Education
BY CHLOE YOUNG
With almost 1,200 accredited private schools in Texas, parents have many alternatives to consider when choosing a school that is right for their child. Over 900 of these schools are nonprofit and represented by the Texas Private Schools Association. Accreditation is an important factor to consider for a private school to ensure the school is meeting or exceeding basic standards in public education, said Laura Colangelo, executive director of the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission and the Texas Private Schools Association. Private schools must meet or exceed the threshold for the following: Understanding private schools
The breakdown
What are the options?
Language immersion schools Overview:
• Double immersion: Students are fully immersed in two nonnative languages. • Dual immersion: English and non-English speakers are mixed in a classroom to learn each other’s language. Benefits: • It allows students to learn from and interact with different cultures. • It improves and stimulates brain development.
• Nonprofit, accredited private schools serve 268,757 students in Texas • Almost 1,200 accredited schools , 920 of which are nonprofit • $9,831 statewide median tuition for the 2022-23 school year • Around 140 private schools in Central Texas • 60%-70% are religious-based— the largest denomination being Catholic—with 250 nonprofit, accredited private schools • Can opt in to take the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, but are not required to
Private schools are tuition-based schools oper- ated by private organizations that are self-gov- erned independently and not regulated by state government. Here are some of the most common private school types parents might encounter, Colangelo said.
Language immersion schools allow students to learn subjects in multiple languages and gain bilingual or multilingual fluency. Various program types exist, including: • Partial and total immersion: Students are immersed in a new language 50%-100% of the time.
Montessori schools Overview:
Religious schools Overview:
Traditional schools Overview:
The cost
Montessori education was developed by Maria Montessori, an educational philosopher, to provide students with developmentally appropriate, hands- on learning opportunities. Students are placed into multiage classrooms usually spanning three years, according to the American Montessori Society. Benefits: • Montessori schools can be beneficial for students who are independent, like working at their own pace and enjoy experimentation. • Students participate in self-directed work, and teachers serve as guides for learning goals.
Religious private schools are run by organized religious groups or churches that incorporate their teachings in curriculum and experiences, such as chapel services. Benefits: • These schools allow students to be immersed in a particular religion throughout the school day, which is not available at public schools. • Various religious affiliations operate private schools from Christian, Islamic and Jewish faiths.
The term “traditional” is an umbrella term used to represent a variety of private school options. These schools can have religious or nonreligious affiliations and set their own curriculum standards. Benefits: • Most private schools have smaller campuses and class sizes than public schools. • A specific class or mission may be offered, such as a science, technology, engineering and math focus or language immersion. • Religious-based education is available.
There are various financing options available for parents interested in private education.
Curriculum
Teacher qualifications
Governance
Most private schools offer some sort of financial aid to increase the diversity of families attending schools.
Monthly or bimonthly payment plans are available.
Programs in which families can volunteer in exchange for tuition payments are also available.
Standardized test scores
Finances
SOURCES: TEXAS PRIVATE SCHOOL ACCREDITATION COMMISSION, TEXAS PRIVATE SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
BEE CAVE 13015 Shops Pkwy (512) 263-9981
BRODIE LANE 4970 Hwy 290 W (512) 366-8260
NORTH 620 10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316
Powered by FlippingBook