A Big Decision
THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF SCHOOLS. UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES IS THE KEY TO CHOOSING THE RIGHT EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR CHILD. BY CARRIE KIRBY
W
hen youâre selecting a private school, it helps to narrow the field by deciding what kind of school you want your child to attend. The following categories are not mutually exclusive; some schools may fit into two or more, such as St. Helena Montessori, a Montessori school that includes Catholic teachings. Even so, knowing how the main types of schools are defined will help you advance your search.
Independent Schools These schools are governed by their own board. Some are secular, while others have a religious mission but are not part of or dependent on a specific church or temple. Independent schools in Marin County include Corte Maderaâs Marin Country Day School, Mill Valleyâs Marin Horizon School and San Rafaelâs Marin Academy.
Catholic Schools Although there are schools affiliated with most every religion, the Catholic school system is such a major institution â enrolling 38 percent of all private school students nationwide, according to the National Center for Education Statistics â that it deserves its own category. A Catholic school may be established and
supported by a parish, a diocese or a private order such as the Jesuits or Franciscans. Not all families who choose Catholic schools subscribe to the faith; nationwide, 17 percent of their students are non-Catholic, according to the National Catholic Education Association. Catholic schools in Marin include Kentfieldâs Marin Catholic High School, Novatoâs Our Lady of Loretto School and Tiburonâs Saint Hilary School.
schools in the United States, most of them private. Maria Montessori originally developed her teaching philosophy for preschoolers, and the majority of Montessori schools still focus on early childhood education. But some include elementary and even secondary grade levels. Montessori schools in Marin include Corte Maderaâs Marin Montessori School and San Rafaelâs Montessori de Terra Linda School.
Non-Catholic Religious Schools If you add up all the other types of religious schools â conservative Christian, Jewish, Lutheran, Seventh Day Adventists, Quaker and others â they enroll about as many students as Catholic schools do, nationwide. NonCatholic religious schools in Marin include San Rafaelâs Brandeis Marin (Jewish) and Good Shepherd Lutheran School and Marin Christian Academy, both in Novato.
Waldorf Schools Less common than
Montessori Schools This approach to education has been around for more than a century, but itâs enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent decades as parents increasingly embrace Montessoriâs focus on the whole child, with independent activities and materials that appeal to kidsâ senses. The North American Montessori Teachers Association estimates there are about 4,500 Montessori
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other private school models, with only about 150 schools in North America according to Waldorf Answers, this is nonetheless an attractive educational philosophy to many progressive parents. Waldorf is sometimes categorized alongside Montessori since both allow students to move beyond the desks and worksheets of todayâs mainstream classroom. However, Waldorf schools in practice are fairly distinct from Montessori. Students in a Waldorf school may spend more time creating things, whether itâs artwork or knitting with wool. Another distinguishing factor: Waldorf schools donât teach academics until first grade. Waldorf schools in Marin include Mill Valleyâs Greenwood School and Fairfaxâs WISE Academy, a Waldorf-inspired charter school. For more on what defines Waldorf, see blog.sgws.org/waldorf-vs-montessori. m
P R I VAT E S C H O O L G U I D E
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