Private Schools in the United States

Private schools host nearly 11 million children, and their popularity continues to grow each year. Parents appreciate private schools because they offer more flexibility in teaching methods and curriculum, provide a better learning environment and a better quality of education and improved school safety. While there are some naysayers who will make outrageous claims about private schools, numerous people with children in private schools know just how much they help their children.

More Parents Opting for Private School

Since 2008, the number of students enrolled in private schools has hovered around 11 million. Each year, roughly 20,000 students are enrolled in private schools, and this number shows no signs of decreasing anytime soon.

Parents have an assortment of reasons for choosing a private school education over a public school (more on their reasons courtesy of this study below), including more flexible teaching methods and improved learning environments.

Private schools work more towards ensuring each child has a positive learning experience, working to prevent a variety of issues, include bullying, while tailoring to children’s needs. As more and more people discover the benefits of private school, we can expect to see the number of enrolled students increase further.

Flexible Teaching Methods

Imagine a student going outside to learn more about local wildlife rather than sitting through a movie in their classroom or reading about it in a textbook. Or imagine designated relaxation times where small children can nap to ensure they give their brains times to process what they’ve learned. These situations are usually not available in public schools.

Public schools are geared to push students through K-12 in an effort to secure funding. Although there are excellent teachers who care about their students and want to make a more immersive learning environment for them, their uniqueness is quickly wiped out in favor of more “traditional” methods of learning.

Private schools experience much more flexibility, allowing successful methods like Montessori to flourish and grow. While public schools are looking for cookie-cutter teaching methods, private schools are often more flexible and try to find methods for teaching students that are more likely to work rather than relying on pushing children through the equivalent of a factory system.

Other private schools stick to more traditional teaching methods; however, they tend to tailor their curriculum better to students’ needs rather than sticking to any one specific methodology.

Tailored Curriculum

Public schools all follow the same curriculum across their states in an effort to increase test scores. This leads to a one-size-fits-all curriculum that certain students just can’t utilize while others are held back academically so they can stay with their peers. Other parents who utilize private schools have chosen to do so for religious reasons, believing that their students would have a better learning experience if they were taught the same core values at school as they are at home.

Regardless of why someone chooses to a private school, they know that their student is getting the right curriculum for their needs rather than relying upon public school standards that don’t really help any students excel.

Better Learning Environment

Private schools offer a better learning environment for their students in several ways, including:

• Improved student-teacher ratio – Most class sizes are small, meaning teachers can give students more individualized attention for more advanced education.
• Follows proven methodologies – Many private schools follow a set curriculum that is proven to work, including more abstract teaching methods like Montessori schools.
• Less bullying – While bullying sadly happens in all school environments, students who attend public schools are less likely to be bullied than their public school counterparts.
• Individualized programs – Because private schools have a larger focus on providing students with a more well-rounded learning experience, many teachers and advisors will provide students with classes and programs that fit their educational needs.

Higher Quality of Education

Far too often, exceptionally bright children are held back in public schools. Programs like “No Child Left Behind” are great for ensuring everyone learns the same concepts, but it can be detrimental for higher-achieving students who aren’t getting adequate mental stimulation in their classes.

Private schools provide students with the opportunity to not only learn more advanced concepts but also to excel more in academics as a whole. Students in private schools routinely score higher in all subjects when compared to public school students, especially when one looks at grades 8-12.

This higher quality education means students receive better test scores which can set them up for continued academic success in the future. Ivy league school acceptance and improved career prospects are just some of the continued benefits private school students can experience in the future when compared to public schools.

Finally, many private schools are exclusive on who they will allow into their educational institute. While this can mean legwork for parents looking to change from public to private schools, it also shows how schools are dedicated to educational excellence to give their students the best chance at success.

Safer

Private schools are safer than public schools for a variety of reasons, including the community environment they foster. Everyone from teachers to administrative officials tend to know who students are and their families, leading to less incidents with students.

Furthermore, private schools do not tend to be the target of school shooters, with the Secret Service finding that out of 41 incidents of students who had committed violent acts at school, only two were at private schools, even though roughly 13% of students attend public schools.

Finally, private schools tend to require uniforms and enforce dress codes, meaning students are far less likely to get bullied for their appearance versus children who attend public school.

Public schools are quickly becoming a more viable option for parents who are looking for their children to succeed in life. From flexible teaching methods to safer environments, private schools are the ideal learning institutions for many children around the country. If you are interested in building or purchasing a school or need consulting on how to improve your current private school, please visit our website by clicking here.