Why Choose K-8 at Norwood? As tuitions at independent schools have increased across the nation in recent years, many parents have analyzed more carefully than ever whether the benefits of an independent school education justify the cost. As our current Norwood parents have concluded, there are many compelling advantages to independent schools in general and independent K-8 schools in particular.
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There is a real trend across the country to create K-8 or “elemiddle” schools and for good reason. Educators tout K-8 programs because they have proven track records in academic performance, student selfesteem, behavior, and attendance. Parents praise K-8s for all these reasons and because they keep their children “younger longer” than in schools that also teach high school students. As noted by David Hough, Director of the Institute for School Improvement at Southwestern Missouri State University, these schools are “closely aligned to a more nurturing, child-centered environment commonly found in elementary schools.” It takes special people to work with adolescents, and most middle school teachers in K-8 schools have devoted their careers to this age group. They are experts in early adolescence and focus their efforts on helping their students prepare for high school. In schools serving students through Twelfth Grade, some middle school teachers are biding their time until high school positions become available while others split their schedules between the middle and high school divisions. This type of crossover teaching does not allow for the dedication to middle school issues that occurs in a K-8 environment. In addition, while K-8 schools help students prepare for Ninth Grade, schools with high schools are focused on college preparation and placement. Major portions of the annual operating budgets of such schools are allocated to the high school program, from academics, athletics, and other extracurricular activities to college placement. Middle school students in K-8 schools have the opportunity to be leaders during the important early adolescent years. They serve as role models to younger students and lead a wide range of student organizations and activities—a much healthier social
environment than one where mimicking age-inappropriate behaviors of more mature students is a temptation. Another advantage of K-8 programs is that they provide the opportunity to make the best high school choice for a student. Young people change dramatically in the elementary and middle school years, and a high school that seemed ideal when the child was young may be entirely inappropriate in light of the student’s interests and abilities at age 13 or 14. It is wonderful for eighth grade students to be active participants in finding the environment that will best serve them during their important high school years. The K-8 structure, when implemented well, is very effective, and schools across the country are taking notice. Among the public school districts creating at least some K-8 schools are Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Milwaukee, New York, and Philadelphia. While there are many opinions on what constitutes the “best” type of school, independent K-8 schools provide superlative results to many families.