Old School
Several private schools were founded in the 1660s. Many more were established in the 18th century. The motive behind these early schools was simple enough: the founders all realized that the future of the colony, and later the young nation, depended on a well-educated populace. Several older schools were begun by various religious sects, especially the Quakers, in order to propagate their particular beliefs. A few were founded by wealthy families who had lofty ideals in mind and wanted to leave their mark on society. Schools such as Exeter and St. Paul's are examples of that kind of noble thinking.
Many schools, such as Kent School and Miss Porter's, were founded by teachers with a very specific mission and kind of school in mind.
Not Just for Rich Kids
There was a time back in the 1950s and 60s when private schools were the preserve of the rich and famous. You had to have money to attend a school like Choate or Hotchkiss. And it helped to be socially prominent and of the right religion too. Fortunately society is much more inclusive in the 21st century.While a private school education is indeed expensive, most schools offer generous financial aid to those families who need it. Most schools have proactive recruiting programs as one of their goals is to have a diverse student population.
Boarding Schools vs Day Schools
A boarding school is a residential school where students actually live in houses or dorms. Most American boarding schools are 9th grade through 12th grade or Forms III through VI if we use the older, British nomenclature. Junior boarding schools are residential middle schools. They usually run from 6th grade through 8th grade, though a few take in boarders as early as 3rd grade.There are about 350 boarding schools as opposed to 6,500 day or non-boarding schools. A day school can also be called a country day school or an academy as well as the usual school. Canadian schools will frequently use college to describe a high school.
Progressive vs Traditional Schools
Progressive schools began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a rebellion against the way children were traditionally taught. Visualize students repeating times tables and conjugating Latin verbs in lockstep with a teacher and you get the basic idea of how traditionalists taught back then. The progressives advocated a much more child-centered approach to learning. Montessori or Waldorf schools epitomize the spirit of 'follow the child', to quote Maria Montessori's famous admonition.
In the 21st century traditional schools tend to stick to college preparatory courses centered around the AP or IB programs. Progressive schools continue to do their thing to the great delight of their loyal parents and students.
Too Tough to Get Into
If you have your sights set on one of the top boarding schools, then you know how competitive these schools are. They can afford to be. They accept 25% or less of students who apply. But there are hundreds of other schools out there which are worth a look. They will offer the solid college preparatory curriculum you want as well as all the sports and extracurricular activities.Focus on finding a school you like and which best fits your needs and requirements. Get that right and your child will have a wonderful private school experience. Get it wrong and her life will be miserable.
