The worldwide outbreak of Covid-19 is unprecedented in modern history and has forced people out of their normal daily routines and into their homes. Restaurants, municipal offices, and even schools shut their doors in a fashion similar to what we see during hurricane season. Across the state, schools closed on a mandatory basis in order to limit the number of people gathered in one place and this left lots of people scrambling to find child care solutions and nontraditional ways to educate their children.

We know for sure that private education is an asset to our students. We see it first hand every day. Our students are engaged, more successful in and out of the classroom, and have bright futures in high school and beyond. But the benefits of private schools don't end there. Private schools are known for serving a student’s whole family in ways that public schools are unable to due to their structure as well as the sheer size of their organization. 

One of the most common questions we field about private education is how much it costs and whether or not it will be affordable. We understand that all families can afford to make different financial commitments, which is why we offer scholarships to students with demonstrated need. But even with scholarships, some families find they still need to save up to make private school work for them. 

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?