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Private schools tend to have a particular specialty or focus: all-girls or
all-boys schools; religious or independent schools (about 85% of private
schools are religious); schools for the athletic, intellectually gifted,
troubled, or those who want preparation for a particular career (e.g.,
military schools). Many have very rigorous standards, a competitive
admissions process, and a waiting list. But many of these also offer full
scholarships based on academic, athletic, or musical abilities. Parents
investigating these options will need to take the time to learn about the
missions of the schools that interest them, their admission requirements,
financial arrangements, and schedule for admissions. It is also useful to
make a connection with parents whose children attend a school that
interests you. There are organizations that can help parents with this
process, such as
A
Better Chance and
The
Steppingstone Foundation. But ultimately, parents, themselves, must
ensure that their chosen school shares their educational philosophy and
values and is a good fit for their children.
Finding a Private School
The
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) offers a search
engine that can link you to information about any of their member schools.
The site also offers guidance and information about admissions, costs, and
what to look for in a private school. The
Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools also has
search engine capabilities.
The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) is a member
organization for private schools. Their
private school facts offer useful information, and their
list of member organizations is a handy way to search for
information about particular types of schools and find individual schools,
both locally and nationally. The
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) provides a good way to
find basic information about any private school. Guidance and Information About Private Schools
The
Advocacy Initiative Coalition was a coalition of more than 30 independent school associations that were working together with their schools to deliver key messages about the unique value and characteristics of independent schools and to encourage collaborative marketing efforts.
NAIS offers
Choosing The Right School,
a page that offers suggestions about what to look for when choosing a
school. Related Information
The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 includes a provision stating
that interest earned on savings accounts that were for the payment of
educational expenses would be tax-free. The Council for American Private
Education (CAPE) offers an overview of this provision.
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