Keeping It Private

Private education is thriving in Northeast Florida, where in Jacksonville" target="_blank">Duval County alone more than 100 parochial and secular schools compete for students.

The numbers tell a compelling story. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 10 percent of students across the country attend private schools. In Duval, however, the figure is closer to 14 percent. What's more, 20 percent of all Duval high school students attend private schools, the highest ratio among Florida's 67 counties.

Why? It's not due to the public school system: Jacksonville" target="_blank">Duval County boasts two of Newsweek's 10 best public high schools in the nation-Stanton Preparatory School and the Paxon School for Advanced Studies. And in neighboring St. Johns and Clay counties, public schools are known across the board for high test scores and strong parental involvement.

Jacksonville families choose independent schools for the value they receive in quality instruction, for high standards in student conduct and achievement and for a safe, nurturing learning environment, say private school administrators. Is private school right for your child? Sorting it out requires research and persistence.

Although the Florida Department of Education requires "nonpublic" schools to respond to an annual survey, the state doesn't license, approve, accredit or regulate these schools. In fact, the only requirement for operating a private school is obtaining a local business license.

Still, private schools must compete for students, so they have an incentive to retain the best teachers, to earn accreditations and to cultivate high-performing students and satisfied parents.

Consequently, there are a number of factors to keep in mind when considering public versus private education, and one of the most important is accreditation.

Most colleges require that an applicant's diploma come from an accredited high school, public or private. And if regional accreditation is specified, then the school must be approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the accrediting body for all public schools and universities in 11 Southeastern states.

SACS, one of only six regional accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, evaluates academic programs, extracurricular activities, staff qualifications and financial stability, among many other factors.

In addition to SACS, 45 other authorities offer accreditation to private schools in Florida. While some impose stringent standards, others mandate little more than payment of dues.

Including SACS, there are just 11 accreditation organizations officially recognized by the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools (FAANS), the largest of which is the Florida Council of Independent Schools.

The council, which represents more than 77,000 students in 158 member schools, uses criteria similar to SACS and evaluates only secular private schools.

How about academics? It's important to remember that in private schools, no particular academic program is mandated by the state. Therefore, successful placement of graduates can provide important information.

When investigating a private high school, ask for a senior class profile, which should indicate what colleges have accepted students from the school.

You'll also want to know whether the school's curriculum is primarily college preparatory or vocational, and how many advanced-placement courses are offered.

Likewise, the guidance program is important in providing college selection and application assistance.

And remember, private school teachers are not required to be state certified, so you'll want to find out what qualifications the school expects of its instructors.

Other important factors to consider: admission procedures, tuition policies (nearly 20 percent of private school students nationwide receive financial assistance), student-teacher ratios (the average for private schools is 15 to one) and admissions-applications ratios (four-to-one or higher indicates that the school is very competitive.)

"But there's no substitute for a personal visit," says Katherine Ford, executive director of FAANS. "Look for strong leadership. Evaluate the appearance and the attitude of the students. Are they ready and willing to answer your questions?"