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Private Schools

Military families choose to send their children to private schools for many of the same reasons as civilian families. Private schools normally have smaller class sizes and lower teacher to student ratios. Their faculty is highly qualified with relatively low turn-over. They offer personal guidance and mentoring, stress good study habits and discipline, and encourage excellence. Private schools also offer a wide variety of courses, as well as AP or IB programs. In addition, many private schools offer faith-based curriculum and religious guidance.

Military families also choose to send their children to private schools when Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders take them to areas with low performing public schools. This decision certainly has financial impacts on the family budget, especially when the family is paying for more than one child. However, for many military families, affording private school is simply not an option. 

Funding for private schools is generally provided through student tuition, endowments, and donations and grants from religious organizations or private individuals. Though private schools are normally exempt from most educational regulations, they tend to at least follow the spirit of those regulations when it comes to course content. Private schools realize that many students, particularly those at the transition between primary and secondary school, end up transferring to a public school and therefore require similar preparation.

For help finding private schools, go to: http://www.privateschoolreview.com or http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch, or contact your local faith-based organizations.