Private School Information
Advantages of private schools on the East Coast
Sending your son or daughter to a private school on the east coast presents plenty of distinct advantages, such as:
- Small class sizes ensure that students receive the attention they need. The size of the class makes it an environment where everyone can feel comfortable participating.
- The East Coast, especially Massachusetts, is rich with American history. As such, private schools can enhance students' learning through educational and hands-on field trips.
- Private institutions are known to provide children with a well-rounded education. School is not merely about academic learning, as all aspects of an individual's development (including social development and other aspects) are important.
- Because of their relatively large budgets, private schools can attract some of the best teachers in the United States.
A brief history of east coast private schools
In 1642, Massachusetts Bay was the first colony to make formal education compulsory. All of the schools that operated around this time were private schools (mostly with religious affiliations). Since this beginning, east coast education has led the way in academic innovation in the United States. For example, Horace Mann was the first to create a statewide system of common schools. New England private schools are still at the top in terms of academic challenges, international reputation, and contribution of some of the world's finest minds in industry, finance, education and various other spheres. Some notable alumni of New England and east coast private schools include:
- Mark Zuckerberg
- Senator Edward Kennedy
- Uma Thurman
- Former President George W. Bush
- Humphrey Bogart
Choosing a private chool
Prior to selecting a private school, consider some, if not all, of the following questions:
- What is the school's educational philosophy? Do you agree with it? Will it benefit your child and to what degree?
- Does the school have interesting traditions? Is there a strong community atmosphere?
- What most impresses you about the institution? What do you think is its biggest weakness?
- Can you see your son or daughter in this atmosphere?
- If you looking at a boarding school: Do you think that your child is ready to live away from home? How do you believe he or she would deal with such a transition?
Click on one Our Kids' listings on this page to find out much more about enrolling your son or daughter in a private school in the eastern United States.