56 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • AUGUST 2021
BACK TO SCHOOL
PRIVATE SCHOOL MAKING THE SWITCH
Parents have many different reasons
for sending their children to private
schools. Switching from public
schools to private schools can require
a significant emotional and social adjustment
on the part of students and
their families.
Transitioning to private school also
may require adjusting to an entirely
new educational philosophy and
curriculum. These tips can help make
the transition from public school to
private school go smoothly.
CLASS SIZE
Class size plays a significant role
when parents decide to send their
children to private school. According
to Noodle, an online education
search and rating resource, public
school classes may include 20 students
or more, with some even as
large as 34 students at full capacity.
Private schools tend to have much
smaller class sizes and a smaller
teacher-to-student ratio. This can
translate into more individualized
attention for each student. It also
may mean heightened scrutiny,
which is something students may
quickly discover and not be accustomed
to from their public school
days.
Students who thrive with more
frequent teacher feedback may
like the change to private school.
Others who prefer not being in
the spotlight may need more time
to adjust.
TAKE A TOUR AND GET
INVOLVED
Familiarizing oneself with the
school can make the first day of
school that much easier. Most
schools will offer tours for prospective
new families; otherwise,
parents can reach out to the administration
to schedule private walkthroughs.
Some private schools
also pair up potential new students
with current student ambassadors
to provide a student’s perspective,
which can be very helpful.
Families also can attend school-sanctioned
functions, volunteer for parent
teacher association committees,
or encourage students to join sports
teams or extracurricular clubs early
on to help with making friends.
BE OPEN TO CHANGE
Many private schools do not have to
conform to state- or province-sanctioned
curriculums. This can come as
a shock to students who were working
on a certain math or language arts
program at their previous schools.
Other changes to expect may be uniforms,
religious-based foundations and
classes, and less leniency when rules
are broken. Some schools also may be
male-only or female-only. These issues
can be discussed before the first day of
school.
Keeping an open mind and getting the
support of parents can help students
navigate the transition from public to
private school.
-Metro Creative Connection
These tips can help make the transition
from public school to private school go
smoothly.
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