Education Directory Fall 2010
Written by Allison Tong
Finding the Right Fit
A Parent’s Guide to Private Schools
As we approach the start of a new school year, you may have already gotten a head start whether it’s preparing yourself financially or doing a little homework on schools in your area. And we’re lucky enough that Orange County has some of the best public and private schools in the state. Twenty-two percent of OC schools are ranked best in state when the California Department of Education API scores came out on May 13, 2010, according to an article in the Orange County Register that was published that same day.
Choosing a school that’s suitable for you and your child’s needs can be a daunting task if you’re not sure whether you want public or private. Or, if you know you want private, there’s so many choose from it can seem overwhelming. To help you along the way, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of private schools in Orange County with up-to-date tuition rates and contact and admission information. In this 2010 Fall Education Directory, we’ve given you more than 200 private schools at your fingertips from 37 OC cities.
If you’re thinking of going private, it’s always good to have a set of questions ready to ask the head of the school, principal or admissions director. Ron Reynolds, executive director of the California Association of Private School Organizations, recommended to us a few chief questions to get started:
Inquire about how the students are evaluated during the year to assess their growth. Do they use achievement tests? Do teachers meet with parents? Do they look at student portfolios and student work when evaluating? As a parent, you’ll want to know if the school is using a variety of methods to evaluate your child’s academic growth.
Is your school accredited? The main regional accreditation association is the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Reynolds believes it’s good practice for schools to be accredited. If the school isn’t, ask why.
What’s the background of the faculty? What do they look for in their faculty members? It’s good to know what’s important to you before you ask this. You may want educators who hold a certain type of academic degree or specialize in their teaching subject, while other parents give personal experiences more weight.
Ask if you can be referred to speak with other parents who send their children there. Getting a parent’s perspective may help you in your decision-making.
We hope our Education Directory serves as a resource tool this summer as you’re doing your research on schools to consider for your little one in the fall. Reynolds tells us that there’s no such thing as finding the “right” school—it’s about finding the right fit. A child’s education journey is one of the most important stages in life he or she will go through and we hope we’ve provided lending hand as you embark on this exciting adventure in your child’s life.
View Our Full Private School Guide