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Everything You've Been Wondering About Independent School

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Everything You've Been Wondering About Independent School Everything You’ve Been Wondering About Independent School Everything You’ve Been Wondering About Independent School CHAPTER ONE 1 What Are Your Schooling Options? CHAPTER TWO 5 The Background and Curriculum of Independent School CHAPTER THREE 11 The Benefits of Independent School CHAPTER FOUR 22 Making Your Choice CHAPTER FIVE 26 Getting Into Independent School CHAPTER SIX 31 Paying for Independent School 34 Conclusion CHAPTER ONE What Are Your Schooling Options? f we are lucky, we never stop learning. We spend our Good for you. Ientire lives observing, absorbing and expanding our minds. But a lifelong love of learning is not something Whether you ultimately decide on an alternative route that happens by accident. Instead it is frame of mind for educating your child or not, simply by doing the that is developed during the early years of our education. research to find out what your options are means that Our ability to grow into well-informed, well-rounded you understand how truly important it is to ensure that citizens begins in our formative years and is shaped by our your child can grow up in their best possible learning educational environment and our earliest relationship with environment. learning. Let’s talk about your options. At Doane Stuart we are an The vital nature of a child’s educational experience is why independent school which makes that our area of expertise many parents choose their homes based on the school with decades of experience and insight we are pleased to district they are in, or look outside of publicly funded share with you. schools toward homeschooling, charter schools, private Let’s start with some basics. schools and independent schools. In fact, if you are reading this you are likely one of these parents. 1 What is Private or Independent School? In the simplest terms, a private school is an educational institution which is funded and operated independently from the government. This is why private schools are also known as independent schools. However, while all independent schools are private, not all private schools are independent. What does that mean? An independent school has an independent board of trustees who oversee the operation of the school. But private schools, who are not independent, may be part of another organization like a for-profit or nonprofit corporation or a religious institution. While these private schools may not be subject to government regulations and oversight, they may have a separate set of mandates imposed by the affiliated entity. In Doane Stuart’s case, these are interchangeable terms. We are not affiliated with a state or federal organization and have a board of trustees. But from a mission standpoint we also identify as an independent school because it focuses on the administrative sovereignty without the connotations of exclusion that often linger around the notion of “private school”. So while we are technically a private school, for our purposes we’ll use the term “independent school” from here on out. 2 Types of Independent Schools In the US, our education system is decentralized, which The following types of independent schools may be day means that while it is subject to some regulation and or boarding schools. funding at the federal level, most specific rules and • Coeducational, Non-Denominational Schools requirements, as well as budgetary allocations, are made • College Preparatory Schools by state governments. Before we can get into the real • Single Gender Schools educational distinctions between Independent and public • Special Needs Schools schools we first need to cover the different variations of • Military Schools independent schools that are available. • Religious (Parochial) Schools Day School - Day schools maintain the all day format • Performing Arts Schools that is typically associated with the school day. Children • Language Immersion Schools remain in the building from the morning (usually around • Montessori Schools 8 am) until 3 pm or later depending on extracurricular • Waldorf Schools participation. Some boarding schools also offer day- • Reggio Emilia Schools student options for those that live in closer proximity Each of these school types have a strong central focus, to the school’s campus. which is often the most appealing factor to parents Boarding School - These are dormitory style institutions at looking for an independent school. Naturally, some schools which children live and go to school on the premises. Some integrate multiple characteristics into their curriculum, boarding schools also offer day-student options for those making them broader and more diversified institutions. that live in closer proximity to the school’s campus. For example, Doane Stuart is a coeducational, interfaith (yet non-denominational) day school with a strong emphasis on leadership, community service and college preparation. 3 Options 101: Public Vs Private With all of these choices, and nuanced distinctions, it’s no wonder that parents can feel overwhelmed by the volume of options for educating their children. There are many reasons that parents choose one school over another, or one kind of school over another. Naturally, there are financial considerations at play when parents look outside of their designated public school system. But the decision for most parents is determined primarily by the priorities of the family. There is no simple answer as to whether or not independent school is better than public school. The better question is whether or not an independent school education is the better choice for your child and your family. 4 CHAPTER TWO The Background and Curriculum of Independent School ll private and Independent schools have their own For many parents, one of the most appealing aspects of A unique culture and atmosphere which distinguishes independent schooling is the individual attention each each one as a community. Most are driven by a set of student receives. While every school varies, at Doane core values, a vision and a mission which serve as the Stuart, the student to faculty ratio is 8-1. In context, in guiding principles that drive the core curriculum and 2013, the National Center For Education Statistics placed extracurricular activities. For example, ours states: the public school pupil/teacher ratio at 16.1 -1. This low student to teacher ratio allows for more individual “The mission of Doane Stuart is education for attention for each child, but it also allows helps foster students from every quarter. In a college preparatory closer relationships between students and faculty. context, where the joy of discovery is valued, Doane Stuart emphasizes serious study, educates to social The true test of understanding the day to day routines responsibility and lays the foundation for a strong faith.” of any independent school lies in a visit to the campus, auditing classes and meeting with existing students, This has come to fruition as a result of years of discussion faculty and parents to get a true “feel” for the overall and interaction with students and families to bring focus experience. But, in general, independent schools tend to on using education as the groundwork for a building have a strong sense of community within the student body character, love of learning and a strong work ethic for and with the staff. a goal-oriented adult life. 5 The Independent School Curriculum Curriculum may represent one of the largest differences between public schools and Independent schools. While public school curriculums contain a great deal of regulation and oversight from the government, Independent schools have a great deal more flexibility to design their own programs. Accreditation While Independent schools may not be beholden to the stringent curriculum rules seen in public schools, there is certainly some standardization through the accreditation process. In New York, Independent school accreditation is provided by the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), which is chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. All NYSAIS member schools must go through a rigorous process of examination that involves all members of the school community. The review encompasses all components of school life including governance, finances, teaching and learning, operations and community. A full term of accreditation is five years. According to the NYSAIS, “The process of going through accreditation allows a school to demonstrate and validate its achievement in fulfilling its mission and educational objectives.” It also “provides critical analysis to guide a school for improving its practices and for planning strategic initiatives in its next five years.” 6 Course Offerings Like public schools, independent schools offer a set students we offer independent studies and uncommon curriculum of core classes that include standards like courses like the History of Mathematical Thought, Digital English, math, science, history, physical education and Composition and Food Ecology. (Molecular Psychology, foreign language in addition to humanities like the arts Justice & Philosophy, and French Literature)? All of these and music. However, the particulars of these courses vary classes come in addition to extensive extracurriculars that from school to school. include athletics, visual and performing arts and subject immersion organizations. In addition to the core learning subjects, Independent schools may also offer advanced courses of study that Independent schools also frequently begin immersing are focused on college preparation,
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