I have targeted the first three questions at parents just starting to think about private school for their children. I can remember what it was like when we looked into sending our eldest daughter to preschool. We had two primary concerns: paying for her schooling and understanding what the school would teach her. I know that parents today essentially have the same concerns. Possibly, the last two questions might stump people familiar with private schools. I intend to offer some facts and figures as I compare private schools with public schools.
1. How many private schools offer financial aid?
The short answer is that just about every private school offers some form of financial aid. They do that because they are well aware that many families cannot afford to pay the full tuition and fees that they charge. Also, they don't want to admit only children from families who can afford to send them to private schools. Most private schools want to have as diverse a student body as possible. Consequently, there are over a dozen schools that now offer total financial aid to families with incomes below a certain income. These thresholds vary from school to school but typically are in the $75,000 range.
This video offers an overview of Brewster Academy.
I am saving the best for last. The United States has a handful of free private schools. A dozen or so munificent, visionary citizens founded tuition-free schools in the 19th century and early part of the 20th century. Several of these schools are boarding schools. Paying for a private school education is a significant concern for most of us. So, don't wait until the last minute to discuss this issue with schools on your shortlist. Also, don't decide that private school is out of the question until you have explored all your options with the various admissions offices at schools in which you are interested.
2. How many boarding schools are there in the U.S.A.?
The Association of Boarding Schools lists approximately 300 boarding schools, most of which are in the United States, with a dozen or so schools in Canada. You are probably reading this question and thinking that you would never send your child away to a residential school, so why bother reading on? Let me share several thoughts about boarding schools with you.
We decided to send our two daughters to boarding school because we were both juggling parenting with full-time careers. We lived in a rural part of Connecticut where you had to drive 20 minutes just to get to a food store. The local public schools maintained high standards but had over 500 students in Grades 7 through 12. That meant that they offered only introductory academic courses and just a few extracurricular activities. We wanted our children to take more Advanced Placement courses and participate in the broader variety of athletic and extracurricular activities.
This video offers an overview of Deerfield Academy.
When we began exploring boarding schools, we were pleasantly surprised at what they offered. What pleased us the most was that our children would be supervised 24/7 at school. Not knowing with whom our children might be driving or where they might be after school gave us both many a sleepless night. Boarding school began to make much sense after we considered it more seriously.
3. How many private and independent schools are there in the U.S.A.?
The National Center for Education Statistics shows that 30,861 private schools served 4,494,845 students in 2011-2012, the last year this data was compiled. In the fall of 2015, more than 50.1 million students were expected to begin at approximately 112,000 schools. Typically, you will find more private schools in urban and suburban areas. The northeast has the highest concentration of boarding schools.
What about charter schools? Don't they operate like private schools? Our tax dollars fund charter schools. They do not charge tuition. Private schools charge tuition for their services. Most charter schools seem to function under the supervision of state education departments.
4. Which is the oldest private school?
The oldest American private school is the Collegiate School in Manhattan, founded in 1628. The reason I have asked this question is to point out the fact that private schools preceded public schools in our country's history. As various religious organizations, communities, and local leaders saw the need to educate their children, they established schools to serve that purpose. Collegiate School describes its founders' purpose succinctly: "so that first of all in so wild a country, the youth be well taught and brought up." The Ursuline School in New Orleans was "convinced that the education of women was essential to the development of a civilized, spiritual and just society, the Ursuline Sisters influenced culture and learning in New Orleans by providing an exceptional education for its women." Private schools laid the foundations for education back in colonial times. The desire to better society and equip it with a well-educated citizenry is the reason these first schools were founded.
This video offers an overview of Holderness School.
5. Which private school is the most expensive?
I am playing to the popular media's misconception that private schools are only for rich kids. That might have been the case in the middle of the 20th century at some schools. Happily, that has changed at just about any private school that I can think of. The watchword from the top down in most private schools is diversity. Private schools are trying very hard to create communities that more faithfully reflect the world around them. The world's most expensive school? As far as I can tell, Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland takes the prize. It caters to a very wealthy clientele drawn from all over the world. The rich value service and privacy. Le Rosey provides both in abundance for a tariff of $115,000, which does not include sundries.
Questions. Contact us on Facebook and Instagram. @boardingschoolreview
#PrivateSchools #FinancialAid #BoardingSchools #EducationStats #SchoolChoice
