Keeping It Private

Central Florida parents interested in an alternative to public education for their children can choose from roughly 271 private schools, ranging from nationally renowned academic and athletic powerhouses to small, church-affiliated operations with a few dozen students.

But to choose the school that best fits your child's needs requires a lot of homework. That's because private schools are, well, private. They are virtually unregulated by the State of Florida. Private schools make their own rules, follow their own curriculum and create their own system for assessing performance.

In Florida, private schools educate about 13 percent of the total student population, according to the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools (FAANS), an organization representing roughly 85 percent of the state's private schools. That's up from just 9 percent in 1992.

In Orlando" target="_blank">Orange County, the region's largest school district, about 16 percent attend private schools-the fifth-highest ratio among the state's 67 districts and more than double the percentage a decade ago. In Seminole County (13 percent), Orlando" target="_blank">Lake County (11 percent) and Osceola County (8 percent) the numbers are also increasing, reflecting a nationwide trend.

Indeed, the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) reports that enrollment at its member institutions has increased 11 percent since 1986, with the biggest increases coming in preschool (38 percent) and middle school (20 percent).

So, is private school right for your child? Maybe, maybe not.

Sorting it all out requires research and persistence. Although the Florida Department of Education requires "nonpublic" schools to respond to an annual survey, the state does not license, approve, accredit or regulate these schools. In fact, the only requirement for operating a private school is obtaining a local business license-which means hair salons are subject to greater scrutiny.

Still, private schools must compete for students. Therefore, they have an incentive to retain the best teachers, to earn accreditations and to cultivate high-performing students and satisfied parents. Quality, more than price and location, is a private school's main competitive edge.

Consequently, there are a number of factors to keep in mind when considering the public vs. private education option for your children, among the most important of which 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 (SACS), which is the accrediting body for all public schools and universities in 11 Southeastern states.

"It's a seal of confidence," says Dr. Pat Wentz, a Florida-based SACS director. "It lets parents know that the school meets high standards and is in a school improvement process that is research based."

The organization, 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, there are 45 other authorities known to be offering 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 FAANS, the largest of which is the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS). 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 in the next level of schooling can provide important information.

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

"Most schools are proud, and rightly so, of their college acceptances," says Robert Kennedy, a Michigan-based consultant who helps parents choose private schools and guides them through the application and enrollment process. "If they're evasive about this information, then it's a sign of a problem."

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 for its instructors. Do all teachers hold four-year college or university degree? Does the school provide continuing education programs for its teachers?

High faculty turnover should also raise a red flag. Kennedy says an annual turnover rate of 40 percent or higher generally indicates a poorly run school and an unhappy staff. Likewise, he adds, find out how long the current head of the school has been on the job.

"If the top position has changed several times in recent years, make it your business to find out why," notes Kennedy.

Other important factors to consider: student-teacher ratios (the average for private schools is 15-to-1) and admissions-applications ratios (4-to-1 or higher indicates that the school is very competitive.) And finances are particularly important, since a private school education can be pricey.

At Trinity Prep and Lake Highland Prep, for example, tuition for a high schooler tops $11,000 per year. However, these and other private institutions offer assorted financial aid programs-so don't rule them out until you determine what types of assistance may be available.

In addition to scholarships and financial assistance offered by schools, last year the State of Florida initiated a program whereby children from poor families may receive state-backed grants.

The program is called Helping Educate Responsible, Outstanding and Enlightened Students (HEROES). It offers scholarships of up to $3,500 to students who currently attend public school and qualify for the free- or reduced-lunch program.

Finally, talk to your friends and neighbors who have children in private schools. And visit whichever schools seem to meet your requirements.

"Parents should visit the school and talk to the administrators," says Wentz. "A parent can visit the school and determine the climate just by walking in."

Ultimately, you decide what's most important for you and your child. Whatever you determine, chances are good that Central Florida has a school that fits the profile.

For more information, contact the Florida Department of Education's Choice Office for Nonpublic Schools at (850) 245-0877 or log on to the DOE Web site at www.fldoe.org.