As someone who only wants the best for their child, you may already be thinking about their college years and the future ahead. Considering private, college-prep high schools is not uncommon, and you may find yourself becoming more serious about finding a suitable institution for your young teenager. However, you should consider these school issues before deciding on one and putting down a deposit.
Class Size Could Be Important
Just as you may have thought throughout your child's earlier school education, small classroom sizes could be essential for their success. When there is a lower student-to-teacher ratio, teachers are able to focus better on the individual kids in their classes. Your child may have no trouble completing their schoolwork, but as they begin the rigorous college preparatory subjects, the extra help can be crucial to their understanding of different concepts. If your child is lost among dozens of students in different classes, they may not get the kind of assistance that smaller groups would allow them to receive.
AP Classes Don't Necessarily Mean a School Is Better
You might see a long list of AP classes in a school's brochure, but make sure you're not swayed too much by them. AP courses absolutely look good on college applications--they can even be college credit in some cases--but they aren't necessarily indicative of a better college-prep program. AP courses can offer an in-depth understanding of various subjects, but some schools have honors courses or other high-level classes that will give students that boost.
Consider School Activities
Your primary goal with a private school is likely to gain admission to an excellent school, but remember that colleges like to see well-rounded students applying to their programs. Therefore, school activities can be vital for your child's application. Don't only look for sports; look for clubs that gel with your child's personal hobbies. Fashion design, computers, and photography are just some of the activities to look for as you consider different schools.
Your Child's Feedback Is Important
You might consider yourself the main person who will be deciding on the school. Your child's opinion might matter, but as the parent, you may be planning to choose an institution without much feedback. Remember that your child is the one who will be spending most of their week at the school. Therefore, their opinion is very important. If they don't seem sold on the school you like, find out why not and try to reach a compromise.
After considering the college-prep schools in your area, you should be ready to narrow down the field. With these high school issues in mind, you can make the best choice for your young teen.
Share24 August 2019
A few years ago, I realized that my neighbor's kids were much more well-behaved than our kids. Although I was embarrassed to ask, I sat down with my neighbor to find out what her trick was. She told me that she had enrolled her kids at a nearby religious school that had made a big difference. She explained that they focused heavily on family values and personal integrity, which made me want to learn more. After touring the school, I enrolled my own kids and I can't even begin to tell you the difference that it made. Check out this blog to find out more about religious institutions.