Choosing a Private School: A Comprehensive Guide

There are so many options available to parents who are thinking about sending their kids to private school. In the United States, there are about 34,500 private schools, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Several large cities have well over 1,000! Numerous religious and nonreligious groups are members of these schools. The schools that make up each organization each have their own distinct vibe or taste.

This detailed guide to the world of private schools is provided. This summary can help parents who are new to this world and parents who want to change. There are two sections to this manual. The primary distinctions between private and public education are described in the first part. The second half assists parents who are looking into private schooling for their kids in reducing down the hundreds of options to just a handful of top priorities.

What is Different about a Private School?

Private schools themselves, of course, differ greatly in terms of their offers, level of quality, culture, and price. However, there are several general areas where private schools and public schools are different, such as funding, accountability, independence, and selection.

Selectiveness

Nearly all pupils must be served by public schools according to the legislation. Charter schools and private institutions are not. Parents must fill out an application in order to enroll their children in a private school. Additionally, not all applying families are accepted. Some don't fit the requirements a particular school has.

These applications are evaluated by private schools based on a variety of factors. Most will assess a student's academic record and record of accomplishments. A believe statement or consideration of church affiliation may be required by religious schools. Elite private schools could also inquire about extracurricular activities or volunteer work.

The bottom line is that private schools have the right to be picky about the pupils they admit. The more selective a school is, the more prestigious or exclusive it is. Most parents think that being picky is a good thing. They want their kids to study among similarly driven, intelligent, and accomplished classmates.

Selectivity has yet another crucial component that deserves attention. Public schools are normally mandated to support pupils with special needs, whereas private schools are not. Parents who have children who have been identified as having a learning disability may want to bring this up during the application process. No matter how prominent the institution, enrolling a child in a program that is ill-equipped to satisfy his or her needs is a bad idea.

Accountability

Results in education are not subject to state oversight in private schools. Although it may seem shocking, this is the case. Private schools, however, answer to the parents of the kids (and in some cases a governing board). This makes it more important than ever for parents to be aware of what their children are learning and to voice any concerns they may have about the curriculum.

Parents who pay for private schools' tuition see the absence of state accountability as a benefit. Teachers are allowed to use the teaching methods they are passionate about in schools since they are not constrained by bureaucracy. However, the majority of parents lack educational expertise. They wouldn't feel comfortable paying for education that wasn't supervised or certified. They seek proof that a school's offerings are of a high caliber. Because of this, a lot of private schools pursue accreditation to show that their curriculum is up to par.

Independence

In public schools, teachers and administrators have minimal control over the curriculum. State education standards are followed when making decisions at the state and district levels. Private schools do, however, maintain their academic autonomy. They are not constrained by district, state, or local standards or curricula. Typically, teachers have a voice in the textbooks that the school selects. As long as they produce the results that parents (and typically accrediting agencies) desire, teachers also have a considerable deal of freedom in how they instruct.

State certification for teachers at private schools is frequently not required by law, despite the fact that many institutions do. Schools are free to employ subject-area specialists or teachers with professional expertise, which is a constructive way to look at things. The restrictions that come with a license are not applicable to teachers. Having uncertified teachers, however, can result in a decline in educational quality.

Funding

Wide-ranging effects result from the disparity in funding methods between public and private education. Parents never pay tuition at public schools. Instead, a jumble of state and municipal levies is used to pay for public schools. Grants of title are occasionally included. According to NPR, local taxes provide for 45% of school funding, the state for 45%, and the federal government for 10%.

Little or no funding is provided to private schools by the municipal, state, or federal governments. Instead, the majority of their funding comes from parents and donors. The three primary sources of funding are tuition, grants, and fundraising, according to GreatSchools. Additionally, a parent group or denomination may provide money to a religious school.

Last but not least, certain states, like Georgia, provide education assistance (sometimes known as "school choice" or "voucher") programs that can pay for students who meet certain criteria to attend private schools.

Considerations for Choosing a Private School

Knowing the primary distinctions between public and private schools is just the beginning. It's one thing for parents to choose to send their kids to a private school. But selecting the best one is a different matter. This is valid in part due to the sheer volume of private schools. In the Chicagoland region, GreatSchools lists a staggering 1,230 private schools! Although not every city has such statistics, there are many options for cities of all sizes.

For most families, selecting a school is a very personal decision. No manual can by itself direct people to the ideal institution. Parents should instead utilize these criteria to reduce your choices to the top 3 or top 5. The parents must then decide what is best for their families.

Budget

Private schools are expensive. Some are inexpensive, while others are pricey. The average high school tuition at Catholic institutions is above $9000, according to TheStreet. Over $28,000 is the typical non-sectarian school cost. Additionally, Forman in Litchfield, Connecticut, is the most costly in the nation. It costs a staggering $62,000 a year.

The budget for the family needs to be carefully examined by the parents before moving forward with the process. How much money is offered for each child? Is there anything the family would like to forgo in order to pursue private education? What are the reputable schools in their city that they can afford to attend? Many families find it difficult to meet the aforementioned averages and therefore search for institutions with lower tuition costs.

Do Not Ignore Scholarships

Both parents and students can search for available scholarships. At the college level, merit- or achievement-based scholarships are more prevalent, although there are some available to high school students as well. There are certain schools that offer indexed tuition that scales based on need, such Gaston Day School south of Charlotte, North Carolina. The most elite private day schools accept a specific amount of scholarship students and have their own endowments.

In other words, it doesn't harm to inquire about scholarship options at a school if money is the only roadblock.

If it's available in your state, use school choice

In 14 states plus the District of Columbia, some parents have access to school choice voucher schemes. A useful resource is provided by the Education Commission of the States. Programs fall into a number of distinct categories, and each one has a particular eligibility requirement. Inquire about any voucher-style programs that are available in your state if you are a low- or middle-income parent interested in sending your child to private school.

Spiritual or not?

When choosing a private school, parents must determine whether they want their kids to attend a religious institution. Of course, devout parents won't have a hard time making this choice. And for those parents, the school's affiliation or denomination is frequently significant enough to take precedence over other considerations.

But what about nonreligious parents? 10% of students in the country, according to the Council for American Private Education, attend private schools, with 78% of them attending religious institutions. Some nonreligious or nominally religious parents nevertheless opt for religious education because they believe it instills values or character.

It's also critical to recognize the diversity of religious instruction. Some Evangelical Christian schools include their religion heavily into their curricula. Others provide a largely secular education delivered by Christian educators. Every few weeks, they would sprinkle one or two chapels. Evangelical schools and Jewish schools have quite diverse cultures from one another.

Location, Location, Location

Bus transportation is not provided by the great majority of private schools. As a result, location becomes crucial in parents' decision-making. A school will probably be removed from the list if it is not conveniently located for students' homes or places of employment. Even though there are over a thousand private schools in Chicago, most families can only give the ones that are near to where they live considerable consideration. This reduces the 1200 schools on most families' lists to, at most, a few dozen.

Class Size

Quality may be determined by factors like class size or the student-to-teacher ratio. It's a proximate indicator of how much individual students are likely to receive in terms of attention. According to conventional thinking, classes with fewer pupils benefit because teachers can give each student more individual attention. The student-to-teacher ratio is often low at prestigious schools. Class size in public schools is inversely correlated with funding; greater funding results in smaller classrooms, and less funding results in larger classes.

Parents typically give preference to schools with smaller class sizes. But keep in mind that class sizes in Catholic schools are frequently greater than usual. Class size comparisons for parents looking primarily for Catholic education should be made with other Catholic schools in the area rather than nonsectarian ones.

Enrollment and Stability

The sizes of private schools vary greatly. Parents looking for a specific atmosphere (big school vs. small school) should take enrolment figures and class size into consideration. Schools with higher student populations typically have the resources to provide more extracurriculars and electives. Schools with fewer students may have stronger parent engagement. They might also provide less obvious advantages like the sense of a tight-knit community.

Parents could enquire about enrollment figures and request historical information. Small class sizes are nice, but not if they were only made possible by a consistent (or sharp) decline in attendance. Instead, this is probably a sign that the school is unhealthy.

Accreditation

Accreditation fulfills a crucial role because private schools are not obligated to adhere to state standards, recruit licensed teachers, or use a district- or state-mandated curriculum. While state boards or local organizations typically accredit public schools, this is not always the case (or both). Additionally, how well kids perform on tests and how closely the school adheres to district directives are typically the deciding factors.

The key external indicator that a private school is accomplishing its declared goals is accreditation. This is because of the already described independence and disparity in accountability. The range of what is reviewed is significantly greater, thus the procedure is usually more comprehensive.

Numerous accrediting organizations support the community of private schools. Some of these groups are on a national, regional, or state level. The list is provided by the CAPE Network. The selection of the "best" agency is outside the purview of this article because the criteria used by these agencies differ.

Private schools are not required to be accredited, and there are undoubtedly some excellent institutions that forgo certification in favor of greater autonomy. However, many approved colleges and universities demand that their applicants have graduated from an accredited high school, as noted by the Florida Department of Education. Parents should examine whether sending their kids to an unaccredited private school will hurt their chances of getting into a good college.

Extracurriculars

Despite being a TV stereotype, the private school lacrosse or field hockey squad is based on fact. Many extracurricular activities, some of which parents won't find at the neighborhood public high school, are frequently offered by private schools. These extracurricular activities could include less popular sports like lacrosse or field hockey, a curriculum that immerses students in a foreign language, Latin or religious studies classes, or a more in-depth approach to the arts.

However, there are a few significant limitations. First off, not all private schools will offer the same courses or have the same goals. Parents should look for a school with initiatives and emphasises that complement the skills and interests of their kids. Second, private schools offering "exclusive" extracurriculars have at least one drawback. Private schools frequently don't offer certain activities or programs that are offered at public schools (such football, cooking, or vocational training).

Culture

Many people associate private schools with snobbish, uniformed rich children attending classes in opulent (but very old) buildings. TV clichés are partially at fault here as well. Private schools do, however, each have their own distinct cultures. Some people might very well fit the mold. Some societies value and foster positive behavior. Others are renowned for their focus on science and technology, for their culture of discipline and excellence, or for their immersive artistic approach.

Parents are aware of the culture they want for their kids and the types of environments in which they will thrive. Parents should visit a school's campus, speak with teachers, and ask parents of existing students about the school's culture. By doing this, they may determine whether the culture of potential schools is a good fit for their children.

Student Outcomes

Although the topics addressed up to this point are all significant, student outcomes are the true indicator of a private school's excellence. What percentage of grads are accepted into colleges? And before that, what is the high school graduation rate? What colleges and universities have accepted graduates? Parents who want their kids to attend Ivy League colleges must actually choose a private school with a track record of graduating students who have been admitted into Ivy League institutions.

Information on student results will be easily available from strong private schools. Many people will post this data on their websites. A school that is unable or unwilling to give this information should be avoided.

Conclusion

Finding the ideal school is challenging. It will require some time. However, it's lot simpler for parents who know exactly what they're looking for. No private school guide can definitively identify the best school for every family. But by taking into account the ideas presented in this manual, modern families can decide precisely what they desire in a private school. They can start their search with clarity and detail, and they can make their final decision with assurance.

How to Choose a Career after High School

"It's time to start thinking about your future!" You know your parents mean it if they say this to you after you graduate from high school. It's time to start planning your ideal future. When you were a kid and someone asked you, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" You received responses ranging from astronaut to racing car driver. However, now is the time to take your dreams to the next level by taking the first step toward realizing them: being practical and understanding how to choose a career. It is not the easiest thing to do because there are so many possibilities. Discover how to select a career after high school.

Making a Career Decision After High School

Almost all students struggle with the decision of what career to choose once they graduate from high school. However, with the right preparation and in-depth self-reflection, you might get a little bit closer to finding your dream job. The world continues beyond high school. When you are free of lockers, gym classes, and teachers nagging you about your homework, life truly begins. It is up to you as an adult to give consideration to the choices you make in order to accomplish your goals in life. It's crucial to consider all of your educational options, including college, community college, trade school, or the military, while choosing a career. You ought to start planning for the future by your junior year of high school.

1. Recognize what you enjoy

The first step in choosing a career path is simple: think about what you value and enjoy, as well as what you don't. Think about your interests, hobbies, favorite movies and TV shows, and anything else that can help you gain perspective. Then reflect on the reasons each activity appeals to you. Do you like volunteering, for instance? If the answer is yes, you might be considering a career in nursing or charity work. Do you like playing soccer for the team? Then it's possible that you value cooperation and group dynamics. You might consider your life's interests and how you might be able to obtain a job that involves something you really enjoy after completing this task.

2. What topics do you enjoy?

Consider going to school. What topics are you most interested in? This is an excellent place to start when figuring out how to choose a career after high school. Engineering, technology, or medicine may be for you if you appreciate math and science. Enjoy playing sports? Maybe you'd like a job like landscaping where you can be active and spend time outside. Concentrate on subjects where you know you can succeed if you plan to continue your education. Are you someone who doesn't enjoy school? If this is the case, you might be eager to get to work right away and start making money. Consider taking an apprenticeship so that you can learn new skills while working.

3. Consider taking career evaluation exams

You can find the ideal career for you with the help of a range of career evaluation tests. Your tastes, skill set, and personality all play a role in this. It compares your advantages and disadvantages to a number of jobs and suggests the best one for you. It is a valuable tool for reducing your options even though it is not a comprehensive plan for determining your future.

4. Recognize your day

You will only be left with the options that are most suited to you after eliminating those that do not match your skills and interests. To become the character is the current problem. If you want to be a doctor, you can picture yourself performing operations, but if you are an introvert, a job in marketing is not for you. You can assess your ability to handle the demands of your job by putting yourself in that situation.

5. Evaluate your alternatives

Although industry advancements in these sectors should also be taken into account, interest and skill set should be the main factors. While some are more specialized and have fewer opportunities, certain industries feature several job opportunities. For your expertise, certain will pay you well, but in certain cases you might need to look for alternative funding sources. Whether you choose to think rationally or emotionally is entirely up to you. To survive as an artist and succeed, you will need both patience and financial assistance. Your enthusiasm ought to come first. However, you must adopt a realistic strategy if you want success and a steady stream of revenue.

6. Ask for advice

Speak to those who are already familiar with you. Since you are more familiar with yourself, you should decide. Ask your counselor for help on job alternatives. Get your parents' opinion after learning about their financial position. Because some parents have higher expectations for their children than others, consider whether it is a good idea for your parents to encourage your academic endeavors. Proceed with your decision if you believe you can meet their expectations by doing so. If not, look for additional sources of funding for your interest.

7. Examine fascinating professions

Do your research on the careers you're considering. Make a profile for each position that includes the job description, salary, educational requirements, and employment prospects. Examine each profile objectively, and try to picture yourself performing the required duties. You must, however, consider every factor. For instance, you might be able to picture yourself performing open-heart surgery while wearing scrubs, but if you detest biology and can't picture spending years in medical school, then medicine might not be the right career for you.

Finding someone who is already employed in the industry you want to pursue and asking them about their experiences is the best thing you can do in this circumstance. This is what Harvard Business Review refers to as an "informational interview." If you keep the interview brief and arrive prepared with a list of inquiries about the career and the route to it, you'll get the most out of it.

8. Take a look at higher education

Limit your options and look for a career with room for growth. While picking a vocation that will challenge you is important, it's also important to be realistic about the job market. If you decide to go to college, you must select a career that will enable you to support yourself when you graduate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics gathers data on almost every job imaginable, including salary data and predictions of job growth. For recent high school graduates searching for decent full-time jobs, this is a great place to start.

9. Limit potential career paths

You've definitely spent months, if not years, thinking about your future job. The next step is to compile a list of careers that appeal to you. Then, start researching each option thoroughly. Examine the training requirements and potential career paths for each position. Is there a growth or decline in the market's demand? What is the entry-level pay in the industry? Make sure you are satisfied with the pay range and the educational requirements. You must decide whether you still want to follow a particular career, for instance, if it requires a lot of science coursework and you struggle with the subject.

10. Specify your objectives

Think about your long-term professional goals. Do you desire to succeed financially? Can you help other people? Do you wish to support your neighborhood? Do you employ youngsters? Be honest with yourself and take some time to think about your objectives because everyone has different ambitions for themselves and their careers. This might make choosing the right career easier for you. The most crucial step in How to Choose a Career after High School is this one.

11. Work to expand your experience

Gaining experience can help you determine whether your remaining job possibilities are a good fit for you now that you've reduced your options. Look into getting a work experience placement if your school allows it. These placements often give you academic credit and practical experience in your field. Work experience can be very helpful for students, even if you decide not to follow that particular career. You might broaden your networks and skill set, gain knowledge of the workplace, and it will look great on your resume. Another fantastic way to gain experience is through volunteering. You might be able to decide whether you want to pursue that employment by volunteering even a few hours a week.

A volunteer or work-study program is available in almost every profession. Some people work as veterinarians, in offices, or as volunteers in community parks, on clean-up projects for the city, or in summer camps. Several techniques exist for obtaining experience. You might also look for a part-time position. If you wish to work in management, for instance, a career in retail may teach you about some of the duties associated with that role, such as making schedules, placing orders, and handling timesheets.

Conclusion

Do you now understand how to choose a career route better? Yes, it's a big decision, but it can also be pleasurable and teach you a lot about who you are. Start planning your future careers and self-discovery path now. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to achieving your goals. You may find it challenging to make the right career choice because it will affect your future. However, remember that the decision is solely yours. So use common sense, make a plan for implementing your choice, then follow it.

15 Best Online High Schools

As students, parents, and educators see the value of online education, an increasing number of institutions are opting to go online. Examine what makes online colleges an excellent alternative!

Students who attend online institutions can receive academic credentials that are recognized and accepted all around the world. Online classes can provide students with the opportunity to interact with a diverse, global, and intercultural group of students, as well as provide international students with a unique cultural experience, and studying online has become a legitimate pathway into world-renowned international universities.

Finding the perfect online school can expand a student's educational opportunities well beyond what they might be able to encounter in their immediate surroundings, and it can help kids who have struggled in regular institutions shine.

Students who attend online schools obtain academic credentials that are recognized and acknowledged all around the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened public interest in online high schools. While brick-and-mortar public and private high schools have adapted to intermittent remote instruction with different degrees of success, virtual schools and their teachers have years of experience offering highly structured, relevant, and engaging instruction remotely. College Transitions has compiled a list of the top 15 online high schools in the United States, along with their physical location, the year they were founded, their tuition rate, a brief summary of their course offerings, and five interesting facts about each school, including SAT/ACT scores and recent college acceptances, when available. There are links to the schools so you may simply discover more about each possible online institution.

1. Stanford University Online High School

Physical location: Redwood City, California

Year Established: 2006

Tuition: $28,160 per year

Course offerings: Many AP courses are available, as well as 25 post-AP and university-level courses.

Quick facts:

• 64% of professors have doctorates in their areas.
• The typical class size is 13 people.
• There are 903 students enrolled in total.
• Financial aid is received by 12% of students.
• Graduates have an average SAT score of 1482.

2. Davidson Academy Online

Physical location: Reno, Nevada

Year established: 2006

Tuition: $14,595

Course offerings: Students develop a Personalized Learning Plan (PLP). The courses are difficult but do not have AP credit. Many students continue to take AP exams.

Quick facts:

• This school is for pupils who score 99.9% or higher on nationally normed intellect exams.
• The average SAT at the institution is 1529, while the average ACT is 34.8.
• Students have gone on to study at universities such as Caltech, Rice, Carnegie Mellon, the University of Chicago, and Yale.
• At this school, there is no such thing as a class rank.
• In one recent graduating class, 14 students were dubbed AP Scholars.

3. University of Texas High School

Physical location: Austin, Texas

Year established: 1999

Tuition: Texas citizens pay no tuition; non-residents pay $3,600.

Course offerings: Courses are available in 60 subjects, including numerous AP and IB alternatives.

Quick facts:

• There are 800 full-time students enrolled.
• Graduates have gone on to attend universities such as MIT, Cornell, USC, NYU, and Johns Hopkins.
• Non-Texas residents can participate in an IB Program.
• The average SAT score for students was 1170.
• The courses are NCAA-approved for collegiate athletes who meet the eligibility standards.

4. George Washington University Online High School

Physical location: Ashburn, Virginia

Year established: 2011

Tuition: $12,000 per year

Course offerings: Provides 16 AP courses as well as education in five international languages.

Quick facts:

• All grads are accepted to four-year colleges.
• Swarthmore, Columbia, Harvard, and Stanford have all recently accepted students.
• Scholarships totaling $2.7 million have been offered to GW graduates.
• The average SAT score is 1221, while the average ACT score is 26.
• The typical graduating GPA is 3.22.

5. Laurel Springs School

Physical location: West Chester, Pennsylvania

Year established: 1991

Tuition: $1,175-1,775 (depending on course selection)

Course offerings: 22 AP courses as well as honors choices for the majority of areas.

Quick facts:

• Over 75% of AP test takers receive a "3" or higher.
• Georgia, UMich, Columbia, Cornell, and Dartmouth are among the colleges that have accepted him.
• The average SAT score was 1180, while the average ACT score was 24.6. Eighty-eight percent of instructors hold master's degrees.
• Laurel Springs students make up 72% of those enrolled.

6. CompuHigh/Whitmore School

Physical location: Morgantown, WV

Year established: 1994

Tuition: $1,599 per year

Course offerings: Does not provide AP courses, but does offer a wide range of courses (including honors alternatives) in English, Math, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, the Fine Arts, and Computer Science.

Quick facts:

• Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Duke, Georgetown, Dartmouth, and Yale are among the colleges that have accepted him.
• Many serious athletes, singers, and actors/actresses are among the alumni.
• Students have the entire year to complete their courses at their own speed.
• You will meet with teachers and a guidance counselor one-on-one.
• You can pay more for extra arithmetic tutoring or guidance.

7. James Madison High School

Physical location: Norcross, Georgia

Year established: 1996

Tuition: $1,630-$2,300

Course offerings: A full high school curriculum as well as various online college dual enrollment opportunities.

Quick facts:

• Acceptances to colleges include NYU, Penn State, Pitt, Cornell, and Georgia Tech.
• James Madison works with a large number of adult students, athletes, and homeschoolers.
• The school's parent institution is Ashworth College.
• Students can transfer up to 75% of their credits, but a full year at JMHS is required to get a diploma.
• Every year, around 2,500 students graduate from the school.

8. Indiana University High School

Physical location: Bloomington, Indiana

Year established: 1925 (as distance learning school)

Tuition: $231 per course

Course offerings: Three AP courses are available, as well as language opportunities in French, German, and Spanish.

Quick facts:

• Graduates have gone on to attend Indiana University and Ivy League schools such as Harvard and Columbia.
• College Prep, General Education, and Academic Honors are the three diploma tracks available.
• Athletes with NCAA permission can train to play at a Division I or II school.
• Cognia fully accredited, which acknowledges "institutions that have demonstrated an excellent commitment to continuous development and learner outcomes."
• Courses have a time limit of 26 weeks.

9. Northstar Academy

Physical location: Southaven, Mississippi

Year established: 1997

Tuition: $4,315

Course offerings: Northstar offers 200 core courses, as well as 21 Advanced Placement Courses.

Quick facts:

• The average SAT is 1243, and the average ACT is 25.
• Approximately 70% of recent graduates enrolled in a four-year college.
• Hamilton College, Northeastern University, the University of Wisconsin, and Dartmouth College have all accepted students.
• The school is Christian in nature.
• Over 3,000 children in grades 4-12 are enrolled.

10. University of Nebraska High School

Physical location: Lincoln, Nebraska

Year established: 1929 (for distance education)

Tuition: $250 per course ($50 off for citizens of the state).

Course offerings: There are over 100 courses available, including AP and dual enrollment possibilities.

Quick facts:

• Students have been accepted to institutions such as Yale, Brown, Wellesley, Vassar, and Purdue since 2010.
• Cognia accredited, and the school satisfies NCAA standards.
• Justin Timberlake, Andy Roddick, and Brittany Spears are among the alumni.
• In 2013, the institution joined the University of Nebraska's online network and was rebranded.
• There is a 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio.

11. Mizzou Academy

Physical location: Columbia, Missouri

Year established: 1999

Tuition: $300 per course (in-state); $500 per course (out-of-state)

Course offerings: 230 subjects, a variety of electives, 9 AP courses, and 23 foreign languages.

Quick facts:

• Currently, nearly 7,000 students from 50 states and 40 countries are enrolled in at least one course.
• MU High has graduated a number of Olympic competitors and rising sports stars.
• Graduates score a 25 on the ACT, which is more than three points better than the state average.
• The institution employs 10 course designers/developers in addition to 45 full-time instructors.
• Over the last five years, "A" and "B" grades were issued in 80% of cases.

12. The Keystone School

Physical location: Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Year established: 1974 (for correspondence courses)

Tuition: $399-549 per class

Course offerings: There are 120 high school courses available, including eight AP subjects and five global languages.

Quick facts:

• The institution currently has over 10,000 pupils enrolled.
• At least one college accepts 80% of graduates.
• The average SAT score is 1114, while the average ACT score is 22.6.
• Maria Sharapova, the tennis great, is a graduate.
• Students have gone on to attend universities such as Notre Dame, West Point, Duke, and Stanford.

13. Florida Virtual School

Physical location: Orlando, Florida

Year established: 2009

Tuition: Free (Florida residents); $800 per course (non-residents)

Course offerings: 15 AP courses and a similar number of honors courses.

Quick facts:

• Last year, FLVS serviced 240,000 (not a typo) students.
• The average SAT score is higher than the national average.
• FLVS is a unique online high school that employs a ranking system.
• It follows the same calendar as a regular school.
• West Point, Harvard, American University, Barnard College, and Babson College are among the colleges that have accepted him.

14. Oak Meadow School

Physical location: Brattleboro, Vermont

Year established: 1975 (distance learning)

Tuition: $1,545 per course

Course offerings: There are numerous alternatives within each major discipline, but no honors or AP courses are available.

Quick facts:

• There are 600 students from all over the world registered.
• Bard College, Cornell University, Northwestern University, UCLA, and Yale have all recently accepted students.
• Standardized testing is ideologically opposed at this school.
• Oak Meadow is accredited by six separate agencies in the United States, and it allows dual enrollment and will accept credit earned at other universities.

15. Christa McAuliffe School of Arts and Sciences

Physical location: Lake Oswego, Oregon

Year established: 2009

Tuition: $6,495-$9,495 (depending on level of service)

Course offerings: Provides a wide range of honors and AP options, as well as an in-house curriculum.

Quick facts:

• Graduates from the University of Michigan, Bryn Mawr College, the University of Texas at Austin, and Purdue University have recently graduated.
• Science laboratories and certain AP courses have additional expenses.
• Courses are largely mastery-based, and students must score at least 80% to pass.
• CMASAS has its own chapter of the National Honor Society.
• The "Personal Learning Model" provides students a lot of freedom in their classes.

17 Relaxing Music Videos for Calming Down Your Classroom

During study breaks, playing some soothing music might help everyone relax and refuel so we're ready to take on the rest of the day.

1. Happy Background Music for Children

Calming music to give developing minds a much-needed breather. 

2. Happy Relaxing Music for Children

After a difficult morning, this upbeat hang-drum song is the ideal remedy. 

3. Relaxing Guitar Music

Let this guitar's strumming soothe your anxieties!

4. Instrumental Background Music for the Classroom

This is a good collection of instrumental classroom background music.

5. Relaxing Music for Stress Relief

Your worries will be washed away by the undersea sounds. 

6. Calming Music for Children in the Classroom

Make a good atmosphere for learning so that people may write, read, study, or do their assignments.

7. Fine Art Music and Paintings

Set to a slide display of gorgeous paintings, the music of Debussy and others. 

8. Relaxing Music & Ocean Waves 

Busy minds can benefit greatly from the rhythmic and relaxing sounds of the ocean. 

9. Happy Relaxing Guitar Music for Children

This video's lovely plucking has such an uplifting, revitalizing feeling. 

10. Relaxing Nature Sounds

Enjoy the sounds of birds tweeting and water rushing. 

11. Minecraft Soundtrack

This musical soundtrack is excellent for a breather between courses even if your pupils don't like Minecraft. 

12. Instrumental Music to Relax

Guitar and keyboard are used in this soothing video. 

13. Morning Relaxing Music For Children

A excellent option for calming music in the classroom in the middle of the morning. 

14. Positive Background Music for Kids

The perfect video for a well-deserved rest or even for studying is really motivating and pleasant. 

15. Classical Music for Kids in the Classroom

The "Four Seasons, Concerto No. 4 in F minor" by Vivaldi is performed on the violin in this clip.

16. 3 Minute Timer with Music for Kids!

Time management can be aided by watching this tenacious three-minute timer video. To listen to classical music, visit this site. Attempt the one-minute, five-minute, and twenty-minute timers as well.

17. Relaxing Music for Children with Animals

Perfect for encouraging serenity and mindfulness as well as a love of nature and the environment.

4 Best PSAT Test Prep Tips

Many students are unsure if they should study for the PSAT, which is a "preliminary" or practice test by definition. Yes, getting a feel for the test and a rough idea of how you might do on the SAT is the major objective if you take it in your freshman or sophomore year. These "baseline" scores can assist you in determining your goals for college entrance and show you how much additional preparation you may need for the SAT or ACT. The PSAT/NMSQ, however, is more important in the junior year because it is the best indicator of your junior SAT score. Furthermore, your achievement can get you a National Merit Scholarship, a college scholarship, and help you stand out on college applications.

The PSAT is made to be a little simpler than the SAT because you'll probably take it in 9th or 10th grade and because it's meant to be SAT practice. You get more time per question than on the SAT because it is a shorter test (On the reading and math without calculator sections).

The best benefit of investing time in your PSAT preparation is that the ideas, tactics, and techniques you acquire will transfer to the SAT as well. Additionally, performing well on the PSAT often predicts success on the SAT. We'll discuss some of the top strategies for PSAT preparation in this article from our team of specialists. Remember that these also apply to the SAT.

The following advice will position you for success if you're prepared to start preparing for the PSAT:

1. Assemble your team and materials

Remembering that you're not traveling alone on this adventure is crucial when you first set out. You have a number of resources at your disposal, including teachers, tutors, PSAT prep courses, classmates, and online assistance. Reviewing official PSAT tests, which you can get on CollegeBoard, is a wonderful place to start. You'll get a sense of the kinds of inquiries you'll encounter. The level of assistance you might require can then be decided.

Be truthful to yourself. Many students may require a tutor to help them stay on task while others may be self-motivated and devote the necessary time and effort to studying and practicing on their own. If you fall somewhere in the middle, consider starting a prep group with friends who frequently get together to keep each other on track. Or maybe you decide to combine home study with attending a prep class.

As you get started, make sure you have access to a number of official practice exams as well as resources that can aid in your understanding of topics and tactics. There are many free materials available online or at your local library. Here, CollegeBoard provides PSAT assistance. You can practice and prepare with the fantastic tools that Khan Academy has created. We advise using the Official SAT Study Guide and then taking authentic PSAT tests for practice if you decide to buy a study guide.

2. Strengthen your base

Like other standardized tests, the PSAT was developed to assess your mastery of material you have already studied in school. Therefore, going through previous notes from math, reading, and English classes can be helpful. Here are some more useful hints. We advise you to:

• Spending time reading is one of the best strategies to increase vocabulary and reading comprehension. Look for books that will interest and amuse you, and read as much as you can outside of your allocated academics.
• Develop your reading speed. You might uncover several strategies to improve your reading speed by performing a fast Google search. For instance, you can get used to scanning, focusing on key words, and using your finger as a compass. In order to comprehend what you're reading more fully, you should also see whether making notes in the form of circles, underlines, and scribbles helps. Finding what works for you and honing your timing while taking the test will be much easier with practice.
• Learn Greek and Latin Roots to Expand Your Vocabulary. Long-term, this can save you a ton of time. Greek and Latin words make up a sizable portion of the English language, and once you grasp their origins, your vocabulary expands on its own. For instance, you can infer that amicable means friendly if you know that amic is the Latin word for friend.

3. Develop Your Talents Through Practice

In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell explains his belief that it takes 10,000 hours of effort to become a master at something like playing the violin. Not to worry! Although we don't recommend you spend that much time studying for the PSAT, the high number supports our claim that practicing is the best method to get ready for the test. It all comes down to becoming accustomed to the time and testing methodology. Therefore, to make your practice test as similar as feasible to the actual test, be sure to imitate the testing atmosphere. You ought to:

• Don't take the test digitally; there is a difference, so print it out instead.
• Use bubble wrap
• Time yourself using the exact amount of time provided for each area of the test.
• Try to complete it all at once.

4. Finishing Touches: Advice and Techniques

It's possible that our PSAT/SAT tutors have assisted students with tests after tests for close to 10,000 hours. As a result, they have developed test-taking techniques that go beyond your conceptual understanding. Here are some of their useful advice that you can use while you get ready:

• Put the simple questions first. Even if you have to move around a bit while taking the test, concentrate on responding to the questions that are simple or quick for you. Since all of the questions are equally important, you should move on to all of the ones you believe you can answer without spending time on the more challenging ones. After that, you'll go back and respond to those you missed.
• VERY CAREFULLY read the questions and answers. Understanding what the PSAT and SAT examiners are searching for is a difficulty in and of itself. A simple word in a question can occasionally cause you to veer off course. Make sure you comprehend the question's specific requirements. If required, read it three times. Repeat with the solutions. These frequently have parts of truth while omitting a word or phrase to render the response choice false.
• Use the same letter selection each time you guess the answer if you are. The odds are greater if you continuously stick with one letter rather than guessing randomly because history shows that each right response option gets selected around the same number of times.

How To Save Money As a Teenager

Saving for your first significant purchase is difficult, especially when money is tight. The good news is that you can do anything if you have a strategy and the willpower to do it. Check out our advice on how to save money as a teen, whether you're hoping to upgrade your phone or land the next big career.

1. Make a budget for teens to keep track of your spending.

A budget could seem a little frightening. However, managing your finances can be as easy as writing down every penny you spend over the course of a week or a month. You could discover that this is a good place to start because the majority of us prefer to spend more money on the weekends.

Setting boundaries and goals comes when you have a general understanding of where your money flows. Download the Suncorp App and test Dollar Tracker if you have an everyday Suncorp Bank account. Your expenditure will be divided into 14 distinct categories, such as apparel, entertainment, and food, with this simple and free service.

Also read: Learn How to Teach English Online

2. Increase your savings rate.

Whether your objective is to purchase a car or stay up with the latest technology, start with a goal and break it down into manageable chunks that can add up over time. Here are some strategies you may use to boost your savings:

• Bring your lunch to work or school rather than purchasing it every day as a substitute for any regular spending.
• Think about unusual jobs that friends or family could need assistance with, like mowing the lawn, watching the kids, or walking the dog. Always talk to your parent or other primary caregiver before beginning any new projects.
• Love clothes? The best method to satisfy your need for fashion without going broke is to visit your neighborhood thrift store.

The secret to keeping something is to feel good about it. The same holds true for saving. Personalize the names of your accounts to serve as a reminder of the wonderful things you are saving for, or keep pictures of your goals close at hand to stay inspired. By visualizing your objectives, you might be able to stop any impulsive spending.

3. Find the right bank account

One of the most important first steps in building your savings is selecting the ideal bank and account type. Some accounts, like the Everyday Options account from Suncorp, allow for both saving and regular banking activities. You can open up to nine extra savings subaccounts with this standard account. With the help of this functionality, you can save money for particular costs in their own sub-account, which may earn interest as your balance rises. You may be able to resist the need to spend money if you save it in a separate account. Be aware that opening an account may require approval from your legal guardian if you are a younger account holder. All Suncorp bank accounts also provide you access to Suncorp Benefits, which give you the opportunity to receive savings of up to 15% at renowned retailers like Myer and JB Hi-Fi.

4. Make the most of student discounts

Your student ID card is more than simply a card with a cringe-worthy picture of you on it. You can get discounts like reduced cinema tickets and discounted public transportation by using it as well. Many establishments and services may advertise that they provide student discounts, but if you're interested in what's available or need more details, it doesn't hurt to inquire or do a little Googling.

The Department of Human Services can assist you in your search for any financial benefits that might be available to you as a young person, whether or not you are currently enrolled in school and regardless of whether you are eligible for payments or services supplied by the government. For instance, just like a student ID, Centrelink's low-income Health Care Card entitles you to reduced community services.

Also read: Teaching English Abroad

5. Consider getting a part-time job

For many young Australians, working a part-time job is a necessary transition. If you're a student, you might be able to find consistent part-time job in the business, hotel, or retail sectors. If these industries don't suit your interests, you could look into others and see if anyone is recruiting there.

Making your own money is the best method to increase your savings, and realizing how long it takes you to make $50 may be enough to stop you from engaging in compulsive buying (making you think about whether you really need those new sneakers).

6. Sell your unwanted stuff

It doesn't take much to amass a collection of things you don't use or need. The good news is that by selling your unwanted stuff, you can immediately generate extra cash. It doesn't matter if you decide to utilize a website, an app, or organize a traditional garage sale; you might be better off with the money (to put right into your savings account, of course) and the knowledge that your old books are being read rather than taking up space on your shelf. Don't forget to ask a responsible adult for assistance if you require it.

Also read: How to Teach English in Korea

Saving money may be enjoyable and is a crucial part of maturing. The dull (but significant) advantage of saving now is that it may aid in the development of your capacity to handle your finances, increasing your likelihood of having funds as you mature.

15 Things to Know About the College Rankings from U.S. News

Despite the enormous popularity of U.S. News and World Report's college rankings, very few families are aware of how they are developed.

Here are 15 things you should know about U.S. News' college rankings before you put too much stock in them.

1. U. S. news relies on rankings to stay alive.

Despite the fact that the titan of rankings is a mere shadow of what it once was, U.S. News' college rankings are extremely influential. A long time ago, U.S. News struggled to maintain a sufficient number of subscribers.

U.S. News publishes false rankings for all kinds of items, including hospitals, autos, diets, high schools, law firms, holidays, cruises, and health insurance, in order to stay in business.

2. U.S. News’ college rankings have encouraged institutional bad behavior.

One of the main factors for rising college costs and fostering dishonest admission practices is U.S. News' college rating system.

The acts of the audience that cares the most about the data - college presidents and their boards of trustees, and consequently, their admission offices - have negatively impacted millions of students as a result of the rankings race.

These people have a simple (albeit seriously faulty) scorecard provided by US News to gauge how their institutions are doing, and they become upset if their school's rating stagnates or, worse, declines.

3. The college rankings formula can be gamed.

Many universities have discovered the secret to rising through the rankings.

One of the universities that worked tirelessly to raise its ranks was Northeastern University. Two decades ago, Northeastern was viewed as a commuter school serving blue-collar students that was saddled with an ugly campus and was of the third tier.

However, a new college president soon took office and became utterly committed to salvaging the organization by doing everything in his power to raise its U.S. News ranking.

There's little doubt that the system encourages gaming, according to the Northeastern president, who was reported as saying this in a Boston Magazine article about this Cinderella story four years ago.

Northeastern, which is currently a very popular destination, is ranked No. 40 in the prestigious national university category by U.S. News. It was ranked No. 162 twenty years ago, and nobody outside of Boston had ever heard of it.

Another struggling commuter school, George Washington University, was able to attract wealthy students by cracking the U.S. News college rankings code. These students could afford to pay more for a bachelor's degree, which in turn attracted more well-off youngsters.

Here is a Washington Monthly piece that discusses how ranking manipulation propelled GWU to the top of the list. It is now ranked No. 56 in the category of national universities.

4. Popularity is a big ratings factor.

The U.S. News ranking of a school will be strongly influenced by its reputation among the proper individuals.

Three administrators from the president, provost, and admission offices at each institution in the national university category, for example, are required to evaluate all of their peers on a one-to-five grading scale in yearly surveys. (One is merely minor, while five is exceptional.)

The problem, though, is as follows:

What do the leaders of UCLA, Johns Hopkins, University of Tulsa, and Clemson know about what's happening at Brandeis, Case Western Reserve, Virginia Tech, and Florida State, let alone 300 additional institutions that fall under the national university category?

Or consider colleges that fall under the liberal arts college category but are far less well-known. What information do Beloit and Juniata officials have regarding the caliber of instruction at Lake Forest, Coe, Rhodes, and Allegheny colleges?

Administrators should refuse to rate peers on a scale of one to five since it is an illogical exercise.

5. U. S. News measures six-year graduation rates.

I don’t know any parents who thinks that graduating from college in six years is acceptable. U.S. News, however, uses six-year rates when evaluating schools. Another head scratcher.

6. Rankings encourage colleges to favor affluent students.

Rich students are favored because US News rewards schools that provide higher test scores and grade point averages for their entering freshman cohort.

Wealthy high school students benefit from this selectivity focus because they typically have stronger academic records. These teenagers are more likely to have attended schools with more robust academic programs and can afford pricey test preparation classes. Family income and test scores on standardized tests have a significant positive link.

The school can increase sticker prices without alienating too many prospective consumers by luring wealthier pupils.

7. Rankings encourage the use of merit scholarships.

Prior to the rankings gaining so much attention, wealthy students often had to pay the whole cost of attending college. Most of the funds were set aside for students from middle-class and low-income families who needed financial assistance.

Private and public schools started awarding merit scholarships to recruit brilliant, wealthy students to their campuses rather than those of their rivals as a result of the rankings premium being associated with top students.

How can you come up with the cash to pay for these bargain enticements?

To collect more money for these scholarships, one option is to increase tuition; a second is to decrease financial help for students in need. The majority losers in the rankings game are the low- and middle-income students.

8. Elite schools are the exception to merit awards.

The only universities that don't provide merit scholarships to wealthy applicants are those that occupy the top spots in U.S. News' college rankings.

Rich parents who send their kids to top-ranked universities and liberal arts colleges, like Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, and Amherst, will shell out about $300,000 for a SINGLE bachelor's degree, but they won't do it for other institutions.

Most of these schools admit a pitifully small proportion of low-income students, despite boasting that they reserve their aid for families that need it to send their children to college. Rich pupils are primarily educated at the most exclusive institutions.

9. Rankings encourage admission tricks.

For instance, US News' algorithm favors institutions with a higher student turn-down rate. Schools will pursue students they have no intention of accepting using marketing materials and social media in order to enhance their rejection rates.

Another trick: some institutions make it simple for applicants to submit streamlined online applications, also known as "quick apps" in the business. This tactic is employed by schools to expand their student base and raise their rejection rates.

10. Rankings don’t measure what’s important.

One of the absurd things about the rankings is that producing thoughtful, eloquent young people who can write persuasively and think critically won't move a school up even one point in the rankings. It's odd that U.S. News doesn't even try to gauge the type of learning taking place in classrooms.

The rankings' methodology is actually a set of arbitrary metrics that families and students are intended to use to identify the colleges that are providing the greatest undergraduate education. For determining educational quality, U.S. News uses proxies, although these proxies are at best questionable.

11. Rankings encourage cheating.

Because rankings have become such a high-stakes game, some schools have sent fraudulent information or engaged in unethical behavior. And I have a suspicion that the majority of the institutions distorting their data have never been discovered. Claremont McKenna, the U.S. Naval Academy, Baylor University, and Emory University are some of the institutions that have been revealed.

12. Rankings encourage debt.

The rankings juggernaut's disregard for the amount of student debt accrued in college is extremely vexing. It's a bad oversight, and it's undoubtedly one of the reasons why college costs resist inflation.

US News recognizes colleges that spend lavishly, and the rankings behemoth is unconcerned if this means raising university tuition and forcing students to graduate with huge debt.

Here is an older post I made about this topic for CBS Moneywatch, my former college blog:

Blaming College Rankings for Runaway College Costs

In 2011, Malcolm Gladwell discussed college rankings in a "fascinating essay for The New Yorker" in which he discussed the motivation for colleges to make their campuses into opulent palaces and pass the cost along to the students:

13. Don’t believe the numbers.

You shouldn't think that a college that is ranked No. 1, No. 19, or No. 73 is superior to peers that are ranked No. 6, No. 42, or No. 95. I've witnessed far too many parents make exorbitant financial sacrifices for their children's attendance at rankings darlings when it was totally unnecessary to do so.

What a pupil does no matter where he or she ends up is more significant than the school that person attends. This fact is demonstrated in a "Post About My Daughter" I wrote four years ago.

14. Use U.S. News as a tip sheet.

Use the U.S. News rankings to come up with concepts rather than just concentrating on the numbers. This will be especially useful when looking for prospective institutions outside the national university category, which comprises almost all of the top universities in the country.

Try exploring for inspiration in the regional universities and liberal arts colleges categories of U.S. News before beginning your investigation.

15. U.S. News is here to stay

During a press conference a few years back, U.S. News editor Brian Kelly pledged the following:  “You can love us or hate us, but we’re not going away.”