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When most people think of private schools in the U.S., they often think of religious schools, specifically Christian or Catholic. Although there are many private schools that are Christian or religious, there are also secular private schools. Whether you are looking for Christian schools in Tampa, or you would like to send your child to a nonreligious private school, there are many independent schools to choose from.

Religious private schools

Many independent schools are religious. However, “religious” does not just refer to Christian schools. There are many different types of private schools for other religions, such as Judaism, Islam, and Catholicism.

There are also different types of Christian private schools based on denomination. Some Christian schools may be nondenominational, while others are a specific denomination such as Baptist, Presbyterian, or Lutheran.

Why do families choose religious private schools?

Many families choose a private school based on their religion and how that compares to what the school teaches. However, some families pick private schools based on the moral code that the school follows. Some families may also pick a private school that teaches a religion different from their own because of accessibility due to location or because of the quality of education at that school.

Do you have to be a Christian to attend a Christian private school?

At Bayshore, a Christian school in Tampa, we do not require our students and their families to be Christian. Though a majority of our student body is Christian, we also have Catholic families, Islamic families, and Buddhist families at our school. We have a statement of faith that is on our website that we require our teachers, faculty, and staff to agree to. Though we do not require all of our students to be Christians, we do require that of all our staff.

Additionally, the families need to support our mission. They need to agree that it is okay for their child to receive teachings based on our faith and beliefs, even if they do not match up with their own beliefs. However, there are other Christian schools that require the student and their family to be of the same religion or even denomination as they in order to enroll. These are called covenant schools. In some cases with covenant schools, you have to read the statement of faith and agree to the statement of faith. In other cases, the school is connected to a church, and you have to be a parishioner of that church in order to enroll.

Secular private schools

Just like with religious independent schools, there are a variety of different types of secular private schools.

Academically advanced or gifted schools. Many secular private schools are for families who are looking for an academically advanced education for their child. These schools often have children work grade levels ahead, at a faster pace, or include more in-depth teaching for certain classes or subjects. They usually have more work outside of school and focus more on academic values, rather than other potential priorities such as family time and extracurricular activities. These schools are a good fit for families with education advancement as a top priority.  

Private schools for the arts, sciences, or sports. Other secular private schools focus on skills a student may have or wish to excel in. While getting a regular education that helps them complete milestones for high school graduation, these schools allow for students to receive further training in their skills such as art, dance, music, and sporting activities.

Boarding schools. Boarding schools are institutions where the students live on campus throughout the duration of the school year. Most of these schools operate August through May, however some schools are year-round. Some boarding schools may also be shorter in duration and may not match up with the typical school schedule, such as a 20-week therapy program. Some examples of boarding schools include:

1. Therapy schools for students who struggle with mental illness, behavioral problems, and psychiatric disorders
2. Schools for students with eating disorders
3. Schools for students who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse
4. Military schools for students with behavioral problems

Private middle schools in Tampa, FL

Bayshore Christian School is a nondenominational Christian school that unapologetically teaches our students using a faith-based curriculum. We are a private Christian middle school in Tampa, FL, as well as offer preschool, elementary and high school education.

Contact us, today, to inquire more about our school and our statement of faith to see if our school is the right fit for your family.