An extensive network of private schools parallels the public school system. Some of these schools are closely associated with a church or religious denomination and are called parochial schools. Some of these, such as those sponsored by the Society of Friends (Quakers) and many Catholic schools, are popular among people of all faiths. Private schools receive no financial support from tax funds and are, with the exception of some parochial schools, expensive — some more so than others.
Why do people spend so much money, often to the point of major financial sacrifice, to send their children to private schools? The reasons vary.
1. Classes tend to be smaller with greater individual attention than in public schools. Some children need this kind of supportive individual instruction.
2. Most private schools are highly selective; through interviews, references, and examinations (at least for the upper levels), they seek students of quality. This means that they can usually maintain higher academic standards than the public schools, which have to accept students of all abilities.
3. Discipline is likely to be better and academic standards higher than in public schools, which are often overcrowded and understaffed.
4. Some parents living in crowded or academically disadvantaged areas feel they must send their children to private schools to prepare them for admission to a selective college.
5. A few parents prefer to send their children to schools sponsored by their own religious denomination.
6. Some parents seek a more homogeneous student body than is found in the public schools.
Those interested in finding out about private schools can contact the National Association of Independent Schools at www.nais.org/.
Boarding schools exist mostly for children of high school age (15–18), though there are also a few for younger children. If you happen to settle near a boarding school, you may be able to enroll your child as a day student. Otherwise, these children live in school dormitories and attend classes on the school campus.
You may find private schools teaching in German, Spanish or French, or adhering to a specific educational philosophy such as Montessori or Waldorf. Contact the Council for American Private Education (www.capenet.org/) for more information.
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