• Does the school meet your child's needs?
• How large is the school and its student body?
• Where is the school located and what are your transportation options?
• What variety of learning experiences are available at the school -- in class, on the playing field, in extracurricular activities, and in community service? Are extracurricular activities obligatory?
• Does the school seem to have a diverse student body and faculty?
• Do the school materials discuss parental involvement?
• For high schools, what are the graduation requirements? What percentage of students enter colleges -- and what kind of colleges do they attend?
• Is college counseling effective? (Look at rates at which school grads achieve their first and second college choices.)
• What is the tuition and how flexible are the school's financing options?
• What is the school's application process? Are deadlines drawing near?

On your own, write down additional questions and notes. Consider starting one sheet of paper per school. That way, you will be able to easily look up questions that are pertinent to the school you are visiting.

When looking at a school's accountability, look at where its graduates go to college and what their graduation rates are at those colleges.

In short, choosing the right school for your child is likely the most important single decision you might make in terms of setting the proper path and direction for life: A little preparation and research on the part of parents at the access point will go miles toward making the ultimate destination clear at the exit ramp.

Parent Voices

One of the best ways to learn more about independent schools is to hear from the parents of independent school students.