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What is an Independent School?
Questions about Independent Schools
What is ADVIS?
Highly qualified faculty are the strength of independent schools.
- Most teachers in ADVIS schools hold advanced degrees in their subject areas.
- They are dedicated professionals who serve as teachers, advisors, coaches, friends and role models to their students.
- Independent Schools place a high value on professional development and continuing education for faculty.
Attending an independent, private school means....
- Students are given individual attention and encouragement, are taught in small classes in a nurturing environment, and are provided with individualized programs.
- Students are taught a love of learning and the positive results of hard work.
- Students are motivated to succeed, to think creatively, to be problem-solvers, making their own decisions but knowing when to ask for help.
- Students learn in an environment which places a high value on a stimulating intellectual life.
- Students develop self-esteem, responsibility, confidence, core values, and self-discipline.
- Students are taught by highly qualified teachers who have a passion to teach, most of whom hold advanced degrees in their field, and are exemplary role models.
- Students learn respect for others and for differences among people.
- Students are part of a supportive community comprised of administrators, teachers, alumni, and parents. Student’s families’ have an active role in their children’s school.
- Schools are governed by boards of trustees and school administrators, according to each school’s mission and philosophy, and are subject to rigorous accreditation and a regular self-evaluation process.
Independent schools differ from public schools in the areas of funding and governance.
- They support themselves through tuitions, gifts and endowments.
They are run by board of trustees and school administrators according to each school’s mission and philosophy.
- They are also subject to rigorous accreditation procedures on a regular basis.
Independent schools offer children personal attention.
- Low student/teacher ratio and small class size enable students to learn effectively.
- All of these schools emphasize values, self-confidence and responsible citizenship: foundations for critical thinking and future achievement.
- Teachers respond to a child according to his or her needs - intellectual, social, emotional and physical.
Independent schools allow a child to experience a wide variety of activities.
- In addition to challenging and varied academic offerings, independent schools work to develop the whole child through participation in sports, the arts, and a number of extracurricular activities.
- Students are continually presented with opportunities to discover new interests and develop new talents.
People often have questions about sending their children to private schools...
Will my child be insulated from the "real world"?
- Today’s independent schools are committed to diversity as well as community.
- Each student is valued as an individual for his or her unique contribution to the group. Schools have community service and other programs to ensure students’ awareness of regional and global concerns.
Can parents be involved in school activities?
Parents are welcome and encouraged to share the responsibility for building and maintaining a sense of community in their school. A variety of events and activities depend on parent input and support.
How do independent schools support working parents?
Many independent schools offer extended-day and after-school programs to give working parents flexibility. Some schools offer transportation, and many students can ride public schools buses. Conference and meeting times vary, to give parents the opportunity to be involved in their child’s education.
If my family is from out of town, how do we proceed?
Choose a few schools which seem appropriate for you child, contact the admissions offices and ask for literature about the schools you have chosen. Admissions officers will be happy to talk to you by phone and make appropriate arrangements. They understand the concerns of families moving to new areas or seeking a boarding school. To find schools that may be of interest to you search the ADVIS database or contact ADVIS by calling 610-527-0130.
The schools listed herein admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to the rights, privileges, programs and activities available to students at the school. They do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of their education policies, admission policies, financial aid programs, athletic programs, or other school administered programs.
The schools listed in this directory are state licensed and, in most cases, accredited. Accreditation has been earned through a rigorous evaluation process with one or more of the following agencies: MSAC&S (Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools), PAPAS (Pennsylvania Association of Private Academic Schools), and NJAIS (New Jersey Association of Independent Schools).
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