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What Do They Teach?

This article is a companion article to How Do They Teach?, which discusses what goes on in private school classrooms. This article explores the academics and other material that schools teach.

When we parents start thinking about sending our children to private schools, one of the first questions that comes to mind is the teaching content. What exactly will the schools you are looking at teach? Obviously, with thousands of private schools, I cannot address all the permutations and variations. So, I thought it might make sense to look at several educational approaches and methods and see what they teach. That will at least give you a starting point for some in-depth exploration of what they teach at schools you might be interested in.

Toddler

The wee ones won't be at school for very long daily. Apart from that, the teachers will create a rich environment to peak a child's interests. The development of fine and gross motor skills, as well as language and speech skills, are a focus.

Prekindergarten

Most prekindergarten programs focus on preparing their students for kindergarten. Look for the development of motor skills and teach children how to socialize. Also, look for play-based lessons with an emphasis on collaboration, teamwork, and listening. Building on the excitement of discovery is another component in the prekindergarten teacher's portfolio of skills. Children learn by doing. Your child should have lots to do balanced, of course, with snacks and quiet times.

Here is

Cristo Rey Schools: A Different Kind of School

Cristo Rey schools are unabashedly Roman Catholic. Through and through.

• They teach Catholic values and religious beliefs.
• However, they do something more unusual and significant.
• Cristo Rey schools serve students from low -income families in urban areas who could not otherwise afford a private school education.
• The way the Cristo Rey schools do this is to combine a work-study program with the academics, sports and extracurricular activities the schools offer.
• Simply put, the Cristo Rey schools offer quality education with a work-study component.

History

The Cristo Rey schools got their start back in the 90s in Chicago.

• The Catholic academic scene was a familiar, though depressing one.
• The diocesan high schools were facing serious financial challenges.
• Those schools had always been the ray of hope for struggling lower-income families who dreamed of an education for their children.
• The Catholic schools run by various orders were in good shape because they attracted a clientele that could afford the substantially higher tuition that those schools charged.
• The Jesuits met with parishioners in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and asked what they needed most.
• "A good high school" was the unequivocal response.

This short video clip shows what the Jesuits did.

The Program

As noted above, Cristo Rey schools have a work-study program, which is an integral part of the

One of the main reasons many of us parents look at private schools is because we want our children to receive a religious education. I define a religious education for the purposes of this article as an education which adheres more or less to the religious beliefs which we hold dear. In other words if you are Roman Catholic, you will want to think seriously about educating your child in a Roman Catholic school.

It has been several years since I examined the data on religious schools in the National Center for Education Statistics . This survey covers academic year 2011-2012. So I was fascinated to see that out of the 30,000 private schools in the United States approximately 21,000 were described as religiously-oriented schools. About 9,000 schools were what we call or not affiliated with any specific religion. By comparison there were approximately 99,000 public schools in the 2011-2012 academic year. That would mean that private K-12 schools are educating approximately 30% of school-age children.

Let's review the 25 religious categories which the ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Universe Survey documents.

Roman Catholic: The Roman Catholic Church has always taken its educational mission seriously. As a result about 7,000 K-12 schools educate 1.9 million students. Catholic schools include parochial schools which are largely K-8 schools and diocesan high schools. These schools are mostly organized and administered at the local and regional level. Add to this mix hundreds of schools which were established by

Many years ago, I had no clue what a private school was, much less how to get into one. I can remember one of my public school classmates announcing that he would be attending a private school beginning the next academic year. Indeed, about three of my classmates went to what is still a prestigious old Montreal private school, . I also had a few friends who had transferred in from a boarding school in the Eastern Townships. As I learned a little later, they had been asked to leave the school. In any case, I am trying to make the point that you are not the only person who isn't sure how private schools work, how to get your child in, and so on.

So, let's keep this really simple. You won't get too stressed. You might find it enjoyable to find the right private school for your child.

Find!

The first step in the process is to find schools that you can explore and investigate as part of your personal due diligence. Sending your child to private school is a major commitment both financially and in terms of your investment of your personal time and energy as a parent. So it is important that we get it right.

Fortunately for us, every private school has a website. Look for a statement of the school's philosophy about educating young people. Does it match yours? If so, add it to your

1. ²ÝÁñÉçÇø schools are really private.

By design, American private schools are really private. While in most cases they observe applicable state laws with respect to minimum requirements concerning what is taught, private schools are answerable to their boards and their clients, i.e., the families who send students to them.

2. ²ÝÁñÉçÇø schools are more affordable than you think.

Granted, some private schools are very expensive. Especially boarding schools. However, since they generally seek to attract a diverse student population, most private schools offer generous financial aid packages.

3. Several private schools are free.

This video gives an overview of one of the free schools, Girard College in Philadelphia.

Years ago several benefactors established schools that will cost eligible students virtually nothing to attend. In more recent times the Cristo Rey Network of schools has made a private school education almost free for families of limited means.

4. Some private schools are residential.

Residential private schools are known as boarding schools. Your child will attend classes as well as eat and sleep at the school. Professional, experienced adult supervision ensures the safety of your child 24/7.

5. Most private schools are day schools.

In a day school your child attends classes during normal daytime hours. Extracurricular activities and sports are typically included within that day time schedule.

6. Some private schools offer a blend of day and boarding options.

Boarding schools located in a