Middle school is brutal for a child. In elementary school, children are blind to race, creed, or socio-economic class. Suddenly, middle school hits and these humans who are not adults, but not children anymore suddenly become cruel to each other. On top of that, middle school is the time that children develop their sense of identity. If they bullied and brutalized in middle school, they often bare the scars of the trauma throughout high school and even their adult life.
The delicate and critical nature of middle school has many parents looking into private middle schools for their kids. Private school hold reputations for not only superior academics, but also for characteristics that support and nurture kids through this transitional time. If you are considering putting your child in a private middle school, you should consider these benefits:
Five Benefits of Private Middle Schools
- Private Schools Build Strong Academic Foundations
It is commonly accepted that private schools have excellent academic reputations. Many private schools hold their students to higher standards for academic excellence, and offer honors programs.
Studies show that private school students tend to score higher on standardized tests and college entrance exams than students who attend public schools. In fact, it is not uncommon for a private school to have a 100% rate of their students getting into and attending the colleges of their choice. The foundation of superior education that is offered in private school can’t be beat. - Smaller Class Sizes
Researchers have made direct connections between the number of students in a class and the quality of education they get. The lower the teacher to student ratio, the more one-on-one time the teacher is able to offer each student, the less likely it is that a student will “slip through the cracks” and the better performance they have on standardized tests.
Private schools consistently have smaller class sizes than their public school counterparts. Public schools have to accept all of the children in their district, whether or not they have the resources to accommodate them. Meanwhile, private schools have the option to only admit as many children as they have space for, so they can regulate the ideal class size. While public school classes have an average 22 students (or more), the average private school class has just 18 students or less. - Great Family Involvement
Almost all academic experts agree that parental involvement is a critical part of a successful educational experience, especially in middle school. Many private school create an environment that partners with the parent to provide the ideal academic experience for the student. Many private schools utilize parent-teacher meetings, social events like luncheons and family nights, newsletters, and parent committees to keep the parents an important part in the student’s education. This involvement not only promotes the child’s education, it helps reinforce and strengthen the family relationships. - Strong Dedication From Teachers
The dedication of the teachers is one of the greatest reasons that parents of private school students give for putting their child in private school. Private schools typically require higher degrees and qualifications from the teachers they employ, which makes the teacher more invested in their career, which is educating your child. Additionally, the close partnership between the parents and teachers and the smaller class sizes (as mentioned above) helps the teachers form a bond with their students. The students aren’t just a product on an assembly line to the teachers, they form legitimate connections with their students and care about their success. - Greater Safety
The second most common reason that parents elect to send their children to private school is because it is a safer environment for the children than that of public school. The small class sizes lead to greater supervision of the students, and the tight-knit community that a private school tends to develop discourages unsafe behavior from the children. Additionally, the students in a private school are their because the school permits them to be, if a student poses a risk to another child or themselves, the private school does not have to allow them to continue going to their classes. This creates greater safety for all of the students.
Do you have any questions or comments about putting a child in private school? If so, please share in the comment section below.
