My friend’s first words surprised me. “Now you can see why I
chose to spend money on private schools” were her first
remarks at her son’s recent high school graduation. I
expected her to recount her son’s many academic and
athletic accomplishments as any proud parent might do or
talk about which colleges were interested in him attending
their schools. Instead, she offered an unexpected reflection
on the reason for all his success: In her words, his success
was the direct result of quality years spent in a private
elementary and a private high school. While I am a
proponent of private school education for lots of good
reasons, I know that all private schools are not created
equal. Some are phenomenal; some are less so! When you
trace the distinguishing qualities that mark private schools,
keep in mind that great schools have all these qualities in
some way. You should expect your child’s school not just to
have one or several of these attributes, but all of them in
some meaningful way. All of these make a difference to the
“bottom line” in your child’s education.
The Private School Difference
1 Family buy-in (the consequences of choice and tuition):
When parents choose a private school, they are committing
some portion of their income and their child to a particular
school culture and educational mission. For families who
dismiss private school education as an expensive luxury and a
waste of a family’s income may be short-sighted at best and
selfish at worst. Simply put, if you value education and your
child’s future, then a private school education may be a
necessity now, even more so in these tough and uncertain
economic times than ever before. In making a significant
investment in their child’s education and her future, parents
necessarily take an active role in everything related to her
education and are watchful of all that the school does. As a
result, strong parent-school partnerships characterize private
schools; a village comprised of concerned and committed
parents is definitely raising a child.
2 Quality of classmates: Disappointing graduation rates and
low standardized test results are certainly two measures of a
school’s quality; but, they tell only part of the story. When you
read the headlines almost daily about bullied students, growing
class sizes, eliminated programs, large and cumbersome
bureaucracies, and declining quality in public schools, this
should give any parent pause to question the educational
foundation that her child is receiving. Since private schools
usually have selective admissions criteria they are choosing
students who can be successful in their programs allowing
children to learn from their peers and develop positive
relationship that contribute greatly toward a child’s growth,
maturation and achievement.
3 Learning is valued: A natural off-shoot of having families
who value education is having children who value learning. The
excitement of learning pervades the classroom and culture of a
private school. In a private school the unique talents and gifts of
each student are cultivated and nourished, celebrated and
recognized; all these are part of the private school DNA.
4 Accountability and ideal teaching conditions: Parents in
private schools have easy access to teachers and direct contact
with school administrators who have the power to make all
curricular and personnel decisions. By contrast, local school
administrators in public schools have limited curricular and
restricted personnel powers. Private schools provide parents
with easy access to teachers and administrators who can
respond almost immediately to any circumstance. More
importantly, teachers have greater control over texts, materials,
and teaching pedagogy, as well as more opportunity to deal with
issues and implement needed changes than their public school
counterparts.
chose to spend money on private schools” were her first
remarks at her son’s recent high school graduation. I
expected her to recount her son’s many academic and
athletic accomplishments as any proud parent might do or
talk about which colleges were interested in him attending
their schools. Instead, she offered an unexpected reflection
on the reason for all his success: In her words, his success
was the direct result of quality years spent in a private
elementary and a private high school. While I am a
proponent of private school education for lots of good
reasons, I know that all private schools are not created
equal. Some are phenomenal; some are less so! When you
trace the distinguishing qualities that mark private schools,
keep in mind that great schools have all these qualities in
some way. You should expect your child’s school not just to
have one or several of these attributes, but all of them in
some meaningful way. All of these make a difference to the
“bottom line” in your child’s education.
The Private School Difference
1 Family buy-in (the consequences of choice and tuition):
When parents choose a private school, they are committing
some portion of their income and their child to a particular
school culture and educational mission. For families who
dismiss private school education as an expensive luxury and a
waste of a family’s income may be short-sighted at best and
selfish at worst. Simply put, if you value education and your
child’s future, then a private school education may be a
necessity now, even more so in these tough and uncertain
economic times than ever before. In making a significant
investment in their child’s education and her future, parents
necessarily take an active role in everything related to her
education and are watchful of all that the school does. As a
result, strong parent-school partnerships characterize private
schools; a village comprised of concerned and committed
parents is definitely raising a child.
2 Quality of classmates: Disappointing graduation rates and
low standardized test results are certainly two measures of a
school’s quality; but, they tell only part of the story. When you
read the headlines almost daily about bullied students, growing
class sizes, eliminated programs, large and cumbersome
bureaucracies, and declining quality in public schools, this
should give any parent pause to question the educational
foundation that her child is receiving. Since private schools
usually have selective admissions criteria they are choosing
students who can be successful in their programs allowing
children to learn from their peers and develop positive
relationship that contribute greatly toward a child’s growth,
maturation and achievement.
3 Learning is valued: A natural off-shoot of having families
who value education is having children who value learning. The
excitement of learning pervades the classroom and culture of a
private school. In a private school the unique talents and gifts of
each student are cultivated and nourished, celebrated and
recognized; all these are part of the private school DNA.
4 Accountability and ideal teaching conditions: Parents in
private schools have easy access to teachers and direct contact
with school administrators who have the power to make all
curricular and personnel decisions. By contrast, local school
administrators in public schools have limited curricular and
restricted personnel powers. Private schools provide parents
with easy access to teachers and administrators who can
respond almost immediately to any circumstance. More
importantly, teachers have greater control over texts, materials,
and teaching pedagogy, as well as more opportunity to deal with
issues and implement needed changes than their public school
counterparts.
5 Small class sizes and low teacher-student ratios: With
small class sizes and low teacher-student ratios it is easier for
each student to be known and cared for in a private school;
with the individual attention that students receive they are
likely to be more successful and to find mentors and advocates
in their teachers.
6 Educating the whole child: Whether a private school is
religiously affiliated or is non-denominational, virtue and
manners matter. Not only are clear boundaries present and
enforced, but good-to-great private schools hold clear
expectations for what is good, right, just, and noble and hold
students accountable. These schools eschew moral relativism
in favor of connecting individual choice with personal
responsibility, social order with the responsibility of
citizenship, liberty with morality, and self-esteem with the
responsibility of work and earned achievement
7 Small school culture: Most private schools typically have
100-600 students. The largest independent schools top out at
1200 students. Compare these numbers with public schools
where 2000-4000 students are the norm and you can
understand why a student in private school is more than just a
number. Building and fostering community is highly valued
and prized in private schools because it reinforces all the skills
and values being taught.
8 21st century curriculum and skills: If a school is
teaching students the same material and skills, in the same way
that their parents were taught, then the school cannot produce
world-ready citizens who can succeed and flourish no matter
the challenges and opportunities that the 21st century might
throw their way. Since private schools have greater control
over all aspects of their curriculum and programs, they can
determine their futures with greater clarity, shift focus and
implement necessary changes with greater speed than their
counterparts in the cumbersome public system.
9 Bottom line considerations: The most obvious
discrepancy between public and private schools comes down to
cash; public schools are financed through local, state and
federal taxes, while private schools require tuition and
donations for their funding. In this independent role, private
schools can be specialized, offer differentiated learning, unique
programs, and advanced curriculum.
10 Affording tuition: Unfortunately, in many cases, a
decision against private school is less about the quality of the
educational experience and more about the impact on a
family’s standard of living. Most private schools offer aid
need-based, and, in some cases, merit-based financial aid to
students and families.
Decisions
At the end of the day, the right school for your child is one that
is a best match between resources, personnel, programs and
philosophy of the school and your child’s unique gifts, needs,
and interests. Your decision about where your child will spend
most of his days is about so much more than sandbox banter.
The decision you make now launches a successful career, trains
a leader who will make a difference in the world, gives 21st
century tools and skills that will allow for the navigation of any
path, and nourishes the virtues and values that will help your
daughter lead a meaningful and productive life and be a world-
ready citizen. Can you think of any better way to spend your
time or your money?
--Steve Balack is the Head of School at St. Gabriel’s School in
Austin and is a proud product of private schools (20 years +),
both of his children attended private schools (16 years +), and
he has taught, coached, and served as an administrator in
private schools for over 30 years.
small class sizes and low teacher-student ratios it is easier for
each student to be known and cared for in a private school;
with the individual attention that students receive they are
likely to be more successful and to find mentors and advocates
in their teachers.
6 Educating the whole child: Whether a private school is
religiously affiliated or is non-denominational, virtue and
manners matter. Not only are clear boundaries present and
enforced, but good-to-great private schools hold clear
expectations for what is good, right, just, and noble and hold
students accountable. These schools eschew moral relativism
in favor of connecting individual choice with personal
responsibility, social order with the responsibility of
citizenship, liberty with morality, and self-esteem with the
responsibility of work and earned achievement
7 Small school culture: Most private schools typically have
100-600 students. The largest independent schools top out at
1200 students. Compare these numbers with public schools
where 2000-4000 students are the norm and you can
understand why a student in private school is more than just a
number. Building and fostering community is highly valued
and prized in private schools because it reinforces all the skills
and values being taught.
8 21st century curriculum and skills: If a school is
teaching students the same material and skills, in the same way
that their parents were taught, then the school cannot produce
world-ready citizens who can succeed and flourish no matter
the challenges and opportunities that the 21st century might
throw their way. Since private schools have greater control
over all aspects of their curriculum and programs, they can
determine their futures with greater clarity, shift focus and
implement necessary changes with greater speed than their
counterparts in the cumbersome public system.
9 Bottom line considerations: The most obvious
discrepancy between public and private schools comes down to
cash; public schools are financed through local, state and
federal taxes, while private schools require tuition and
donations for their funding. In this independent role, private
schools can be specialized, offer differentiated learning, unique
programs, and advanced curriculum.
10 Affording tuition: Unfortunately, in many cases, a
decision against private school is less about the quality of the
educational experience and more about the impact on a
family’s standard of living. Most private schools offer aid
need-based, and, in some cases, merit-based financial aid to
students and families.
Decisions
At the end of the day, the right school for your child is one that
is a best match between resources, personnel, programs and
philosophy of the school and your child’s unique gifts, needs,
and interests. Your decision about where your child will spend
most of his days is about so much more than sandbox banter.
The decision you make now launches a successful career, trains
a leader who will make a difference in the world, gives 21st
century tools and skills that will allow for the navigation of any
path, and nourishes the virtues and values that will help your
daughter lead a meaningful and productive life and be a world-
ready citizen. Can you think of any better way to spend your
time or your money?
--Steve Balack is the Head of School at St. Gabriel’s School in
Austin and is a proud product of private schools (20 years +),
both of his children attended private schools (16 years +), and
he has taught, coached, and served as an administrator in
private schools for over 30 years.
