In a previous post I began to provide some insight into the private school application process. Below are five more factors that should be considered when coming up with an initial list of private schools for your student.
Things to Consider When Applying to Private School
Instructional Method: In the DC area, there is no shortage of diverse teaching methodologies. Some schools pride themselves on a progressive, liberal model. This approach focuses on hands-on projects and critical thinking. These schools teach students beyond facts so that they are able to analyze information and solve problems. Classroom lessons often involve group work and the teacher is seen as a collaborator in education, not as the all-knowing disseminator of information. Teachers are often called by their first names. The goal of progressive education is to develop life-long learners and for students to have the flexibility to learn about what interests them. A few schools in our area that utilize the progressive model are Sheridan, Edmund Burke, Sidwell Friends, and Burgundy Farm Country Day.
Traditional vs. Progressive Education often involves seat work and individual assignments. The teacher is the head of the class and he or she is called by her last name. Instruction is often delivered through lecture and textbooks are used extensively. All children are generally taught using one unified curriculum even though they may be on different levels. Most Catholic schools follow the traditional model. Some traditional schools include St. John’s College High School, Trinity Christian, and Oakcrest.
Most schools, including public schools, take a balanced approach. They appreciate individual differences and are willing to differentiate education when possible. They believe in a combination of individual assignments and lecturing and collaborative groups and discussion. As you tour schools, ask what model they tend to use and don’t be afraid of asking why they subscribe to the theory. Most administrators feel passionately about their school’s methodology and will tell you why they feel it works for their students.
|
Traditional Model |
Progressive Model |
| Instruction: Teacher-centered; the teacher is authority figure and is the disseminator of information. Students may sit in individual desk in rows. Text books are used frequently. Most instruction is lecture-based. | Instruction: Student-centered; students learn from each other in small groups and independently through self-study and projects. Discussion-based learning. Teacher is facilitator and may be called by first name. |
| Beginning reading: Phonics-based approach | Beginning reading: Sight word approach |
| Math: Focus on basic skills and computation | Math: Focus on problem solving |
| Grading: Traditional letter grades on report card to measure performance | Grading: Some letter grades are used, but teacher comments are favorable |
| Progress: Monitored through frequent quizzes and tests | Progress: Monitored by some testing, but also by portfolios of work samples |
| Curriculum: Focus on reading, writing, math, history, geography, and science. | Curriculum: Focus on reading, writing and math. Social sciences emphasize diversity and social consciousness. |
| Technology: Used sparingly; students take notes by hand. | Technology: Used frequently; laptops/iPads brought to class. |
| Overall focus: Building academic skills in core areas. | Overall focus: Academic skills and social/emotional growth. |
Sports: Are sports important to your child? If so, what are his or her chances of making the team? Although academics are of the utmost importance in most families, sports run a close second and for good reason. Not only do sports give kids an outlet for their energy, studies show that students who play have grade point averages and time management skills. When visiting schools, be sure to ask about the sports program that interests your child and request a meeting with the coach.
Primary, K-8 or K-12: Some parents prefer a larger K-12 school where their child can stay put for the long haul while others are more comfortable with a school that just caters to young children or one that runs from kindergarten through eighth grade. Primary schools, such as Beauvoir, specialize in educating very young children (preschool – third). Proponents of K-8 schools consider them as a great option because, quite frankly, you do not know what kind of student he or she will turn out to be. A school ending in 8th grade gives you flexibility to move schools (although that’s always a choice) for high school. It’s also an opportunity for a child to reinvent herself in later years. A fresh start is a good thing for some students. Others desire a K-12 school where their child can stay grounded for their entire school career and the teachers and administrators know your child at a deep level. It also means that you only need to go through the application process once.
Chance of Acceptance: Is the school known to be highly competitive meaning that only a small percentage of students gain acceptance each year? Is the school looking for very high test scores and for older students, top grades? These are the schools that might be hard to get into. Be sure your list contains some of these “reach” schools, but also others that may provide a better chance of acceptance.
Your answers to these questions will help you to formulate many possibilities. Don’t be afraid to start with a long list including schools you may be hesitant about at first. You may be pleasantly surprised on your tour. The same works for schools long considered by others to be “the best”. It could be that a particular school does not measure up to all the hype in your book. When in doubt, hire a consultant who can help you with the whole application process or who is willing to assist you to develop your initial list.
If you have specific questions about the private school admissions process, please visit my website!