To be successful in life, a person needs to build a resume. This consists of his or her work experience and academic achievements. These little pieces of information will play a big role in determining which jobs, positions, and opportunities each person receives. A major part of this resume involves college education. It is true that there are plenty of successful people in this world who never attended or graduated from college. Bill Gates who made a fortune creating Microsoft and Mark Zuckerberg who founded Facebook are two who come to mind. However, if you look at statistics, having a college degree is important for preparing yourself for future success in the job market.
This is why it is vital for parents to consider private school when deciding on where to send their children for a high school education. Studies have shown that private schools do a better job of getting their students into college than public schools. Also, once there, students who had a private school education tend to stay in college through graduation as compared to those who attended a public high school. With the growth of school choice in Florida, you and your child now have the opportunity to unlock the door to improved success that comes with a college degree.
Having a college degree improves your chances at future success
Although there are successful people in this world who never graduated with a college degree, the reality is that without at least a BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BS (Bachelor of Science), you are going to face a very difficult time out on the job market. For example, only 3% of all Top CEOs in America have no college degree. In contrast, 38% of CEOs have a Bachelors degree, and a staggering 60% hold either a Masters or PhD. This shows that having more education will be generally beneficial to your career.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the numbers. One of the main reasons why people work is to make money. If it was all fun, then they would call it play, not work. With that in mind, it is important to see that the median annual salary for college graduates in America is $45,000. This is significantly higher than the $30,000 median annual salary for those with only a high school diploma. That is over 50% more in earnings for the same amount of time. As a result, college graduates are 3.5 times less likely to live in poverty than someone with only a high school diploma.
If your child has a college degree, it is far less likely that he or she will be unemployed. In 2018, the US Census Bureau found that 83% of college graduates had a job. In contrast, only 68.8% of people with only a high school diploma were employed at that time.
Why is there so much value in a college degree? Businesses have found that colleges and universities produce people with leadership skills that they can take to the job. They also appreciate the skills they have learned in getting their Bachelor’s degrees. Some of this might be self evident, such as degrees in computer programming, architecture, business, and accounting. Still others may surprise you, like how a degree in studio arts can lead to a lucrative career in graphic design.
Finally, many business leaders like to hire recent graduates from their alma mater. They look at these young students and often see themselves, especially if they are graduating from the same college the executive attended.
What is the best way to get your child into college
So, now that we have established that the line on your resume for education has a great deal of value, we need to determine the best way to get your child into college. The short answer is that using school choice, you can get your child enrolled in a private school, increasing the chances that he or she will not only graduate high school on time, but also be admitted to college upon graduation.
How successful are private schools like Dade Prep Academy at getting students into college? Right now, only about 10% of all students attend a private high school nationwide. Yet, each year, 40% of the students graduating from Harvard University attended a private high school before college. While there is no guaranty that your child will attend Harvard upon graduating from private high school, it does increase his or her chances of admission.
In general, private schools do a better job of getting their students into college than public schools. In 2018, 64.5% of private school graduates enrolled in a four-year college, compared to only 44% of public high school graduates. This is a significant statistic, showing that private schools are committed to helping their students get admitted to colleges and universities. Once there, private school students have a better chance of staying through graduation to receive a Bachelor’s degree than a student who attended a public school.
There are a number of reasons for this. First, private schools tend to have smaller class sizes, with each guidance counselor having fewer students to advise. This provides real hands-on treatment for your child as he or she navigates his or her future. The guidance counselor will be able to get to know your child and provide better and more realistic options for college applications.
Private school students also score better on college entrance exams, such as the SAT and ACT. This has been borne out by studies conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). The NAEP and NAIS studies show that private school students outscore public high school students in every subject on college preparatory exams. These exams are crucial for determining college admissions.
Finally, private schools have more of a vested interest in seeing your child graduate and gain admission to college. At the end of the day, public school administrators aren’t judged by the success or failure of any particular students. Their main goal is to try to keep their students enrolled and get a diploma. What their students do after graduating is really not a major concern for public schools. This is in marked contrast to private schools. We know that you are making a major commitment in time and, sometimes, finances sending your son or daughter here. In return, we are committed to seeing your child take his or her high school diploma and use it as a stepping-stone to a college degree.
Building steps for the future
That resume will someday become a critical part of your child’s employment future. Attending a private school like Dade Prep Academy is a major step along the way. It is part of helping him or her get into college of their choice, leading to a Bachelor’s degree to unlock future career opportunities.
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.
