According to a national poll conducted by EdChoice, approximately 40 percent of current and former school parents say they would send their private school if it were their decision. Given the small class sizes, specialized instruction, and exceptional educators, it’s not hard to see why private education is becoming an increasingly attractive option. So, what’s holding these parents back from sending their children to private schools?
The short answer: tuition. According to data collected by the Private School Review, the national average of private school tuition is approximately $11,173 per year. Given that most families will someday have to contend with the cost of college as well, paying for higher and secondary education may seem increasingly difficult, if not impossible. However, there are methods of making private high schools in Clearwater, FL, more affordable. In this brief article, we’ll review 3 easy ways you can make sending your child to private school more affordable.
Related: Yes, You Can Afford A Private Education For Your Child
If your adjusted gross income is $110,000 or less (or $220,000 if you file a joint tax return,) you may be eligible for a Coverdell education savings account (ESA). A Coverdell ESA is a trust or custodial account set up to pay education expenses for a designated beneficiary. The money can be used for any qualified K-12 school expenses as well as for college.
You can set up as many Coverdell accounts as you want for a particular beneficiary; the only catch is that the total contribution to all accounts can’t exceed $2,000 annually. Otherwise, the amount you deposit will grow tax-free, so long as the disbursements don’t exceed your child’s qualified education expenses.
Related: 4 Ways To Give Your Child A Private Education While On A Budget
While it may not be preferable, families will always have ways of reducing their cost of living so that they can put more income toward tuition. What this looks like will vary greatly depending on your family and the tuition of the school you want your child to attend. Sacrificing extras like yearly vacations, winter vacation homes, or dining out all the time could be just the thing you need to scrape up the few extra dollars.
The important thing to do during this time to keep a level head is to maintain a working document of all the reasons you want to send your child to private school. Whenever you find yourself questioning your decision to sacrifice things, you can immediately remind yourself of the end goal for your child.
Related: Practical Strategies For Saving Money For Tuition
Scholarships aren’t just for students that excel academically; they’re also available for students with financial need or that meet other key criteria. As one of the participating Christian high schools in Clearwater, FL, we highly recommend Step Up Students — a scholarship available to all Florida residents with students in grades K-12 whose families meet the income requirements. There are two main scholarships, in particular, that provide your student with greater school options: the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and the Family Empowerment Scholarship. The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship gives families a choice of assistance towards private school tuition and fees or transportation costs to a public school other than the one they’re assigned to. The Family Empowerment Scholarship, on the other hand, may only be used toward private school tuition and fees.
For more information on financial assistance to attend Lakeside Christian School, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We provide over $250,000 in scholarships to qualified families each year and would be more than happy to help you send your child to private school.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of the best private high schools in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
If you have been thinking about sending your child to private school, you may think a private education could be the key to getting your child into the university of their choice, or perhaps your child’s academic and emotional needs just aren’t being fulfilled by their current school. At what age is it appropriate to send your child to private school?
Do you wait until a natural break, like the end of fifth grade and the start of sixth, so that your child enjoys a seamless transition? Or do you opt to transfer your child from the public to the private school system at the start of high school to better focus on university preparation? Do you feel as if the “right” moment to make the transition may never come at the rate your child is progressing?
To help you make the best decision for you and your family, we’ve prepared a list of key factors that go into the question, “When’s the best time for my child to begin private school?” For one of the best private elementary schools in Clearwater, FL, that values high-quality education, college preparation, and a caring Christian environment for your child, choose Lakeside Christian School.
Related: Should You Enroll Your Child In Private School? Consider These 3 Advantages
The first and arguably one of the most important factors to take into consideration when deciding whether it may be time to send your child to private school is the quality of public schools in your area. Public and private school administrators and educators all do their best to create an excellent learning environment for your child; however, some schools simply don’t live up to the challenge. There’s sure to be at least one reason why you may be considering a private school rather than your area’s public school offerings, so make a list of those reasons. Is it because of safety, your religion, or the quality of educators at your child’s school? What is lacking in your child’s current public school that you’re looking to obtain in a private school?
Once you have your list, you can make the decision as to whether or not making the transition to private school needs to come earlier rather than later. For example, if your child is struggling in their current educational environment, not receiving the help they need, or falling behind their peers, there’s no time to waste in getting him or her into a private school. If your child is excelling or the quality of education they’re currently receiving at their public school meets your expectations for the time being, it might make more sense to wait until a natural transition period.
Before you send your child off to school, whether it’s a public or a private school, you need to consider all of the ways that the staff, other students, and educational environment may impact your child. The way that educators interact with your child and encourage interactions between the children are bound to affect the development of your child in more than a few important ways. Below, we outline a few different areas of child development that your child’s school can have an impact upon:
Children have different educational needs at various points throughout their development; however, the most critical years for your child are almost always going to be in primary school. This is where they’re going to develop critical thinking and social skills, learn to interpret complex concepts, and nourish good learning habits. If you want to guide your child through this phase of development with ease and better prepare them for the road ahead of them, you’re going to want to send them to a Clearwater private school.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of the best private elementary schools in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
Did you know that research indicates that students at risk of dropping out of school can be identified as early as sixth grade? In fact, research indicates that sixth-graders who display even one of the off-track indicators, such as a failing grade in mathematics or an unsatisfactory behavior mark in a core course, have only a 15 to 25 percent chance of graduating on time. This means, among other things, that middle school should be recognized as a critical transition period for your child from an academic and social-emotional standpoint.
In this brief article, we’ll review why middle school is so important for the development of your child in terms of academic achievement, emotional growth, and more. If you’re looking for a private middle school in Clearwater, FL, that will foster academic excellence, integrity, and empathy in your child, choose Lakeside Christian School.
Related: Choosing The Best Private Middle School
Early adolescence has long since been recognized as a critical stage for an individual’s development and learning, with positive effects lasting long into adulthood. However, recent research studies have identified adolescence as a second critical window for brain development as well. Changes in students’ bodies and brains during this period affect how they will learn for the rest of their lives.
What this means is that, during middle school, students must enjoy a wide variety of engaging and rigorous learning opportunities, or they may face restricted brain development down the line. The more students engage in these types of learning experiences, such as solving complex problems or connecting information learned in school with their own experiences, the more their brain cells will grow. These rich learning experiences should always connect academic learning to the student’s personal interests, prior knowledge, past experiences, and current events to capitalize on their increased ability to retain personally relevant information.
Related: Why Maintaining Your Child’s GPA in Middle School Is Vital to Their Development
Research findings consistently indicate that adolescents who can identify at least one positive role model in their lives have higher grades and self-esteem than those who cannot, particularly when the adolescent knows their role model on a personal level. In addition to these benefits, positive role models have also been shown to decrease adolescents’ risk for harmful behaviors, such as sexual intercourse, violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and more. Unfortunately, only one-fourth of students report having a positive adult role model in their lives, either having no one to look up to or having to look up to someone making negative choices in their life.
As such, middle schools need to be places where students can be exposed to positive role models, whether it’s educators, administration, parent volunteers, or business and community leaders. At Lakeside Christian School, one of the private middle schools in Clearwater, FL, for example, each and every one of our educators is involved in teaching Bible studies and/or participating somewhere within the ministry in Christian education, and they are ACSI Certified. They’re willing to do whatever it takes to eliminate academic gaps, propel their students forward, and serve as a positive role model in the lives of their students.
Related: The Benefits of Mentorship in Middle School
Last but not least, middle schoolers need learning environments that will ignite their curiosity and empower them to be active participants in their school and community. Rather than listening to lectures or just doing worksheets, they should be performing hands-on activities that ensure they stay excited and enthusiastic about learning. This means stepping away from the middle school classrooms that emulate high school classrooms, elementary classrooms, or some haphazard combination. What these students will benefit most from is a place that has been specifically designed for their unique physical, social, emotional, and academic needs. For more information on the only private middle school in Clearwater, FL, that can meet your child’s developmental needs, contact Lakeside Christian School.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of the best private middle schools in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
With smaller class sizes, more opportunities for one-on-one learning, and distinctive learning philosophy, there’s plenty of reasons why a private school may be better suited to your student’s needs than the local public school. Unlike public schools, however, private schools always require an application. Between school tours, interviews, and entrance examinations, it’s no wonder that the admissions process can quickly become taxing on your family. Fortunately, there is a way to make this process a bit easier for you and your student.
In this article, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about how the application process works, what the admissions committees will be expecting, and how you can position your child as a successful applicant. This will help you keep a clear and focused mind as you conduct research on the right school for your family and eventually submit your application. For a private high school in Clearwater, FL, that has been providing exceptional education to K-12 students since 1975, choose Lakeside Christian School.
Related: 3 Benefits of Touring Private Schools Before Enrollment
The private school admissions process varies greatly from one school to another; however, the interview is one critical requirement that is truly universal. Any private school you wish to apply to will always require you to meet with the principal, admissions officer, or another member of the administration in a one-on-one or small group setting. For Lakeside Christian School, whom you’ll be required to meet with varies depending on the age of your child. For parents with students from grades 6 to 12, you’ll be required to meet with the school administration and express your child’s desire to be at LCS and abide by the LCS rules of behavior and conduct.
The role of this interview in the admissions process is to offer the admissions committee and members of the administration conducting the interview a window into your child’s personality — their passions, extracurricular interests, academic strengths, and skills. Perhaps your child is on the soccer team or maybe they’ve completed an outstanding project at their school’s science fair. Any example you have of your child skills, interests, or strengths is going to be a great aspect to bring up during the interview.
This is also an opportunity for you and your child to get to know the admissions committee, faculty, and members of the administration. How do they talk about the students and teachers at their school? What does the curriculum look and feel like? This will help you get a better understanding of whether or not your child will be a great fit for the environment.
Related: Can Public School Students Adapt to a Clearwater, FL, Christian School?
If you’ve been doing your private school research, you’ve likely heard of a number of entrance examinations, including the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE), Secondary School Admissions Exam (SSAT), and the High School Placement Test (HSPT). A Christian high school in Clearwater, FL, may use a school-specific entrance exam or admissions test as well. The most important thing to remember about these examinations, no matter which one your child ends up having to take, is that these tests are designed for the correct placement of your child by grade or course level.
Successful performance on these types of tests is strictly tied to your student’s academic foundation in school rather than an intensive test prep course or weeks of private tutoring. The reading comprehension portion of such an exam, for example, is designed to assess the student’s reading fluency and comprehension skills, which are developed over years of education. The only way you can and should prepare for your child to excel in this examination is to have them take a full-length practice test as early as possible. This will give your student an idea of how they would score if taking the test today and provide a roadmap that pinpoints their strengths and weaknesses.
Related: Is A Private Education Really Out Of Reach?
Finally, it’s important to recognize that the support of the student’s parents will always play a role in their child’s candidacy at a private school. Moreover, the admissions committee wants to know that you’re applying for the right reasons, share their educational philosophy, and are on the same team when it comes to your child’s education. Many private schools may choose to interview the parents as well as the student to ascertain the degree to which the parent is going to be involved with the child’s education and be supportive in terms of enforcing the school’s expectations.
Overall, a private high school in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School, are not seeking a perfect model of the ideal student. Instead, they’re seeking real students with a wealth of interests, passions, and perspectives who can enrich the school’s learning community.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, a Christian high school in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
If you’re looking to send your student to a private school for the 2020-2021 school year and are wondering how you’re going to pay for it, it may be time to look into Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL. The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program currently offers two scholarships for low-income students in Florida: the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and the Family Empowerment Scholarship. Deciding which of these scholarships that you should apply for can be a difficult task, which is why we’ve taken this opportunity to outline what the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program is all about and the difference between these two scholarships.
Related: Why It’s So Important to Apply for Income-Based Scholarships for the 2020-21 School Year
The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program (FTC) was established in 2001 by the Florida Legislature in order to provide an income tax credit for corporations that contribute money to nonprofit Scholarship Funding-Organization (SFOs) — institutions that award scholarships to families with limited financial resources. The purpose of the tax credit was split off into three main goals: encourage private contributions to nonprofit SPOs, expand education opportunities for children in lower-income families, and enable children to achieve a higher level of excellence in their education.
Of America’s school choice programs, the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship is one of the largest in terms of student participation. As of Fall 2019, there were 108,570 participating students with an average scholarship value of $6,195 and 1,836 participating schools. 50 percent of families with children in the State of Florida were income-eligible for this tax-credit scholarship program.
The one major difference is that the Family Empowerment Scholarship can only be used toward private school tuition and fees while the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship allows families to choose between financial assistance toward private school tuition and fees OR transportation costs to attend a public school other than the one the student is currently assigned to attend. Other minor differences do exist, such as that renewal students have first priority for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, but the majority of parents are going to be concerned with where these scholarship funds are able to be directed. Another important factor to consider is that, despite the fact that the eligibility criteria differs between the programs, the application is the same for both.
Related: Everything Parents Should Know About Florida’s New “Family Empowerment Scholarship”
Your child may income qualify for either one of these scholarships if your household meets any of these conditions:
For example, the Family Empowerment Scholarship income level is designed to serve students in households at $76,800 or below. Priority is given to students whose incomes are below $48,470. If your income is below the income criteria in the income priority chart, your student will be placed on a waiting list until all the renewal families and new families whose income falls under the priority table receive funds.
In terms of other eligibility requirements, you’ll want to make sure that your student has spent the prior school year in attendance at a Florida public school for the Family Empowerment Scholarship. This means that your student was enrolled and attended a Florida public school for both the October and February student counts. The only exception applies for a dependent child of a member of the military transferring from another state or a foreign country due to a change of station. If you are interested in applying for either of these scholarships and are looking for one of the best Step Up For Students participating schools, choose Lakeside Christian School.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of the Step Up For Students participating schools, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
The college application season is upon us! With college tuition at a record high and national student loan debt at a crisis level, scholarships are an ideal way to get ahead of the game when it comes to funding your child’s education. Parents of upcoming graduates across the globe are now wondering what can be done to improve their child’s chance of winning one (or a few) of these top scholarships.
While attending one of the best private high schools in Clearwater, FL isn’t a surefire guarantee that you’ll receive a college scholarship, many of the aspects of these schools like smaller class sizes and close relationships with faculty can ensure that your student has the best opportunity to discover the areas in which they excel. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about how attending a private high school may help your child discover activities that interest them most and win that college scholarship.
It’s important to remember that there’s a scholarship out there for almost everything, including GPA, languages spoken, extracurricular activities, and more. Whether your child is a first-generation college student, captain of the swim team, or both, there’s a scholarship out there that’s tailored exactly to their individual skills and qualities. The key to winning these highly-specialized scholarships is developing these personal interests and passions. A private high school can offer all the athletic, artistic, and service-based opportunities your child needs to develop their hobbies into passions and career interests. For example, Lakeside Christian School, one of the best private schools in Clearwater, FL, has a stunning fine arts and athletic program, including a varsity football team and drama department.
Related: LCS Fine Arts Quick Facts
Another important factor to take into consideration is class size. A number of private high schools in Clearwater, FL including Lakeside Christian School, benefit from a small school setting that affords their students with greater one-on-one time with their teachers. This is relevant to winning college scholarships because studies show a clear relationship between small class size and increased student achievement. For example, a high school English teacher with 4 or more classes of 20 students or more would not be able to give lengthy, in-depth writing assignments because there’s simply not enough time to evaluate each of these student’s essays on an individual level. By receiving this individualized attention that allows your child to forge closer relationships with faculty and staff and develop higher-level thinking skills, your child is more likely to earn a college scholarship.
Related: How Does a Small School Setting Help My Child Succeed?
Finally, it’s worth noting that a great deal of college scholarships are targeted towards student leaders or students who have exhibited leadership qualities throughout their careers. The best of the best private schools in Clearwater, FL, are designed to build student leaders just like these. For example, Lakeside Christian School prepares their students for college all throughout the K-12 grades, providing them with ample opportunities to develop the skills they need to prosper in higher education and beyond. Combine this with the smaller class sizes, and you have a school capable of spotlighting your child’s talents, elevating them to their fullest potential, and shaping them into a student worthy of a hefty college scholarship.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of the top private high schools in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
School is an environment designed to help your child learn, grow, and thrive. If your child is struggling academically, socially, or mentally in their current school, it may be time to consider switching to a school that can better accommodate their learning needs. Common reasons why many parents decide to pull their child out of their current school include everything from class size to inflexible curriculum that doesn’t match their child’s learning style.
These examples, however, only scratch the surface of the possible reasons why you’d want to change your child’s school. No matter what your reasons are, we’ve compiled several factors to weigh in before deciding which private middle school in Clearwater, FL is best for your child.
The ultimate dream of any parent is to provide their child with a high-quality education. It’s important to be mindful of the quality of education your child will be receiving when switching schools because different schools have varying levels of rigor related to academic curriculum and extracurricular activities. If your child is currently experiencing a tremendous amount of stress related to their workload, it may be worth looking into a school with a more relaxed curriculum. On the other hand, if your child is growing bored or soaring above their classmates, it may be time to switch to a school with a more rigorous approach.
Some great questions you should be asking both the administration and faculty of your prospective Clearwater private school are:
Each of these questions is directly linked to creating an environment where a high-quality education can be cultivated and nourished.
Related: Why Middle School Students Benefit From A Private Education
The term “quality” in regards to educators encompasses the qualification of your child’s teachers, their experience, their professional training, and their capacity to communicate with both the students and the parents. A quality educator, in simplest terms, is someone who is properly trained, certified, experienced in their subject matter, and accessible to both students and parents when either or both is in need of assistance. They are patient and creative in their teaching style, meaning that all students in the classroom are able to learn rather than just those who respond to a traditional learning style.
Once again, setting up a meeting with your child’s future teacher and administration is a great first step in deciding whether your prospective school employs the quality educators you’re searching for. Some possible questions to ask include:
Related: Superb Teachers Showcase These 3 Qualities
Last but certainly not least, you’ll want to consider the class size of your child’s prospective school. When classes are larger (20+ students), it’s much easier for your child to be left behind, especially if the majority of the class understands a new concept.
Smaller class sizes, on the other hand, like those offered by a private middle school in Clearwater, FL are typically more attractive to parents because they offer specialized attention and feedback for their child. Better yet, your child has a greater chance of enjoying closer relationships with their teacher and peers, deeper class discussions, and an enriched learning experience. For a Clearwater private school that values quality education, quality educators, and small class sizes, choose Lakeside Christian School.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, a private middle school in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
As the pandemic continues on, more and more families are seeking out schools that are fully in-person rather than remote. In many cases, this means switching from public to private schools, despite the additional cost. Take, for example, the millions of parents working at 9-5 jobs. When their local public schools went online in the spring, managing their child’s school day meant they would not be able to go to work without additional help or some type of child care. Now, between a combination of public schools operating under hybrid instructional models and those which have transitioned to full-time remote learning, parents are panicking as to how they’re going to make it through the end of the school year. More often than not, these are the parents who don’t have the luxury of hiring a private tutor for their child to ensure they stay on track amid all this certainty. They need their children in school, rather than at home.
The solution: more than 22 percent of respondents with K-12 students in a study conducted by the University of Southern California said they would change schools for the upcoming school year. In this brief article, we’ll review just a few of the key benefits of sending your child to an affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL, for the 2021-2022 school year over a public elementary school.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, elementary schools across the country have implemented a number of safety precautions, including limiting class sizes, staggering schedules, and cleaning surfaces often. However, these safety precautions can only go so far, given the 2.7 million students enrolled in only 4,517 Florida public schools. In contrast, many of the best private schools in Clearwater, FL, are at a competitive advantage over these schools due to their small classes and large classroom spaces that make social distancing much easier. If that alone wasn’t convincing, many private schools have also received endowments to upgrade air filtration systems, set up tented classrooms, and revamp nurses’ offices.
A study released this week by American management consulting firm McKinsey & Company estimates that the shift to remote school back in the spring set white students back by one to three months and students of color back by three to five months. Not only did these students begin the academic year behind, but now experts fear that these losses will escalate as the pandemic persists into the next school year. What we’re going to be looking at, essentially, is a lost generation of students.
To mitigate this education gap, parents need to consider how they’re going to provide remediation to their children at a time when school districts are struggling to pay for their basic needs like teachers’ salaries. The answer just may be sending your child to an affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School. Our Mastery Learning Division is proud to provide all students in grades K to 5 with the solid academic foundation in math and language arts that they need to be prepared for success in secondary grades.
If this year has proved anything, it’s that we can’t predict the future. Now more than ever, you want to have confidence in the fact that your child is going to be ready for anything these next couple of years could throw at them. This means you need to send your student to one of the best private schools in Clearwater, FL, that incorporates an academically rigorous curriculum with real-world skills like collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. For example, the faculty and staff at Lakeside Christian School help to personally shape each of their students into purpose-driven leaders that are prepared to shape their world for good.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, an affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
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