All About Private Schools
All About Private Schools
It’s a safe bet that no one will argue when I say that One-Size-Fits-All shoes are a terrible idea. Everybody’s feet have different requirements for their health, comfort and support. Like our feet, each of our children are different, sometimes wildly so, even in the same family. It’s fantastic to know that whatever educational needs our kids have, there is probably a school that’s a great fit in our area. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking our Public Schools! But, schools aren’t ponchos and One-Size-Fits-All doesn’t make sense when it comes to education. Sarah Pfeffer from the South Kent School explains:
Private schools are able to cater to each student’s needs. With smaller class sizes, dedicated faculty members, and innovative curricula, students build meaningful relationships and are prepared for the challenges of the future. At an independent school, students are challenged to think differently through an un-common core.
You might be thinking, “That’s a great sentiment when you’ve got loads of money, but what about me?” Well, you’re right – sort of. There are private schools which offer free tuition for qualified students, almost all of them offer some type of financial aid and at the end of the day, if you decide to go the private school route sacrifices might need to be made in other areas of your life. Whatever your financial situation is, don’t assume that your family can’t make it work.
General kinds of private schools:
Private schools come in all shapes and sizes, but can be broken down into two broad types: Day Schools and Boarding Schools. Many Boarding Schools also have Day students which gives these schools an interesting flexibility. Boarding Schools are mostly for high school aged kids with some offering a modified version for middle schoolers. Some Day Schools are strictly for elementary aged kids, some encompass elementary and middle school, others are just high school and a few run from K – 12.
Day Schools
Often times, parents begin searching for schools when their kids are ready for PreSchool. It’s not unusual for families to discover a school which not only offers preschool, but also continues on through the elementary years. Cold Spring School, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Pear Tree Point School, and The Long Ridge School are some of the area private schools which fall into this category.
It is more common to find private schools which educate kids from elementary through middle school. Some of the schools, like Indian Mountain School and the New Canaan Country Day School go through 9th grade. I’ve heard of some creative parents who have sent their kids to schools which include 9th grade as a middle school and then, after graduation, enroll their child in 9th grade at their new high school. Repeating 9th grade at a new school allows families to boost a child’s confidence who has been struggling academically, whose birthday makes them significantly younger than the other kids in their class, who had a difficult year medically, or who just need some more time to mature. Being in a new school allows the child to avoid the stigma of repeating a year, while giving them the chance to build themselves up.
Fairfield Country Day School is a unique elementary/middle school which is just for boys. Those of us with both sons and daughters will be the first to admit that they behave differently, think differently, communicate differently and learn differently from each other not only because they are different people, but also because boys and girls are hard wired differently. As Jesse Crouch from FCDS says:
Boys are active learners. At Fairfield Country Day, our structured yet flexible classes and schedules allow boys to move as part of the daily educational experience – around the room, around the building, and the campus. We design our programs and environment to meet the specific educational and developmental needs of boys. Small classroom settings and a boy-specific curriculum increases student engagement and escalates overall academic performance.
Whether transferring in from a private school or a public school, many parents opt to send their kids to a private high school. There are many reasons for this, but often times it is because parents feel their kids will get a more rigorous education, have more academic opportunities or be more attractive to colleges. Another reason is because they want their kids to be in a single-sex setting. Academy of Our Lady of Mercy and the Westover School are two girls-only options while Fairfield College Prep and the Woodhall School are strictly for boys.
Some families really like the option of finding a school where their kids can settle down at an early age, develop roots and stay through high school. Greens Farms Academy, Greenwich Country Day School, the King School and The Stanwich School are all great examples. The Brunswick School for boys and the Convent of the Sacred Heart for girls are two K – 12 schools which fall into this category and also provide a single-sex environment.
Brigitte Henry, from Convent of the Sacred Heart, describes this setting beautifully:
The demands placed on women today highlight the continued need to develop in young women a sense of their power and ability. Current research clearly points to the effectiveness of single-sex education for young women…Their voices are heard and their accomplishments are numerous. They do not need to fight for attention or for opportunities to lead. Some families believe that a single-sex environment creates an unrealistic reality that may render a student ill-prepared for a coed life. Convent of the Sacred Heart disagrees. Rather, our students will continue to collaborate with male peers through venues such as community service, theater, and select academic courses…
At Convent of the Sacred Heart, we celebrate our “Lifers” who have been members of the community since early childhood…The rich community, invigorated in the entry years of fifth and ninth grade, encourages “Lifers” to create lasting relationships with peers and mentors that will continue long beyond graduation. By spending these K-12 years at Sacred Heart, “Lifers” become integral members of a loving and nurturing community that has both prepared them well for future success and will continue to welcome them home for years to come.
When it comes to day schools, you can see that there’s really a tremendous amount of variation both in their environments as well as their scope. Some focus on a specific age group or gender, while others take a more hands-on approach or create a sense of family through their comprehensive natures. In these things, they have a lot in common with their Boarding School cousins.
Boarding Schools
As is most obvious, Boarding Schools provide students with a greater amount of independence while maintaining a rigorous and structured environment. Daily schedules provide the routines which enable kids to develop confidence and discipline and weekends typically offer plenty of options for fun, exploration and relaxation. Students reside in dormitories which provide a home-like setting and have faculty members and/or “dorm parents” available to lend a hand, offer support, and maintain the rules.
One attractive characteristic of Boarding Schools is the experience of living with students from other cultures. Boarding Schools not only have students from all over the United States, but also from countries all over the world. Many families love the idea of their children making friends from other backgrounds, lifestyles and who carry different viewpoints. For example, the Taft School (in Watertown) has approximately 600 students from 34 different states and 32 countries!
Why do families choose Boarding Schools over Day Schools? Pfeffer tells us:
A boarding school offers a community environment along with an excellent education. Faculty members live on campus and are often available during off-hours to give extra help or even advice to students. Students also get firsthand experience in getting closely acquainted with people from all over the world. They get a leg up on other students once they go to college because they are accustomed to having a roommate and living with a diverse group of people.
The Rectory School and Rumsey Hall have Junior Boarding programs for students in Middle School. The biggest difference between junior boarding and traditional boarding school environments is in the amount of adult interaction. Students typically receive a higher level of attention including kindly, “Good Nights,” at bed time and a morning wake up knock on their doors. Weekends also tend to be more scheduled.
Special Considerations
Families who have something more specific in mind than simply day or boarding can find what they are looking for as well.
Specific Curriculum: Families looking for a specific curriculum for their kids, one which aligns with their personal philosophies often find happiness with Montessori Schools like The Montessori School, Fraser Woods, Whitby or Hudson Country School. Kathy Anderson from Fraser Woods explains:
The Montessori Method is a philosophy which embraces the whole child, guiding them in their natural development. .. Success is developing the whole child. Creating a beautiful space where a child can learn at their own level and pace and create their own learning experience, while guided by nurturing educators. Through all of their senses, children develop self-motivation, freedom, and responsibility. Their social and intellectual development expands the world around them.
The Association of Walorf Schools of North America writes that:
Waldorf Education is based on a profound understanding of human development that addresses the needs of the growing child. Waldorf teachers strive to transform education into an art that educates the whole child—the heart and the hands, as well as the head.
The Housatonic Waldorf School is where families who are fans of the Waldorf system send their kids.
Special Needs: The Eagle Hill Schools (Greenwich and Southport) work with kids ages 6 to approx. 15 with specific, diagnosed learning challenges. Oxford Academy and Pierrepont School work at paces individualized for their students.
Post Graduate: Many boarding schools, like Avon Old Farms, the Canterbury School, Pomfret School and South Kent School offer a post graduate year (or what I like to call 13th grade). This extra year of high schools allows students to bolster their grades, experience independence on a smaller learning curve, grants an extra year to mature, or provides an additional year for athletic development.
Religious*: Families who want to their children to receive their educations in a faith based environment have plenty of choices. The Catholic School system is prolific and includes schools like Fairfield College Prep, St. Martin De Porres Academy(which offers free tuition) and All Saints . Episcopalian options include Salisbury School, South Kent School, and St. Thomas’ Day School. Schools with a Jewish foundation include Bi-Cultural Day School, and the Carmel Academy. The Quakers are represented at Connecticut Friends School in Wilton. *Please keep in mind that in general, schools which have a specific religious affiliation accept students from all faith backgrounds. Connecticut Friends School says it best: “the curriculum is enhanced if children from all walks of life (including all faiths) learn more about each other and come to respect and celebrate differences.”
Tradition: CT is a state with a rich history. If your family is looking for a school with roots you will find them here. The doors of Cheshire Academy have been welcoming children for 220 years and The Hopkins School has been educating children for 350 years!
We are lucky to live in a region with excellent public schools and plenty of private school options for our children. Whether your child will do best in a small classroom, at a school which approaches education a bit differently, with a faith based foundation or even with the expanded independence and experiences of a boarding school, there are plenty of choices in CT!