Preparing for the “real world” is the goal of every school, but for some parents the focus on college preparation is the most important consideration when choosing the right school path for their children. Although public school provides excellent opportunities for many students, a private school education may give students an advantage. In fact, in 2019 only 7 percent of high school students attended private high schools in the United States, but at some of the more selective colleges, a third to half of the freshman classes are composed of students who graduated from a private high school, according to Census Bureau data.
To give a few unique examples of how private school prepares students for college and beyond, the team at Lakeside Christian School, the best private school in Clearwater, FL, weighs in.
Private schools often have fewer students, which means a greater focus on each individual student’s success. But this focus doesn’t end in the classroom. In a Clearwater, FL Christian school, students will be more closely guided by all of the staff including the principal, assistant principal, faculty, staff, and guidance counselors.
This close guidance from counselors, teachers, and staff can help direct students to the path that is the best fit for them. College is not one-size-fits-all, and having counselors who personally know each student and who are able to provide the best advice and guidance for each individual can help prepare kids early on for their futures.
One of the major challenges in preparing for college is getting students to understand how challenging college courses can be. For students who have become complacent in lesson plans provided by public schools, a private school may offer a new challenge in coursework and course load that will better prepare them for life after high school.
For example, in a private high school in Clearwater, FL, students can expect a variety of college level courses in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) along with higher level reading and writing courses. This will help them prepare for the challenging coursework of college while also helping them learn in a way that does not emphasize state-required repeated testing.
We previously touched on the challenging coursework that better prepares students for the level they will be expected to learn in college, but it is also important to mention the focused college and career prep courses in private school that are often not available in public school. For example, some public school students may need to hire a tutor for college prep courses, which takes place outside of school time. However, in Christian high schools in Clearwater, FL, students will be able to take college prep and career prep courses during their school days. This is also combined with the faith-based learning that many students have found empowers them in many areas of their lives.
One of the biggest factors in choosing a school, especially a private school, is the difference in class size. On average, the class size in public schools is around 25 kids, compared to 19 kids per class in private schools according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Private schools reportedly also have a better student-to-teacher ratio of 12.2 students, compared to 16.1 students per teacher in public schools.
This comes back to the importance of individual attention. When a student is required to fight for attention or made to learn in a way that is not helpful to who they are as an individual, they may not grow to reach their full potential. But, when their instructors can spend the extra time helping them learn, tailor their teaching approach to how each student learns, and create an environment of community in the classroom, the benefits are numerous.
Furthermore, smaller peer groups, like the ones a student will build in college, will create an environment that fosters growth, support, and community that can last a lifetime. This will help your child learn important social skills that they can take with them for the rest of their lives, to college, career, and beyond.
When schools are privately funded, they are able to expand the curriculum beyond what publicly funded schools are able to do. Of course, private schools must meet the criteria set by the state as far as minimums for passing are concerned, but that is where the state’s involvement stops. Instead, private schools can offer flexible, expanded curriculums that go far beyond what you might learn in a public setting. This means incorporating the more challenging coursework mentioned above, as well as the college and career-prep mentioned above — but beyond that, it means that if a student is excelling in one particular area, or if a group of students are able to excel in that area, the curriculum can be more tailored to cover those areas.
If you are hoping to give your child an education that will take them beyond high school, Lakeside Christian School should be at the top of your list. Lakeside Christian School is Clearwater, FL’s best private school, which gives students all of the tools they need to succeed. If you’re interested in learning more about how we challenge all of our students to achieve their academic and personal goals, give us a call.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, a Christian elementary school in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
One of the biggest debates when considering public or private school is whether a private education will build a foundation for success in the same way that people view the success of public school students. Certainly cost is a factor for many choosing private vs. public, but in most cases the question ultimately boils down to whether your elementary school child will become more prepared for middle and high school, and later, college.
To help you understand a few ways that private elementary schools can build a foundation for success, Lakeside Christian School, the best private school in Clearwater, FL, shares a few basics.
Before we can talk about the fundamentals for success and how private schools excel at giving children these tools, it’s first important to understand a few of the studies that support these elements.
Another study found that compared to public schools, private schools have a smaller average class size of 18.8 students. Additionally, the same study noted that private schools have a lower student-to-teacher ratio of 12 students to one teacher.
These numbers put a few important things into perspective. First, it proves that building the foundation for success in high school and college starts in elementary school. Second, it demonstrates that seemingly minor details, like a smaller class size, can translate into big results later on.
Now that we have discussed the studied results of a private elementary school education, let’s dive into the how. Understanding how private elementary schools in Clearwater, FL, create the foundation for success is just as important as understanding the “why”.
These key factors are all intertwined, with one giving way to the next. Let’s break this down further. In a private school setting, class sizes are smaller which means that teachers have the opportunity to understand the way that each child thinks and learns best, and can modify their approach. Additionally, because instructors are not “teaching to test” — in other words, teaching and testing in an endless loop — teachers are given more freedom to modify lesson plans and give each child more individualized attention.
Teachers are also able to focus on data-driven instruction and methods, and because they are privately funded they are able to expand the curriculum beyond what publicly funded schools are able to do. When building the foundation for elementary school students, teachers are not tied to just covering the minimums mandated by the state, they are able to incorporate intellectual, philosophical and religious aspects that will instill more confidence in young learners and equip them with everything they need to build a strong education.
Previously, we touched on the key factor of individualizing curriculums to meet the needs of each individual child. But, this goes beyond just paying special attention to children with different learning abilities or needs. This means increasing areas of focus for the whole class where kids need the most help — which is a luxury that private school education is able to utilize.
In a public school setting, when the majority of the class fails to understand a specific subject or topic, the students are penalized. This might mean they are penalized with lower test scores, or even being held back a grade, because the curriculum must march on. But in elementary school especially, this can mean you are “building your house upon the sand” so to speak. As the saying says, a wise man builds his house upon the rock, and the goal of private school is to build your child’s educational house upon a rock. So when the entire class struggles to grasp a specific subject, more time is taken to help everyone as a whole understand. And if the class still struggles, there is a closer look taken at the approach and a more collaborative method of teaching for instructors that allows them to strike a solid balance with their class. Christian elementary schools in Clearwater can offer this while public schools simply do not have the time to consistently pivot when the older methods of learning are no longer working.
If you are hoping to build your child’s elementary education for a foundation of success, Lakeside Christian School should be at the top of your list. Lakeside Christian School is an affordable private elementary school in Clearwater, FL, which gives students all of the tools they need to succeed. If you’re interested in learning more about how we challenge all of our students to achieve their academic and personal goals, give us a call.
If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, a Christian elementary school in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.
Are you ready to join the Lakeside Christian School community? Contact us, and schedule a tour today.
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