By Pam Moore 

From the moment our kids are born, we’re tasked with deciding what’s best for them. All that decision-making can be exhausting. So we caught up with experts in the field of education to help you make an informed decision when it comes to one of the most important choices of all — your child’s education. We asked why parents should consider private school. Here’s what they had to say. 

Smaller Classes. One of the greatest strengths of any private school is smaller class sizes. At Nativity: Faith and Reason, a private Cahtolic school, smaller classes ensure each child is being met where they are at and encouraged to meet their potential. “Every child is known and loved in a safe environment that is more conducive to learning by way of smaller class sizes, more challenging curriculum and more individualized attention and teaching,” principal Holly Peterson said. 

Meanwhile, in the age of information, it’s becoming increasingly more important to give children the skills to think for themselves when consuming social and news media. According to Peterson, who has over three decades of experience in education, “Small class sizes and individualized instruction give students the ability to become critical thinkers.” 

Social-emotional Learning. Social-emotional learning (SEL) gives children the skills to manage their own emotions so that they can ultimately make better decisions and be better citizens. According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning, it’s based on five core competencies: Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. 

According to data, it’s effective. A 2011 meta-analysis published in Child Development notes, students who were exposed to school-based SEL curricula demonstrated notable improvements in social and emotional skills and behaviors as well as improved academic performance. Meanwhile, a 2017 Society for Research in Child Development study showed that children who participated in school-based SEL programs had higher graduation rates and safer sexual behavior thatn their peers, even 18 years post-intervention. 

Many private schools emphasize SEL curricula. At neurodivergent-focused Temple Grandin School, for example, SEL is valued just as much as academics. “Of equal importance [to academics] is integrated social-emotional learning, so their children can develop meaningful friendships,” said Lea Anne Paskvalich, the school’s director of admissions and public relations. 

Similarly, at Boulder Valley Waldorf School for pre- through middle school, there’s a focus on creating “a student-focused environment for the whole child,” said Ruth Godberfforde, the director of advancement. She described an emphasis on “the academic, social-emotional and the physical,” or “head-heart-hands” that is foundational to every aspect of the Waldorf curriculum.

Extracurricular Opportunities. Oftentimes, parents gravitate toward private education because of the extracurricular activities it offers. Because private schools tend to specialize in specific areas (e.g. math and science or the arts), students get to enjoy more specialized afterschool activities. That said, private school can also offer opportunities for a wide range of extracurriculars. 

According to Susan Boyle, a school director of admission and marketing, the chance to expose kids to a wide array of experiences, starting at a young age, is a key advantage of private school. She listed a diverse range of activities ranging from world language to visual and performing arts, and science/STEM. 

Community. One of the top reasons many parents choose private school is the strong community it offers. According to Tom Mecsey, the principal at a private Catholic school, “The community and level of parental involvement in private schools is very special. Families who choose this option often have a lot in common, as they have made an intentional decision to send their child to a particular school (often for similar reasons) rather than base it on a neighborhood, etc.” 

Meanwhile, he says, that enhanced sense of community deepens children’s learning experiences. “We have found that there tends to be greater parental interest and involvement in the day-to-day activities of their children. This, in turn, fosters greater communication,” Mecsey explained. “The communication between school and home enables the school to be more responsive to students’ needs.” 

Pam Moore is an award-winning freelance writer, intuitive eating coach, and host of the Real Fit podcast. Get her free guide to improving your body image at pam-moore.com. This article was originally published in The Boulder Daily Camera.