3 Reasons Private School Shouldn’t Be Postponed Until High School
Many parents who are considering private school for their children follow the same line of thinking. We’ll wait until high school. It’ll be worth it in the years leading up to college. Students only need to be challenged academically when they’re older. If you’ve had these thoughts about your child’s education, consider these three key reasons a private elementary school education can actually be a better investment than a private high school.
Why You Should Invest in a Private Elementary School Education
Build a Solid Personal Foundation
While the human brain continues to develop until around twenty-five years old, so much of that growth happens in the first eight crucial years.
According to a CDC report on health disparities in early childhood, “The first 8 years of a child’s life build a foundation for future health and life success.”
If a child is challenged, nurtured, and loved during that window, it can form the basis for success throughout life.
Private elementary schools offer the opportunity for small class sizes, individualized attention, and academic rigor when it matters most to children and their development.
(Interested in learning more? Check out the unique benefits of a private school.)
Students who attend private elementary schools are given the time, space, and environment to develop socially, emotionally, and personally.
Foundational empathy, compassion, confidence, and poise can all be cultivated during those early formative years. The unique experiences, challenges, and expectations of excellence that come with private school create that foundation from which children can thrive.
When students grow up learning these kinds of skills and having them reinforced every day at home and at school, they are more likely to be grounded, confident in themselves, and capable of making healthy decisions later in life.
Build a Solid Academic Foundation
Another key benefit of investing in a private elementary school education is the establishment of solid academic work habits.
Students who are challenged and held to high expectations early learn the importance and the fundamentals of work ethic. They learn that excellence is in the details and that intellectual curiosity will facilitate a lifetime of learning.
Establishing these habits early gives young learners the academic skills necessary to succeed in high school, in college, and beyond.
Establish Habits That Get Students into Good Colleges and Universities
Both students and parents have a tendency to only start thinking about college once high school rolls around. At that time, they want to start private education in the hope that it translates directly into top-tier colleges and universities.
In actuality, students who thrive and have the most personal and academic success are those who establish great habits early on. When you start young, learning how to focus, to take notes, to study, and to think critically become ingrained and second nature.
“If a child is fourteen before he or she has ever been exposed to a challenging environment, it’s very difficult for that child to step up suddenly and have success,” said Nancy Schuler, head of school at Westminster School, a private school located in Annandale, Virginia. “Starting private school during the elementary years equips students with the habits they need to excel throughout life.”
Interested in Learning More about a Private Elementary School Education?
Private school is undoubtedly a big financial commitment, but it’s important to put that cost into perspective.
“Private school is an expense; however, it is an investment in that student’s personal, academic, social, emotional, and financial future that will pay huge dividends in the end,” said Schuler. “When you watch your child grow in confidence, skills, and intellect, you’ll never remember the cost of tuition. You’ll just know you did everything possible to set that child up for success.”
If you’re interested in enrolling in Westminster School, learn more about our tuition and financial aid structure.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us directly, or give us a call at (703) 256-3620.
