You have decided to take your child to a private school, but you are stuck on which school can fully accommodate your child’s needs. Here are some tips to guide you in choosing a good school for your child.
Find out the Teacher to Student Ratio
You will want a school with a low student-to-teacher ratio where teachers can easily manage their workload. That means they have more one-on-one time with students. It is easy to engage students using different activities and lessons, which might not have been practical in a larger classroom. Because the students are few, monitoring them is not hard, which means teachers spend little time addressing discipline issues.
Private schools tend to have small class sizes with a student-teacher ratio of about 12 to 1. In a class of over 30 students, it easy for shy students to “hide” because they do not want to participate in class. However, smaller classes encourage the participation of all members. If a teacher notices a student who is not active, they can talk to them, find out what the issue is and motivate them to participate.
Prioritize Academic Performance
Academics should be among the top things you look for in a private school. Ensure that the quality of education in the school is good. Will the school prepare your child for advanced learning, whether it is high school or college? And what about the college acceptance rate of students from that school? These are some of the questions you have to consider.
Also, check the colleges and universities that the graduates have been accepted into. If your child’s dream is to go to an Ivy League university, then choose a private school with a proven track record of commonly producing students that get accepted into Ivy League schools. A good private school will either post such information on their website or give it to you on request.
Check Teaching Requirements
Check what the requirements are for one to be a teacher in that school. Most private schools will ensure that a teacher has a license to teach before hiring them. Ensure the school you choose only employs licensed teachers. Private schools place value on teachers with degrees in their chosen subjects.
A teacher with knowledge and expertise on what they are passing on to the students will be able to deliver a good job. Also, about 60 to 80% have an advanced degree in their field, making them better teachers.
Check the Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities have a significant impact on the growth of your child. Most private schools have a wide range of extracurricular activities, which you may not find in public schools. You can get some less common activities, including lacrosse or field hockey or a course in Latin or religious studies. While looking for extracurricular activities, consider what your child is interested in.
Ask About Accessibility
Your child needs a learning environment where they have access to opportunities to succeed. If they have special learning needs, then the school should also have specialized teachers. Kids with special needs require special tools and learning options, so ask whether the school has those. One of the top disabilities in adults aged 18 years and above is vision disability. It is also a prevalent disabling condition among children. Check what measures have been put in place for kids with sight issues.
If your child is gifted academically, you will need a school that caters to students like them. There are private schools with extra-accelerated programs for students seeking intellectual challenges. You should factor in your child’s needs, whether physical, emotional, linguistic, or learning needs, before settling on a school.
Once you have narrowed down a few schools, it is best to involve your child in deciding. Take them to the schools you have chosen and see which one they connect with. Listen to any concerns they may have and find solutions. Otherwise, sending a child to a school without their input may create a bad attitude in them.
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