Many studies suggest that private schools have beneficial lasting benefits on a child. Parents may be hesitant to enroll their child into private elementary schools for many reasons, with price being the biggest downside. However, children who attend private elementary schools have shown to be successful throughout their entire academic career. They have even shown to succeed in other areas of life, including recreationally, financially, and in their careers. Despite the positive statistics of success, many present still have reservations surrounding private elementary schools.
Too pricey
Price seems to be the biggest barrier to private school enrollment. Private elementary schools can cost thousands of dollars per semester. Some parents may not be able to afford this, while others simply feel that it is a waste of money. However, the success rates that children show after completing a private elementary school program is worth every dollar. Children are better prepared for a variety of middle schools and often have learned the necessary skills to succeed. They carry these skills on to high school and then into college, finding academic success along the way.
Waste of time at the elementary of middle school level
Some parents may think that there is no use in enrolling a child into a private elementary or middle school program. High school begins to prepare your child for college, so what benefit could an elementary or middle school program have? Well, children who do not learn the necessary academic or social skills in these earlier programs have more difficulty when they reach high school. They may struggle picking up easy skills, putting them at a disadvantage for college entrance.
Some of the necessary test skills include test taking skills, studying tips, and necessary social involvement. Children may not receive enough attention in a public school elementary program, putting them behind their peers. The average school size in 2011 to 2012 was 146 students across all private schools. Public schools enroll many more children, making it difficult for teachers to spend one on one time with any of their students.
Too much pressure for a young child
Another common complaint against private middle schools elementary school programs is that parents worry that their young child will be put under too much pressure. Parents want their children to focus on fun and making new relationships at this age. They are less focused on studying, homework, and test taking. Private schools, however, are aware of these social requirements of a young child and are able to find the right balance.
For this reason, more and more private schools are enrolling coeducational, meaning that they allow both boys and girls. When children are only exposed to the same sex, they do not learn valuable social lessons that are necessary for effective communication. In fact, 96% of all private schools in 2011 to 2012 were coeducational, while 2% enrolled all girls and 2% enrolled all boys.
Lack of recreational activities
A common misconception around private schools is that there is a lack of recreational or extra curricular activities available. Private schools do not focus solely on studies. They also realize the importance of social activities and recreational sports. Most private schools actually have very good sporting programs. With paid tuition’s, they are able to provide better coaching and better sporting opportunities to their students. In fact, many private school students may receive sporting scholarships to help with tuition costs.
Although many parents may have their doubts about private elementary and middle school program success, studies show that children who begin in private schools tend to do better in life. Of the 305,842 private high school graduates in 2010 to 2011, some 64% attended 4 year colleges by the fall of 2011. Smaller class sizes early in the education prepare young children with the tools and skills they need to build on and to succeed throughout their entire academic career.
