There are countless decisions parents have to make to make sure their children have the best life. Some decisions must happen daily, like choosing what they will eat, how much screen time they will have, the clothes they will wear, and what battles to fight in a day. Other decisions have long-term effects that could determine the trajectory their lives will go for years to come.
One of those long-term decisions is regarding what type of school they will attend. Once they begin attending public, private, or charter school, you may not be eager to change; even if you believe, later, they would thrive in a different setting. Many parents research for countless hours to find every pro and con of each type of education, only to find there are as many expert opinions as there are parents.
While we can’t answer all your questions in a single article, we do want to provide as much information as possible to help you make an informed decision. With your support, your child can have a great academic experience in any setting, but of course, you want them to get as much out of their education as possible.
Here are a few of the ways private school benefits elementary and middle school.
The Benefits of Private Education for Elementary and Middle Schoolers
We’re going to break this article down into two parts; how private education benefits elementary school-aged students and how it benefits middle school-aged students:
How Private School Helps Elementary School Students
We’re defining elementary school as grades one through five. Here are four key benefits of private Christian education for young children:
- Starting Strong: From our website, “In keeping with the primary mission of St. Paul Lutheran School, the Christian religion forms the center upon which all instruction is based.” Even in Kindergarten, St. Paul students are going to receive excellent Christian instruction from the beginning of their academic experience.
- Extra Support: Private schools are able to limit class sizes so that students receive extra support. This is crucial for early-education students who are just beginning their academics.
- Building a Biblical Foundation: Private Christian school students develop a biblical foundation that is stronger than what they could receive if the Scriptures were not part of their daily instruction. In the younger classes, religious teaching mostly consists of memorizing small Bible passages and "memory gems," as well as learning Bible stories and their connections to everyday life.
- Developing a Christian Worldview: The foundation elementary-aged students build in private school helps them develop a Christian worldview so that when they get older, they are inclined to find answers to their questions in the Scriptures and the gospel.
How Private School Helps Middle School Students
We’re defining middle school as grades six through eight. Here are four key benefits of private Christian education for pre-teens and teenagers:
- Small Class Sizes: The middle school years are some of the most challenging for students and parents. Smaller class sizes give teachers the opportunity to determine whether they are having difficulty with a subject and require guidance or whether they are succeeding and require new challenges.
- Answering Tough Questions: Although the pre-teen years sometimes feel like a nightmare of immaturity for parents, middle schoolers are beginning to think more abstractly and will ask some of the deepest questions. Private Christian educators are able to point kids to the Scriptures and gospel for the answers to life’s most difficult questions.
- Extracurricular Activities: Private schools like ours offer excellent extracurricular programs that help pre-teens explore certain subjects and activities more deeply. Some of these activities may help shape what they want to do with their lives.
- Preparation for High School: High school is one of the most formative times for kids. They will make friends they could have for life, form their belief systems, and choose paths that will determine their futures. Private Christian education helps ensure that kids are centered on Christ during their high school years.
These lists are, of course, incomplete. There are countless other benefits to private education. The question is whether or not it is right for your child.
Is Private Education Right for My Child?
In a previous article, we answered this question in more detail:
Our school exists to glorify God. That is the role and responsibility of every person created in the image of God. That means we strive for excellence at St. Paul Lutheran School:
- Excellence in academics
- Excellence in spiritual growth
- Excellence in athletics
- Excellence in the arts
- Excellence in character
St. Paul Lutheran School is a private Christian institution located in Northville, MI. We aim to make sure that every kid who walks through our doors hears the gospel and has an opportunity to hear about the love of Jesus. We have had the privilege of seeing numerous kids pass through our school over the past sixty years, each getting a high-quality, Christian education.
If you have additional questions about private education, we are here to help. Please reach out to us for more information about how your child can thrive at our private Christian school.