- What Are Independent Schools?
- Why Choose an Independent School?
- What Sets an Independent School Graduate Apart?
- Additional Resources
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Independent schools are non-profit private schools that are governed by lay boards of directors, independently financed, and have non-discrimination policies in admissions and employment. They serve many different types of students using many different educational strategies, providing families with a wide range of educational options. Independent schools share a commitment to educational excellence in safe, supportive environments. They have high expectations for every student, regardless of ability.
As independent institutions, they are largely unencumbered by the regulatory strictures of public education, allowing them to address students’ needs in innovative ways.
As a result, independent schools often play key roles in economic development. In the Washington region, they save public school systems hundreds of millions of dollars in expenses. And they are seen as powerful executive-recruiting tools by many major corporations, helping draw top talent to the region.
Independent schools are characterized by a number of unique attributes that translate into a wide array of special opportunities and offerings for students and families. The combination of a mission-driven approach and a resource-rich environment allows independent schools to meet each student’s intellectual, social, and emotional needs.
The following describe some of the compelling attributes that make independent schools outstanding places for students to learn:
- Small class size allows teachers to really get to know their students and their unique strengths and individual needs. The smaller learning environments encourage students’ active participation and allow teachers a unique opportunity to monitor every student’s progress. Students can grow and flourish according to their interests and abilities. Furthermore, teachers have more flexibility to develop curricula and materials.
- Excellent teachers: Independent schools not only attract and recruit top teachers, but also offer environments in which teachers can develop their skills and become even better educators. Independent school teachers are granted a high degree of autonomy that allows them to shape their own programs to fit their personal teaching styles as well as their students’ needs and to assess student achievement through their preferred methods. Faculty members are provided valuable professional development opportunities to further hone their teaching proficiency and abilities.
- Extracurricular opportunities: Independent schools recognize and embrace the value of providing their students with a multi-faceted educational experience that contributes to their personal development as well as their intellectual growth. For this reason, opportunities for participation in activities outside of the classroom are abundant, ranging from athletics to the arts to community service programs. These activities are an integral part of the independent school experience and culture, and allow students the chance to explore their talents, apply lessons they’ve learned in the classroom, and interact in diverse settings with their peers and teachers.
- Strong sense of community: Independent schools are committed to creating and fostering a sense of community that extends to a variety of constituents, including students, their families, faculty/staff, and others. Parents are encouraged to actively engage in their child’s school experience, and a wide range of events and volunteer opportunities help promote parental involvement and build camaraderie and fellowship. This sense of community is strengthened by a shared belief in and commitment to the school’s mission and core values.
- Physical environment: Independent schools focus on providing safe and secure settings that also offer a wealth of valuable resources and facilities. Students often have access to tools ranging from computers and technology to library resources to laboratory equipment that help supplement their learning in important ways. Independent schools also work on developing and maintaining their facilities to provide the best possible environment for learning, both inside the classroom and out.
Because they are involved in many activities, independent school graduates are generally multi-faceted. The smaller independent school environment requires many participants to make its athletics, arts, community service and other extracurricular programs thrive; thus, it is not just the superstar, but the average student who benefits.
In addition, independent school students receive exceptional college preparation, which allows them to make a seamless transition into the college environment following graduation. Even further down the road, independent school graduates draw upon their independent school background in the workplace, carrying with them a sense of confidence stemming from a sound educational foundation and a familiarity and comfort with professional presentation.