A friend of mine mentioned the other day that a number of his daughter’s classmates would be leaving her current school at the end of this school year to attend private schools in the fall. He lives in a very affluent suburb of Boston, and the schools in his town are very highly rated. He was questioning whether he and his wife should be looking at private schools for their daughter too.
We talked a bit about his daughter, and what type of student she is. He mentioned that she has an IEP, and she receives services in school currently. He also noted that his daughter is not a big fan of school, and they often have to struggle with her to get her to complete her homework.
Based on what he told me about his daughter, I told him that I did not think that private school would be a good fit for her. If she needs special education services in school currently, then public school is a better fit for her right now. Most private schools are not equipped to provide special education services to students.
Also, private schools are generally looking for good students who are motivated to work hard and excel in school. A student who does not like school, and has difficulty completing homework is not a good candidate for most private schools. This student’s teachers are unlikely to give her high marks on her recommendations, and these recommendations are a critical part of the application process.
When I ask parents why they are looking at private school for their child, I often hear that it is because they have friends with children in private school, or the child’s classmates have left for private school. These alone are not good reasons to apply to private school. Schools want to hear more specific reasons as to why you are applying (smaller class sizes, stronger academics, a more holistic approach to educating the whole child, better arts and sports programs, etc.).
Parents who cannot articulate why a specific school is a good match for their child are not likely to impress the admissions staff. Schools want to know that you understand their mission and focus. A family who has researched the school thoroughly and can articulate clearly why the school is a good fit for both their family and their child, is a family that the school wants to talk to.
Before you decide to jump on the private school bandwagon, think about why private school would be a good fit for your child. Do your homework and research the schools you have heard about from your friends. Visit the schools and tour the campuses, and talk to parents and students. Picture your child at the school, and think about whether or not they will fit into this environment. You might find in the end that your child is better off staying where they are now.
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