How Private Schools Improve College Readiness Part 1

Several studies within the last decade support the fact that students that attend private schools are more prepared to take on college coursework. Furthermore, they are more likely to graduate with a four-year degree. In this two-part article, we will discuss relevant data compiled from several studies on this topic. We will also discuss many of the benefits of enrolling your children in one of the best private schools in Clearwater, FL.

At Lakeside Christian School, we offer a highly comprehensive college preparation program that provides elementary, middle school, and high school students with core academic preparation, daily tutoring sessions, homework assistance, and small class sizes that focus on the individual needs of each and every student.

Private Schools are Preferred by Parents

There are several reasons to enroll your child in a private school that benefit both your child and your family as a whole. Not only will private school students receive a first-class education, but studies also support that their parents are generally more satisfied with private school facilities, teachers, and overall standards.

According to data compiled by a 2012 study performed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), private school parents reportedly give high marks in the following areas:

Communication: Private school administrators successfully initiate more effective communication practices with parents. This includes parent-teacher conferences, emailing or calling parents, among other means of communication.
Workload: Parents are more satisfied with an improved student/teacher ratio and a more challenging course curriculum to prepare their child for college coursework. Parents also generally feel their children are required to accomplish the right amount of homework at a private school.
Higher Learning: Private schools meet parents’ expectations in regard to specific educational attainment levels. Whether it’s influential teachers, tutoring programs, or higher scores on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, there are many benefits to a private school education system.
Community: Parents are more likely to participate in various school-related activities at a private school including fundraisers, conferences, board meetings, in-school events, volunteer opportunities, and other extracurricular events.

Religious Schools Have a Tremendous Graduation Rate

Some studies show that private school students are more likely to obtain a high school diploma, attend a four-year college, and earn a bachelor’s degree. According to data compiled by NCES over a two-year period that began in 2002, 97.2 percent of religious high school sophomores went on to graduate in the summer of 2004 compared to 84.1 percent of public high school sophomores. Similarly, 76.2 percent of these religious high school sophomores were in their second year of college in 2006; whereas, 40.5 percent of public high school students were attending college in the study.

Although the above data was compiled from a study over a decade ago, as we will discuss in the next part of this article, many recent studies released by the SAT and ACT support the idea that private schools meet or surpass benchmark expectations for these standardized tests and better prepare students for their college coursework.

If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, a Clearwater private school, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.

Does My Child Qualify for a Step Up For Students Scholarship?

As a state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organization, Step Up For Students is dedicated to providing Florida students with the education they need and deserve. Step Up For Students offers several scholarships to Florida students who may otherwise not have the resources to obtain the benefits of private education. Below, we’ll be looking at the requirements for students wishing to qualify for Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL.

The Income-Based Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship

The age requirement for the FTC scholarship is five years old for students entering kindergarten and six years old for students entering first grade. They must reach this age on or before the first of September. A child may be eligible for an FTC scholarship for any of the following reasons:

A member of the household receives food stamps or federal assistance
The household income qualifies the student for a free or reduced-price lunch
The household income is at or below the amounts indicated in the Step Up For Students eligibility chart
The child is homeless, in foster care, or in out-of-home care

Gardiner Scholarship

The Gardiner scholarship better allows parents of children with special needs and unique abilities to individualize their child’s education. Students between the ages of 3 and 22 who have yet to complete the 12th grade may qualify for the Gardiner scholarship. Your child may qualify for the Gardiner scholarship if they have:

A qualifying disability or impairment
A rare disease
Developmental delays

Your child may also qualify if they are hospital or homebound. Please click here for the full list of qualifying disabilities, impairments, and requirements.

Reading Scholarship

The Reading scholarship helps students that are struggling with reading. Students in the third- through fifth grades who score a 2 or less on the English Language Arts section of the Florida Standards Assessment for the previous year may qualify for this program.

Please visit Step Up For Students to apply and view all scholarships, requirements, deadlines, and benefits. All students, no matter their background or abilities, are entitled to a private education at a Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School.

The above scholarships are in high demand, so be sure to apply. We invite you to come by for a tour or shadow day at Lakeside Christian School and see firsthand what your child’s education and future could be.

If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of the Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.