Deciding whether or not to enroll your child into a private high school can be a big decision for any family.
There are many different factors at play, especially when you have a public school system to compare it to. How close is it to your home? Will my child feel comfortable there? Can we afford it? These are all questions that can play on your mind when making the decision.
So should you send your child to private high school in Toronto?
If your family is currently weighing these options, here are some things to consider about before making the big decision:
Parental involvement is an important part of every child’s academic success.
For parents that like to take a more hands-on approach, the private school sector provides ample opportunity for parents to become active participants in their child’s education. Private high schools are known for having the communication channels open between parents and administration.
Unlike the public schools, there are more parent-teacher meetings to follow up on your child’s educational development, social events you can attend and committees that parents can get involved in to support various school initiatives.
In addition to involvement, parents also report higher rates of accountability from administration in private institutions. Whenever they raise concerns regarding the school, curriculum, or their own child, parents can be confident that their voice will be heard. Since there are fewer levels of bureaucracy in private high schools, parents can expect any concerns they bring up to be handled in a timely manner.
Safety is a major component when sending your child off to any school.
As a parent, you want to be assured that your child will be in the right hands, and private high schools can provide that assurance a lot more than public institutions. Because of the smaller class sizes, teachers are able to control the space and decorum of the classroom a lot easier than schools with larger classes.
In addition to class size, the admission process of private high schools are also more strict, which controls the types of students that are admitted in. Students typically have to fall under a specific academic criteria, which helps ensures that anyone that comes in already have similar academic interests and goals.
Extracurricular activities also play a huge part of any private high school environment, which helps create a greater sense of community and safety amongst students and faculty. Some private schools have even implemented additional security measures like on-site security guards and hall monitors which can give parents greater peace of mind.
When it comes to crunching the numbers, affordability can be a big factor when considering whether or not you send your child off to a private high school.
Annual tuition fees vary from province to province and largely depend on the school’s location and specialty. Parents can expect to pay anywhere between a couple thousand to $70,000 a year. While this may be steep for some, private schools typically offer private tutoring, specialized support and other resources that aren’t usually found in public schools. Keeping this in mind, parents shouldn’t forget to account for additional expenses like school supplies, meals, transportation and field trips.
For international students, costs go even higher especially when taking the cost of living in a new city into account. Some schools offer a homestay program which assigns a student to a Canadian family to go live with and help adjust to their big move. Programs like this typically cost anywhere between $1,000 – $1,200 per month, covering the cost of rent and food, all while offering the comforts home.
Whether your child is domestic or international, the costs of attending a private high school can add up quickly. Thankfully, there are entrance scholarships that can help ease the financial costs if your child meet their specific requirements. This is something parents should always look into as scholarships can slash thousands of dollars off tuition fees.
Education sets the foundation to endless opportunities, especially if you’re looking to send
your child to post-secondary school.
Compared to public schools, students who go to private high schools tend to score a lot higher on standardized tests and typically have higher GPAs.
Teachers in private high schools tend to be a lot more qualified in their fields, which greatly contribute to the quality of education students receive. Since class sizes are smaller, teachers are able to dedicate more time to each student and help them to reach their full potential. As mentioned earlier, private high schools also offer private tutoring and other specialized support which can help supplement student learning and help them achieve higher academic standing.
There are a variety of different private schools out there that cater to different values, interests and learning abilities.
There are all boys and girls schools, religious based schools, Montessori schools and much more. The options give parents more control over the environment they hope they see their child learn in as well as some of their values executed into the curriculum. With that said, since private schools are so targeted and specific, parents have to make sure they pick one that’s right for their child and their educational needs.
At the end of the day, if you believe your child is able to thrive in a dynamic school environment, taking them the private route maybe the best option for them. If you have any further questions or concerns about whether sending your child to a private school is right for your family, contact Cestar High School today to help ease your mind.
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