The beginning of a new semester of school is the perfect opportunity for parents to help their children set new goals and intentions for the rest of the year. This is an especially valuable opportunity for students who have fallen behind their peers or behind their capabilities so far in the academic year. Unlike the beginning of a new year which comes on the heels of a long summer vacation, the beginning of the second semester comes after only a short break. This helps many students to maintain academic focus.

Most students begin the school year with us at St. Barnabas School, but that is not the case for our entire student body. Some students join us mid-year, others still trickle in throughout the year. Anytime a student transfers into a new school during the middle of a school year, it can be a hard transition both academically and socially. 

For some families the choice is easy. They’ve already decided their children are going to either public or private school and there is very little other decision making required. But for most families, it isn’t that simple. They must weigh the cost, quality, and accessibility of their children’s education, and in our experience, those decisions often come down to the following four issues.

When you think back on your childhood education you can probably think of at least one great teacher who left an indelible impression on you as a young person. Whether you’re imagining an elementary school teacher who taught you to love reading, or a high school teacher who set you on the path that eventually became your career, most people can point to at least one educator who made their lives better. 

Access to quality education is a tenet of American culture. In every town in our country, there are public schools open to any and every child. But another great thing about our education system is that families can opt into private education should they choose. The freedom to make that choice means that families can ensure their children attend the right school to meet their individual needs. For millions of families around the country, and countless within our own community, private education is a clear choice.

There are lots of great reasons that families choose to get into homeschooling and just as many reasons they may choose to get out of it. And once you’ve made the difficult decision to enter homeschooling journey how do you know what to do next? There are plenty of different schooling options from private or public school, charter schools, and even online schooling. But which option makes your child’s transition out of homeschooling the most successful? 

A high-quality education is a vitally important factor in your children's future success. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the more education one has the higher their earning potential is in adulthood. Those are powerful statistics, and one of the many reasons that we promote the value of education. But private education likes to take this a step further. We’re not only interested in creating smart, successful adults, but in guiding our students to become responsible citizens. 

Eventually, many parents come to the conclusion that switching their kids to private school is the right decision, but when is the best time to make the move? In many cases, you’ve made the choice from early on in their education and your student is able to ease right through beginning at kindergarten and on through the eighth grade. But, not all families come to private education in that manner. 

The United States has a long-standing commitment to providing public education to students no matter their income or social status. But even in a world where free education is available to all, many families still choose to pay to enroll their children in private education. Sometimes parents make that choice to honor tradition or to gain them access to a perceived elite group, but most parents choose private schools because of the quality of education provided. Data shows that students from all socioeconomic strata who attend private schools fare better in college and are more likely to earn a four-year degree.