Some families may have experience with private and independent schools; however, 许多人只有公立学校的经验. The two are different and if the private independent school experience is new to your family, 以下是一些你可能希望考虑的事情:

独立与私人
Both private and independent schools operate outside governmental regulations and most private and independent schools belong to an accrediting entity, 比如弗吉尼亚独立学校协会(VAIS).  Independent schools are governed by a board of trustees, not a public school board. 一些私立学校作为一个更大的实体的一部分运作, 比如教区, and therefore are not considered independent because for some decision-making and policies, they are governed by a larger organization and may not have as much flexibility as an independent school. 

愿景
Independent and private schools may vary by the individual school’s vision.  例如, some may be affiliated with a particular church or educational philosophy, 因此，与学校谈谈它的愿景非常重要.  There is a right fit for every family considering a private independent educational experience.

下一步是上大学
Independent schools prepare students for success beyond graduation by helping them develop the skills they will need when they enter the colleges of their choice.  Top independent schools offer a broad array of college level (AP) courses and often offer diploma distinction programs for students to demonstrate their commitment to achieve. Independent schools also offer the services of a dedicated college counselor to guide students through the preparation, 选择, 申请和面试流程.
 
经费及课程
Public schools and private schools have different visions and missions.  虽然他们都教育孩子, public schools must provide a broad array of services and ensure a basic level of student performance is met.  They must meet standards which are governmentally established and monitored, 因此, 公立学校非常注重课程和考试.  Because independent schools are privately funded by tuition and philanthropic giving, 他们不受许多政府法规的约束, 包括标准化考试和课程. This is very important to independent schools because it gives them the freedom to design and to more nimbly modify their academic programs to fulfill their vision and to tailor programs to meet their students’ and community's needs.
 
激发学生兴趣和成就的项目
Independent schools offer a broad educational experience and encourage students to follow their passions and perhaps develop new interests by participating in a variety of activities, 包括艺术, 体育运动, 社区服务, 还有校外的机会.  我们更常听到“try It”而不是“try out”。.  私立学校鼓励学生报名, 出现, 有新的体验, 结交新朋友, 也许还能走出他们的舒适区.  
 
父母关系
Parents often select the school for their child because the school shares their educational and child development goals. Independent schools continue this “shared goals” partnership by encouraging, 促进, and cultivating a close partnership between parents/guardians and the school.  Independent schools generally have open door policies and offer parents many opportunities to participate in their child’s educational experience.  Parent involvement and parent philanthropy often results in increased support for student programs and experiences.
 
多样性和包容性很重要
Independent schools welcome and respect students from a variety of socio-economic strata, 社区, 文化, 宗教, 信仰, 身份, 和国籍.  Schools with boarding programs are often home to students from different countries, offering new learning opportunities for both their international and domestic students. Most schools offer financial aid to further support an inclusive environment.
 
教学经验和班级规模
Independent school faculty tend to have more specialized areas of expertise, 使他们更有资格在各自的领域教书. Low student-teacher ratios and small class size encourage close connections between instructors and students, enabling more individualized attention and higher levels of classroom participation each day.  在这种环境下, students are valued as individuals and their teachers challenge and encourage them to excel.
 
紧密的社区和安全
​学生人数较少, 班级规模更小, and all divisions from 幼儿计划s through Grade 12 on the same campus, closer observation is more easily managed by trained and familiar faculty and staff.  Independent schools also use visitor management systems and have restricted access to academic buildings to ensure safety; however a key ingredient to keeping a community safe is by knowing the individuals in it. 

了解更多关于私立学校的优势 全国独立学校协会 (本页部分内容改编自本文).