Parents and guardians who feel their children would do better outside the public school system have many options to choose from. The following are the most common types of private schools.
Private schools are not funded by the government. Instead, they charge attendance fees to their students’ families. Independence from government funding allows private schools to follow whatever curriculum they choose. Private schools can be religious or secular. They can follow specific belief systems or educational programs. Those that do not designate any affiliation may be classified as independent. Private school teachers usually teach K-12 classes in a variety of private school settings. The teaching may include faith-based learning and certain philosophical teachings.
Private schools with a religious affiliation are often chosen by families who want their children to receive a religious education in alignment with their family values. Religious schools are often affiliated with religions or religious organizations or associations. One type of religious school, called parochial schools, is affiliated with and supported by a specific church entity or place of worship.6
Some religious schools develop a reputation for academic excellence and attract students for that reason, apart from religious affiliation. They may set their own curriculum and may balance religious teaching with secular academics or emphasize one over the other. The teachers can provide discipline according to biblical standards and train students in righteousness and other godly values in their lives.
There are many educational and pedagogical belief systems about education. You may have heard of the Montessori method. This type of programming builds students' academic skills by honoring their interests and individuality. Montessori schools are usually private schools that help students explore the world through hands-on activities.
Waldorf schools are also based on a specific pedagogical approach. The Waldorf method is committed to child development in a holistic sense and builds a curriculum that initially helps students develop physically and emotionally. It is not until students are older that academic work takes center stage in a Waldorf school. Teachers can focus on creating and planning lessons and activities that encourage enthusiastic learning, intellectual growth, self-esteem and social responsibility.
A boarding school allows students to live where they attend school. It is a community of students living and learning together. Boarding schools may specialize in specific areas, such as nature or sports.
These schools also offer general academics along with strong community and extracurricular activities. The faculty members, including teachers, staff and their families might live on campus and serve the student body via coaching or counseling activities.
While some public schools offer language immersion, many schools that offer full language immersion are private. These schools immerse students in a language they are not yet fluent in.
In some cases, immersion is complete, meaning the school conducts all instruction in the child’s second or new language. In other cases, there is two-way immersion so that children learn in both their native and their new language. Bilingual teachers lead classes in more than one language.
Many parents whose children have exceptionalities opt for private special education schools. In these schools, children get more individualized attention from teachers and professionals who are well-versed in the modifications, treatments or therapy they may need.
The role of the teacher in this type of school is to assess the student’s skills and learning requirements and determine how to best meet those needs. They can also design Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) and collaborate with parents and school staff to track students' progress.
