Choosing the Right School

Why attend an independent private school?

The reasons cited over and over again by the 400,000 families who send their children to our schools include individual attention, small classes, teacher excellence, and high academic standards. But the main motive for families looking into independent private schools can be summarized in one word: Quality. They want, quite simply, the best for their sons and daughters.

The National Educational Longitudinal Study (NELS), conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, confirms what independent school families have known for years: larger percentages of students in independent schools are enrolled in advanced courses than in public, parochial, and other private schools.

NAIS students:

• Do twice as much homework as their counterparts;
• Watch only two-thirds as much television;
• Are significantly more likely to participate in varsity or intramural sports; and
• Are more likely to agree that students and teachers get along well, discipline is fair, and teaching is good.

With results like these, it is not surprising that NAIS enrollments are increasing at double the rate of all other schools in this country.

Your decision to consider an independent school is just the beginning. You must choose the right school from the hundreds available. While all NAIS schools set high standards and emphasize values, they are wonderfully distinct from each other.

There are day and boarding schools; coeducational, girls', and boys' schools. Enrollment varies from a few dozen to a few thousand students. Some independent schools are centuries old, others just 10 years old; some are progressive, others more traditional in structure. NAIS schools also serve a varying range of students in terms of abilities and interests. Some schools offer special programs such as intensified instruction in the fine and performing arts, experiential learning projects, or travel abroad seminars. Many schools excel at rigorous intellectual preparation; others are dedicated to average learners; and some specialize in teaching bright students with learning disabilities.

Before visiting your first school, sit down with your family and determine your "ideal" educational community:

• Is it small or large?
• Traditional or progressive?
• Coeducational or single-sex?
• A day school or a boarding school?
• What special programs (arts, sports, computers) does it offer?
• Is a diverse school community important to you and your family?
• Does your child have special needs or interests?

Remember, this is just a starting point. You can amend the list as you move through the selection process.

Family Culture Enhances Academic Success

Keep in mind that a supportive family culture can enhance your child's success in school. To ready your child for an academic environment:

• Read to and with your child, early and persistently.
• Eat together as a family and have adult conversations with your child on wide-ranging topics.
• Set high expectations.
• Give your child opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities and support such participation.

Questions to Ask When Narrowing Your Choice

"The special bond of friendship and respect formed between students and faculty members is extraordinary."
--Parent, Massachusetts