A good education is the key to unlock any child’s future success, and so all parents are greatly invested in finding the best schools for their children (and the best preschools and art schools, too). When a child becomes old enough for preschool, aged three to five, the parents may look for the best pre-K programs in the area and find the best preschools, both public and private. And when a child is ready for elementary school, or if the family moves to a new area, the parents may conduct an online search to find those schools. A family moving to Kendall, Florida may search “private schools in kendall fl” or “top rated private schools in kendall fl”, for example. What should parents look for in a good preschool or elementary school for their child? And what is the difference between private and public schools?
Finding a Fine Preschool
Although preschool attendance is not mandatory in the United States, many American households are enrolling their children in pre-K programs all the same. From 1990 to 2008, the rate of preschool attendance has risen greatly. When a child is ready for this, and/or when the family moves to a new city or county, it’s time to look online. The parents may specify their home city or town, and even include their ZIP code, to keep the results local. The parents may also specify in that search whether they are looking for a private or preschool, since preschools may be one or the other. A search might look like “top private preschools in Boston MA” or “good public pre-K programs in San Diego” and find some results. The parents may strike out schools that aren’t accepting new students or those deemed too far away, and compile a list of promising preschools.
Now, the whole family can tour these local preschools in person and get a fair impression of them up close. The parents can also look into each school’s level of funding, and consult the staff to review their credentials. The parents may review each teacher’s work history, educational background, and any awards or recognition that they may have. Parents may also look over what sort of educational programs that the school provides. Meanwhile, parents will also note what the child thinks of that school, since it’s important that a child is enrolled at a school where they feel comfortable. The family may visit any number of schools this way (and visit the most promising schools more than once) until they find the best one, and enroll their child there.
Finding Good Schools
Meanwhile, American children certainly have to attend elementary, middle, and high school, and their parents may find good schools online. A family may search “private schools in kendall fl” or “top rated private schools in kendall fl near me” when the family moves to Kendall, Florida, just to name one example. When searching in large cities such as Boston or Los Angeles, the parents may also want to specify their ZIP code to help keep results local. As with preschool searches, the parents may strike out unsuitable schools from a results list and tour the rest in person with their child.
When touring these schools, the parents may look into each school’s level of funding and consult the teachers and staff working there. Meanwhile, the prospective students may explain why they did or did not like a particular school, and the student may be looking for particular clubs or activities. These may be the likes of a swim team, cheerleader squad, football team, art club, or even a marching band.
What about public vs private schools? Most American schools are public, as in federally run and funded, and do not charge tuition. Private schools do charge tuition, but they are an attractive option for families who can afford this option. Private schools boast generous funding and expert staff for a good education, and private school teachers report much lower incidence rates of student apathy than public school teachers. What is more, private high schools offer more college counseling services than public high schools do, and over 90% of private high school graduates go on to college. Still, a highly rated public school may be a strong option for many families.
