What level of accountability to the students do the teachers have to meet curriculum goals? Is progress to these goals regularly communicated to the parents? By what means? Are there any opportunities to tailor the school day to allow for more physical activity/sports during the day?
Expert Answer
Regarding teachers’ accountability to students in meeting curriculum goals, it’s a good idea to contact the schools you’re interested in directly to get a better sense of this. If there are a few different private schools you’re interested in, you may like to see if you can connect with the teachers or visit the school if possible to speak with them directly about their experience and what they love about teaching. The school can also provide a sense of their physical activity programs and extracurricular activities to support their students’ health and wellbeing.
You may also be interested in reading more about the family-like bonds private school teachers develop with their students here: http://www.ourkids.net/school/just-like-family-boarding-builds-relationships and teachers’ passion for education here: http://www.ourkids.net/school/teachers-independent-schools-attract-good-people
You may also be interested in attending any of the upcoming Private School Expos where you can meet face-to-face with a number of different private school administrators and current students all in one place, as well as attend information seminars. Many parents find this helpful to learning more about private school education and narrowing down their choices: http://www.ourkids.net/expo/