Private School Options in Woodbridge

The overall quality of education offered at public schools across the U.S. has taken a bad PR hit over the past five years. Arts programs have been cut from curriculum and teachers have been laid off, many parents have turned towards private institutions as the saving grace of their child's education.

A 2002 study by the National Center For Education Statistics (NCES) found that private school students generally score higher than public school students on standardized tests, and they're also more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree by their mid-20s.

"There's always going to be a need for alternatives to government schools," said Joe McTighe, Executive Director of the Council for American Private Education  (CAPE). "There are hopeful signs in terms of states now turning to legislation that would provide parents more access and more choice to a variety of schools including religious and independent schools."

The greatest challenges that private eduction faces is keeping tuition affordable to low-income families and maintaining their autonomy. McTighe went on to explain that although it's important for private schools to remain independent from government oversight, it's equally important to provide a quality education.

"There's a very high bar set in these [private] schools. They demand excellence and they expect excellence in terms of student performance."

The curriculum focus of private schools across America differs, depending on whether or not they have a religious affiliation, and there's also a large focus on development of the whole person rather than the excessive emphasis on math and reading that many public schools employ.

Choosing a private school for your child is an endeavor that takes dedication and research. The best way to decide is to go to the school and talk with administrators. Observe the class rooms, get a feel for the community, talk with other parents, and insist on seeing test scores.

Websites that rate schools in each community, such as GreatSchools.org, will not be helpful when deciding on a private school.

"They only rank schools based on test scores," said Kathy Elwing, teaching assistant at Cardinal Montessori. "At this point in time private schools are not required to do testing like public grade schools; although, there are some [private schools] that test a lot more than others."

"I'm a firm believer that test scores don't tell the whole story," added McTighe. "I don't think that a reading or math score necessarily reflects the value that a school is bringing to a child."

We talked with each of the private schools in Woodbridge and compiled the following list to aide in your research for a quality private school that compliments your child's growth.