If we were to make a FAQ list for the questions we always get asked, the one that would be at the top of the list is, “Why should I make the financial and time commitment involved in sending my child to a private school?” The simple answer is that your child will get the kind of attention he or she needs to stay in school, receive the necessary education, and graduate with a high school diploma. If your child is at risk, the difference between a private school and public school education can literally be the key factor in whether he or she is able to graduate. This is because private schools like Dade Prep Academy offer smaller class sizes, more personalized attention, and early intervention if a problem manifests itself with your child. This is also why we accept kids with IEPs and 504 Plans. A private school like Dade Prep offers services that most public schools just cannot match.
Private school is a commitment
We don’t deny that private school represents a commitment from the parent and student. First, there is a financial component. Unlike free public schools, private school tuition requires a payment from parents. However, we offer a number of different scholarships like the McKay and Hope scholarship programs. In addition, Florida parents will soon have the power to apply the funds that would have gone to pay for their children to attend public school to a scholarship voucher program. This should cover all or most of the cost associated with attending a private school, making it more affordable, especially for lower and middle income households here in Florida.
Beyond the financial issue, there is also the commitment of time and effort from the parent and the student. Our academic program is much more focused than you are going to find at a public school. This is because we are able to design a program that meets the needs of the student. As a result, the family needs to be committed to helping us better assist their child in completing the program. Unlike a public school, a parent or guardian’s involvement is greater than simply dropping the child off in the morning and making sure to be there at pickup time. But, this commitment is rewarded with increased academic performance and a greater range of opportunities upon graduation.
Prep School students are more likely to graduate
Florida’s graduation rate for the 2021-2 academic year was 87.3%. This means that almost 13% of students failed to graduate from all high schools combined in Florida. If we dig deeper into the numbers, we see that Black and Hispanic students fell below this already troubling figure. 85.9% of Hispanic students enrolled in their senior year age graduated high school, while 82% of Black students graduated that year. These are very troubling figures, showing that many minority students are at risk of failing to get a high school diploma. There is also a gender component to this as well, as Black males were more likely to dropout than Black female students. In fact, more than 20% of Black male high school students dropped out.
Here in Miami-Dade County, the numbers were slightly better than across the state. 88.2% of students here were able to complete their high school education in 2021-2, a slightly better overall figure. Nevertheless, this is less than the figures for the 2019-20 and 2020-1 years. This downward trend shows that students in Florida in general and Miami-Dade County remain at risk of dropping out.
This is where private schools like Dade Prep come in. Private schools have a higher graduation rate than public schools. Studies have shown that private school students have a 96.4% chance of getting their high school diplomas on time, compared to the 87.3% figure for Florida and an 86% graduation rate for public schools nationwide. This figure also applies to Black and Hispanic high school students. So, when you make the commitment to a private school, you increase the likelihood that your child will complete high school and receive a diploma.
Better services for at risk students
At risk students are the ones who need more specialized attention than other students. They are the ones who require IEPs and 504 plans. They are the ones from disadvantaged households. They are the ones who may be living in a single parent household, often due to death, divorce, or incarceration. They may be kids who are bullied and abused, often due to things like race, class, ethnicity, sexual identity, or gender. These are the students most in need of a private school education.
This is no attack on public schools. They have the daunting task of educating an entire school district, often with tight budgets and overcrowded classrooms. This is frequently the case in lower income and predominantly minority demographic school districts. Even where there is strong community support, the numbers of trying to educate so many students makes intervening to assist and empower at risk students difficult if not impossible.
Private schools have smaller classes, better student to faculty ratios, and more resources to call on to assist at risk students. For example, we offer things like dropout prevention, ESOL and ELL accommodations, and mentorships, each of which helps in its own way to empower at risk students. We are able to identify students who are in danger of dropping out and intervening to address the problem, whether academic or otherwise. Then, we can work directly with the student and his or her family to address the issue, with follow up meetings if necessary. Our faculty and staff can do this because they have training to assist at risk students. They also can do this because of size, as of our ratio of faculty and staff to students provides us with the ability to give each student the attention he or she needs to complete our program and receive a high school diploma.
Class size is also an important factor for determining whether at an at risk student will be able to graduate. These are the kind of students who can feel like they are getting lost in the shuffle at public schools. The large class sizes at public school often prevents the pedagogue from being able to give each student the personalized attention many students may require. At a private school, the small class sizes allow teachers and instructors to truly get to know each student. This allows the faculty to get to know each and every student. If one is falling behind, the teacher will figure this out long before giving a midterm exam. A plan can then be developed to address the problem. If there are other issues, these can be addressed as well.
This will also allow our guidance counselors to assist the student and parents to chart an academic path toward success. No two students are exactly alike, and not all students excel at the same academic course types. While a public school doesn’t have the wherewithal to personalize an academic program, a private school like Dade Prep can take these steps. This will create an environment where your child can meet goals and even exceed expectations.
Private schools are worth the commitment
We understand that if you are like most parents here in the Miami-Dade community, you lead a very busy life. However, the commitment you make in sending your child to Dade Prep Academy will repay your investment, as we will do whatever it takes to help your child excel academically, and achieve to his or her best abilities. This is something that a private school like Dade Prep can do that is beyond the ability of most public schools.
Sources:
https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/articles/private-school-vs-public-school
https://www.solutionsbysss.com/blog/are-private-schools-ahead-of-public-schools/#:~:text=Private%20schools%20also%20excel%20in,at%20public%20and%20private%20schools.
https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7584/urlt/GradRates2122.pdf
