Explore scholarships and aid for independent education
“Private school” is maybe a more familiar term than “independent school”, which is the term most now seem to prefer. An independent school is a nonprofit institution governed by a board of trustees that depends on private funds -tuition, gifts, grants- for its financial support. All must meet state and local health and safety standards including mandatory school attendance laws. Since each school is free to determine and practice its own educational philosophy.
Many parents with students at independent schools will speak of the opportunities and challenges at their child’s school. Many independent school parents speak also of their schools in terms of their “values”, “purpose”, “traditions” and “culture’- as well as lauding their strong teaching academic rigor, individual attention to students, supportive atmosphere, and sense of community.
DMV independent schools are some of the most racially diverse in America. BSF member schools can generally be divided in to three diversity categories. Schools with majority/minority populations; schools with minority populations of about 35%; and schools with minority populations of at least 25%.
Like every child, each school is unique. Parents should not seek the “best school,” rather the “best school for our child.” The search requires keen insight and honest assessment regarding a child’s strengths, needs, and preferences. All parents want their child to live and learn in an environment of high expectation and effectiveness. The school that meets this measure can be different from child to child. Give your child the gift of searching for this “best” place together.
First, parents must define the child’s needs as distinct from their own. It is paramount to keep the child’s needs in mind throughout the process.Next, examine each school’s mission. Be sure you understand the mission statement, and ask for specifics as to how that mission is implemented.Look beyond the school’s reputation when making this important decision. Ask about specific programs and where students go after they graduate or leave the school. What scores did students earn on the SAT or other standardized tests? Schools should publish this summary data.The child should have the opportunity to visit the school before any final decision is made. Depending on the size of candidate pools, many schools encourage a potential student to come to visit for a day. If your child is accepted, it is reasonable to request a visit, especially if you have doubts.
The most common missteps concern parents’ reasons for selecting or getting their hearts set on certain schools based on name recognition, being with friends, or on cost alone. A school search is successful when it discovers the school that is right for the child. Many parents do not visit schools that might be perfect for their child because they are initially intimidated about inquiring about potential tuition assistance and creative financing plans that may be available. You never know until you ask!
Visiting schools, reviewing the schools website, speaking with parents at the school are all best practices for prospective parents.
The Exceptional Schools Group showcases the many wonderful school choices available to families of children with diverse learning needs in Maryland, DC, Virginia and beyond. www.exceptionalschoolfair.comBSF has produced a spread sheet of special learning resources available in the AccessBSF library.
Just about all independent school faculty members hold undergraduate degrees in the subject area they teach, and many hold advanced degrees. Many have also worked professionally in their subject area. Additionally, independent schools place a high value on supporting teachers with ongoing professional development and other opportunities for growth.
Accreditation is an independent review process. An independent school’s accreditation serves as the primary external seal of approval that a school is meeting its stated objectives. There are many accrediting agencies serving the private school community. Some are national, others are regional, and others statewide organizations. BSF member schools are accredited by AIMS.
Location can very important for many families. Many students attending independent schools community commute more than 45 mins each way to and from school. The minority of independent schools offer transportation. This makes location a major factor in many parents decision-making process. Access BSF offers a geographic breakdown of BSF Member Schools here.
BSF member schools offer two basic types of transportation services. Several school offer bus services with routes across the region, and some schools provide transportation to Metro and bus lines. You can go to our blog post on this issue to learn more (here).
First and foremost, independent schools want to know that their school the school that can best serve your child’s needs and talents?” “Will your child be a highly contributing member of this community?” Past academic performance, actual grades showing how the child has done in school, is the most important factor. This factor is probably more important than testing. Implicit in a child’s past performance are his or her academic characteristics, whether or not the student applies himself or herself, and the child’s work habits. Further, schools may consider recommendations from past teachers as they consider academics.Standardize testing is considered in multiple ways. Testing allows a school to compare a student against other students and utilize a minimum set of benchmarks to determine success in their school.Many schools will also require some form of interview or observation. Preschool and kindergarten applicants are often evaluated in small groups. Older students usually have individual interviews. The interview allows admissions committees to garner important insight into a child’s interests and personal qualities. Interviews often involve family members other than the student candidate.On the issue of giving siblings and legacies preferential consideration, these factors are often considered after all other admission information has been evaluated. Faith based schools may look at family church affiliation positively. Many schools will also consider past community service of student or special talents (athletics, arts, etc.).
The main entry points are kindergarten, 6th grade (middle), and 9th grade (high school). Several BSF member schools begin in 3rd, 4th, and 6th grade. They include: 3rd Grade Holton-Arms School begins at 3rd grade and runs through 12th grade (all-girls). 4th Grade Landon School begins at 4th grade and runs through 12th grade (all-boys). St. Albans School begins at 4th grade and runs through 12th grade. 6th Grade Edmund Burke School begins at 6th grade and runs through 12th grade. Parkmont School begins at 6th grade and runs through 12th grade.The Field School begins at 6th grade and runs through 12th grade. The Nora School begins at 6th grade and runs through 12th grade.
Many admissions offices are available to discuss the decision-making process and to show you how your child compared to the rest of the candidate pool. During this discussion, if your child has been offered a place on a wait-list, ask for an assessment of chances for later admission, including enrollment for the following year. If an admissions director does not feel the school is a good fit for your child, he or she may make alternative recommendations.
Dr. Frederick provides practical tips and strategies for navigating the journey of finding a great school for you and your child from a cultural perspective. The book features tools, including worksheets and question lists. It's a one-of-a-kind source.
Black Ice is a memoir by American author Lorene Cary. First published in 1991, it relates the African-American author's experiences at the elite St. Paul's boarding school in New Hampshire.
The authors of this book present a systematic treatment of the subject, looking at all aspects of the educational experiences of the Black children in private and parochial schools. The editors' introduction provides an overview of the educational situation of Black children, focusing on the interface between the children, their families, and academic achievement in their schools. The organization of the volume reflects the diversity of private school types attended by Black children.
This edited volume explores the experiences of African Americans in Catholic schools through historical and sociological analysis as well as personal memoirs and reflections of former students. It challenges the prevailing theory that African Americans are marginalized people existing in constant opposition to dominant cultural beliefs and practices. To the contrary, this book clearly shows that despite racism and instances of cultural incongruity, African Americans who grew up attending Catholic schools have demonstrated remarkable resilience and success.
In Race at Predominantly White Independent Schools, Bonnie E. French investigates the management of "diversity" at predominantly White, independent schools in the northeastern United States. By conducting in-depth interviews with diversity policy developers and implementers within the independent school community, French explores current efforts toward racial equity and the relationship between racial equity and diversity.
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