Choosing the right private school for your kids

Black Enterprise, Oct, 1994 by Charlene Marmer Solomon

Kim Baker of Oak Park, Ill., drives her three children 40 miles a day to private school. She's happy to do it. Until three years ago, Kim, 37, and her husband Jeff, 40, both lawyers, were satisfied with their local public school. That was before their oldest son, Brendan, entered third grade and became less enthused about learning.

"It was clear to me," says Kim, "that Brendan wasn't getting the kind of education I envisioned for my child." Nonetheless, the public school teachers said he was doing just fine.

"I got the feeling [from people at the public school] that if you have a nonwhite child who is doing O.K., you should be happy," says Kim, an African-American in a biracial marriage. "In other words, the attitude is 'what more could you ask?'" All Kim and her husband were asking was for their children to "work as close to their ability as possible."

The Bakers consulted an educational psychologist, who confirmed the family's concerns: If Brendan remained unchallenged, he would shut down and lose interest in learning altogether. As children grow, their needs change, and perhaps their school should, too. With the help of the psychologist, the Bakers found the Avery Coonley School, an independent school where it was clear Brendan would be more challenged. The Bakers are not alone: More and more African-American parents have concluded that the nation's public schools are failing to meet their children's needs.

Whether they live in cities or suburbs, are upper-, middle- or lower-income, more and more black parents are pursuing private school options. The most recent statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau put minority enrollement in private schools (grades K-12) at 21.7% of the 4.6 million private school students in the United States. Well over half of those minority students are African-American and Hispanic. Some reasons for this growing trend:

* Parents want to escape the crime and mediocre education of some public schools.

* They seek an enriched curriculum for their high-achieving youngsters.

* They want smaller classes and individualized attention for their specialneeds children.

* They demand a rigorous education to increase their children's chances of getting into a good college.

In the Bakers' case, Kim immediately knew that Avery Coonley was the right place. In science class, youngsters were charting scientific observations, not passively coloring mimeographed papers as they did in public school. In history, children studying ancient Greece wore authentic-looking garb and delivered orations.

"It was very clear that this was a better choice for Brendan," says Jeff, a corporate litigation attorney. Eventually, the Bakers enrolled all three of their children at Avery Coonley.

Regardless of the motivation, private school is a positive step for many, and the timing couldn't be better, says Randolph Carter, director of diversity and multicultural services for the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). For one thing, private schools are eager to enroll African-American students, he says.

Even though the number of black children is increasing in independent schools and is already above 8% of total enrollment in parochial schools, educators recognize that this isn't enough. As Carter explains it, diversity has come to be appreciated as one of America's defining traits. Consequently, private schools want to add children of color to their ranks.

Many private schools are actively recruiting and in some cases offer financial assistance, which makes for a more positive environment for African-American parents seeking options.

Applying to private school isn't simple, however. There are a lot of choices, and the application process is an involved one.

WHAT TO CONSIDER

As the Bakers discovered, you must do your homework. First, know your child and understand his or her developmental needs. Second, find the school that best matches your child's needs. Then, consider how much you can afford to pay.

To help identify your child's needs, ask how much pressure your child can take, and what is his or her motivational level and achievement potential, says Teri Solochek, Ph.D., an educational consultant with Irwin, Lehrhoff and Associates in Los Angeles.

Think about your child's learning style. You'll want a school that teaches to your child's strengths, says Jacqueline Y. Pelzer, executive director of Early Steps, a New York-based organization created to increase racial diversity in independent schools by assisting families of color with children entering kindergarten and first grade.

Once you've gone through the process of determining your child's needs, you can look at possible schools. Obviously, they should be certified. Also, check out the student-teacher ratio, the curriculum and the educational activities--hands-on or lecture-style--that the school offers.

What about the way children are grouped in class? Is it by ability, by age, or are there mixed groups? Does the school's perspective serve your child's needs? What activities does the school offer? What sports? Where do students go after they graduate?