How to Choose a Private School
In the public school system, choosing which school your child will attend is largely made for you. Most parents opt for their neighbourhood school, or the school closest to their childcare provider. If you want a special program like French Immersion, you’ll usually enroll your kids at the closest school that offers it. If you’re opting for private school, however, the decision is less clear-cut. With so many different options to consider, how can a parent choose the best one for their child?
If you’re seriously looking at private school, we have five things to consider as you’re making your choice.
Choosing a Private School: Five Factors to Consider
1. Your Child’s Needs
The first thing to consider when choosing any school – public or private – is your child’s needs. You’ll want to consider how your child learns best, and what setting your child is most comfortable in. You’ll also want to consider whether your child could benefit from a challenging academic setting, has a learning difference or has special needs. Once you know what your child’s needs are, you’re in a better position to find a private school to meet those needs.
2. Educational Philosophy
Many parents choose private school because they’re looking for a specific educational philosophy, such as Montessori or Waldorf education, or a religious grounding. If you know that you want an excellent fine arts program, lots of time spent outdoors, a second language, smaller class sizes or pretty much anything else, keep that in mind when you search for a private school. If you’re clear on what you need, you’ll be better able to evaluate the schools you’re looking at.
3. Location
The younger your child, generally speaking, the shorter the distance you’ll want them to travel to school. For a kindergartner, for example, most parents would prefer to avoid a 45 minute commute to school. For this reason, the location of your prospective private school will play a role in deciding whether or not it’s right for your child. Some private schools offer a bus or parent car-pooling, which may make the travel a little easier, so be sure to ask.
4. Other Parents’ Experiences
Private school is a significant investment for most families, so doing some legwork and making sure that the school is as good as it sounds is prudent. One of the best ways to do this is to speak with some parents whose children are enrolled there. They’ll know what the school is really like on a day-to-day basis, and how their children adjusted. If you’re looking at a school for older children, you may also be able to get a sense of things by speaking to some current students.
5. Cost
For most families, cost will play a part in choosing a private school. Make sure that you clearly understand all fees, and when they’re due. Investigate any financial assistance or scholarships available. If you have a clear picture of exactly what the costs of a specific school are, then you can make an informed decision about whether or not it can fit into your budget, and how.
This article was sponsored by OUR KIDS. OUR KIDS is the trusted source on private schools and summer camps in BC and across Canada, and host to the annual Vancouver Private School Expo. Learn about the leading education and program options available for your child, compare and rank private schools and summer camps, and find a program where your child will thrive. Family owned and operated, OUR KIDS challenges you to think big about the future of your kids, and provides the resources to help you along the way. Their multi-device channels enable families to access information on all platforms (in-person, print, online, tablet, and mobile) to make the best choices for each individual child’s needs. Visit www.ourkids.net, the trusted source more than 1 million families refer to every year when choosing schools and camps for their kids.
