What Is An Independent School

Independent schools are private, precollegiate learning institutions that have no affiliation with a church or faith. These schools are nonprofit and function independently, funded solely through tuition, charitable contributions, and endowment income thus, they are not financed by churches or by government.

Independent schools are governed by boards of trustees and are publicly accountable to parents, communities and the agencies that accredit them. Each independent school maintains a unique mission that upholds high standards of educational quality.

Independent schools are classified according to various criteria: day or boarding schools, coeducational, girls, or boys. Enrollment varies from a few dozen to a few thousand students. Some independent schools are centuries old, while others are just ten years old. Some are progressive, while others are more traditional in structure.

In their long history, independent schools have become known as schools where:

• there is a low student to faculty ratio
• children are not lost in the cracks
• students benefit from positive peer pressure
• students progress quickly
• there is a high level of participation in extracurricular activities
• self-discipline, responsibility, and self-motivation are promoted
• values are important
• teachers are absolutely committed to the school's vision
• administrators and teachers are highly responsive to students and their parents
• parent participation is welcomed - and expected.