| Your child is not doomed to a mediocre education if | | | | lost in the crowd. There might even be resources |
| you send them to a public rather than a private | | | | through your school district for free or low cost |
| school. Some parents believe that the path to Ivy | | | | tutoring services. |
| League schools and the highest quality of education is | | | | Encourage your children to participate in one or more |
| through private schooling. There are potential benefits | | | | extracurricular activities. When it comes time for your |
| to sending your children to private schools including | | | | child to apply for college, the colleges will look for |
| smaller classroom sizes and often more focus on | | | | students who have been involved in sports and/or |
| preparing for future college attendance. However, | | | | other activities at school. Being an active participant in |
| your child can receive a great education and have the | | | | activities throughout your child’s school career, |
| same opportunities for college after attending public | | | | can help them to compete with students applying to |
| school. | | | | college from a private school. |
| There are steps you can take to ensure that your | | | | Help your child to select courses that will benefit |
| child gets the most out of their years of public | | | | them when they apply for college. Your children |
| education. From the beginning of their school days, | | | | should take Algebra, Trigonometry and perhaps even |
| you need to be actively involved in their education. | | | | Calculus if they want to attend college. They should |
| Attend all parent-teacher conferences. Make time to | | | | also complete courses in Biology, Chemistry and |
| attend school functions and to get to know the | | | | Physics. Your child should take three or more years |
| teaching staff. Take the time to always know what | | | | of a foreign language. |
| your child is studying in school, what homework they | | | | Ask your child to take the College Preparation Track |
| have, and the date of any upcoming tests and | | | | at their school. This is especially important for |
| quizzes. | | | | students who want to attend top-notch private |
| Join the parent-teacher association so that you know | | | | schools or Ivy league colleges. Your child will not be |
| everything that is going on at your child’s school. | | | | as well prepared for college as students who |
| Volunteer directly at the school as well. Even if you | | | | attended private schools if they do not complete the |
| cannot volunteer on a regular basis, make sure to | | | | college bound curriculum. |
| volunteer at least once or twice each year. You can | | | | If your son or daughter does very well in school, |
| have more feedback on your child and their | | | | consider asking them to attend advanced courses. |
| education if you are actively present at the school | | | | Most schools offer Honours classes. In addition, your |
| and if you interact with teachers regularly. | | | | child can consider taking one or more Advanced |
| Make yourself available to help your children with | | | | Placement courses in high. AP courses allow your child |
| homework and to study. Remember to ask your | | | | to complete coursework on a college level. Advanced |
| children each day what they are studying in school. | | | | Placement tests are administered at the end of the |
| Show your children that you are interested in their | | | | year. Students who earn high scores on the test will |
| academic experience. Being involved in their | | | | receive college credit for the class. |
| education, will help them to achieve better grades. If | | | | Some parents might believe that your child is at a |
| you are actively involved, you will also know when | | | | disadvantage if they do not attend a private school. |
| there is a problem at their school, with a teacher or | | | | This is not the case at all. A child can receive an |
| with the curriculum that needs to be addressed. | | | | excellent education if they work hard and study well. |
| Hire a tutor for your children if you think they need | | | | You can help your child to get the most out of their |
| some one on one assistance with one or more of | | | | public education by being actively involved in their |
| their courses. This will help to offset any difficulties | | | | education and frequently involved at their school. |
| your child is having as a result of the larger | | | | If you want to raise your child to become a leader, |
| classrooms associated with public schools. Hiring a | | | | make sure you provide your child with the right, |
| tutor will help to make certain that your child is not | | | | Christian based education. |