Hearing education statistics like these, coupled with all of the bullying statistics, it’s no wonder so many parents want to study a school inside and out before agreeing to send their child there. School choice is a decision that can have a profound impact on a child’s life.
Most parents simply want to find a safe and comfortable place where their children can develop strong scholastic abilities and social skills. When all is said and done, the goal for most families is to do the best they can to prepare their children for life outside of the nest.
The problem, though, is that not all schools are created equally — not by a long shot. Schools have various levels of funding, professionalism, and skill levels among staff, as well as various types of community members. Because of this, some parents decide to go with the home school, magnet school, charter school, or private school options.
For those who choose private schools, they end up shelling out major cash for an option that may or may not be a better choice. And of course, no school is perfect. There are around 33, 000 private schools in the U.S. that enrolled nearly 5.5 million students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics’ most recent estimates. Parents pay an average of $8, 549 in annual tuition at these schools — $6, 733 for private elementary schools and $10, 045 for private secondary schools.
Some parents can’t (or won’t) spend thousands of dollars on private school, and decide that the traditional public school route is more ideal for their family situation. Some parents may even relocate or choose where to buy a home based on the available schools.
School ratings, crime ratings, test scores, and online reviews from other parents serve as excellent resources for those who are deciding on a public school for their children. But even these ratings don’t tell the whole story. Sometimes schools have great ratings but the environment isn’t all that warm and nurturing. Other times, the environment is comfortable, but test scores are too low. It can be tough to find the right school, especially considering that many of the “best” schools are in primo neighborhoods where you have to sell your left arm to pay for your mortgage.
