Is Private School Harder Than Public School?
It is common for private schools to be harder than public schools. Many private schools are college-prep schools, meaning they offer more rigorous classes to prepare students for further education. Additionally, a lot of private high schools in Tampa FL have more requisites for graduation than public schools. However, while private schools can have a more challenging course load, most also have teachers, faculty, and staff that care about the well-being of their students.
Preparation for college
Although not all private schools are college-prep schools, many are. As a private high school in Tampa FL, these are some of the things that make Bayshore Christian School a college-prep school:
Dual enrollment classes. Dual enrollment gives students the opportunity to take college-level courses on their high school campus for college credit. Through our local community college, students can enroll in these classes free of charge. Most of our students take dual enrollment courses their junior and/or senior year.
AP and honors classes. Similar to most public schools, we also offer many AP and honors classes. Both types of courses allow for students to challenge themselves with classes that are taught at a more advanced level. Additionally, students can earn college credits by completing AP classes and passing the AP exam at the end of the year.
Graduation requirements
Many private schools have more graduation requirements than the Florida Department of Education does for public schools. This could mean that students are required to complete a certain number of volunteer hours at the school, take more courses, etc. For example, public schools require two years of foreign language to be taken in order to graduate. Here at Bayshore, taking three foreign language classes is a requisite for graduation.
The stigma about teachers
There is a stigma that teachers who work at more rigorous schools are not warm and friendly. Many parents believe that kind Christian teachers cannot teach hard classes. However, these things are not mutually exclusive. Teachers, faculty, and staff can be kind, Christian, and love their job while still challenging students academically. Often, teachers push their students because they care about their success!
Tampa FL Christian Schools
Bayshore Christian School is a Tampa FL Christian School that challenges our students and pushes them to become better learners. We pride ourselves on offering rigorous courses taught by teachers who love what they do and care about their students.
Contact us, today, if you have any questions about our curriculum and how we prepare our students for an education beyond our school.
Why Do Parents Send Their Child to Private School?
There are many different reasons why parents send their children to private school. Sometimes it’s because they had a good private school experience themselves, or they had a bad public school experience. However, what we have found is that most parents looking for private schools in Tampa FL want their children to have a private education because of the opportunity for a more personalized education. For private Christian schools specifically, parents tend to be looking for a good foundation for their child and a place that teaches with their family’s beliefs and values in mind.
A personalized education
Many parents send their children to private schools because they offer a more personalized education. With a smaller teacher to student ratio, teachers have the opportunity to get to know their students on a more personal level. Additionally, students are able to make stronger connections with their peers because they are typically in the same class with them for years. There are also fewer students, so they are able to get to know more of their classmates on a deeper level.
Building a foundation
Parents who send their children to private Christian schools in Tampa, FL typically do so because they want their child to build a foundation for their faith during their school years. Unlike in public schools, religion can be taught and integrated into the curriculum at Christian private schools. Therefore, a parent may send their child to these schools so that they can learn about God while receiving an education.
Many parents think that after middle school, sending their child to a public school rather than a private school for high school would be the best for their child. They believe that they have built their foundation in their faith and are ready to go out into the “real world.” However, we believe that students should continue to receive a private Christian education until they graduate from high school. Middle school and high school are when children start to make decisions for themselves. By keeping them in private school, they are given an environment that encourages living by how God calls us to live, which may help them make better decisions during this malleable time in their life.
Additional benefits
In addition to a personalized education, private schools in Tampa FL offer many things that public schools don’t have available. Some of these things include:
- Teaching spelling. Public schools no longer include spelling in their curriculum. Many schools don’t even allow teachers to teach it. However, spelling is still taught in most private schools.
- Teaching cursive. Similarly to spelling, public schools no longer teach cursive. Many private schools still do!
- Chapel. Many private schools, specifically Christian private schools, hold Chapel during the week. This gives students the opportunity to worship and hear a message from the Bible while in school.
- Service hours. Although many clubs in public schools require service hours from students, the schools in general do not. Most private schools do, however. At Bayshore Christian School, a certain number of service hours are required for middle school and high school students. This teaches children the importance of serving their community and how to do so effectively!
Christian schools in Tampa FL
Are you looking for a private Christian school in Tampa FL for your child? We may be the school for you. We offer classes for students pre-K through 12th grade.
Contact us, today, if you have any questions about our school or curriculum!
How Can I Afford Private School?
Private school is more affordable than you might think. Though tuition and fee payments can seem like a lot at first, there are many options that private schools provide to families that make these payments affordable. Most schools provide financial aid, scholarships and payment plans. Furthermore, if you are looking for a private school in the state of Florida, such as private middle schools in Tampa FL, additional state scholarships are available.
Finding the right fit
First and foremost, you should find a school that fits your family’s values and needs. If you are looking for a Christian education for your child, you should look for a private Christian school. If STEM is important to you, look for a school with a good STEM program.
Additionally, it is beneficial to compare tuitions of different schools that meet your needs. Some schools ask for tuition that is unreasonable for what the school provides. Other schools do not provide financial aid or scholarships. These are things to take into consideration when searching for a private school.
Financial aid
Most private schools provide some type of financial aid. Financial aid helps cover some of the cost of tuition, and in some cases fees as well. Unfortunately, many families think that they will not qualify because of their household income. They think that they make too much to be eligible, so they do not apply. However, the average salary of families who apply for financial aid is $100-150K, and many families receive some financial support. You will not know if your family qualifies unless you apply, so we recommend that you do!
School scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to help with tuition costs. Many private schools offer scholarships, including athletic, merit-based, and academic scholarships. Scholarships benefit both the school and families. The school has the opportunity to attract a more diverse group of students, and families can take advantage of the lower tuition rates.
State scholarships
The School Choice Office through the Florida Department of Education has a number of different scholarships for families. If you are looking for a school in the state, such as private middle schools in Tampa FL, or an elementary or high school, your family or child might be eligible for these scholarships:
Scholarships for low-income families.
The maximum qualifying income has raised over the past year so that more families are eligible for this resource.
Scholarships for dependents of military personnel.
Scholarships for children with disabilities/special needs and siblings of children with special needs.
What is considered a “disability” varies widely among private schools. This definition greatly depends on what each school can accommodate. Your child may not be accepted into a school, not because they do not want you there, but because they do not have the resources to provide assistance that will benefit your child.
Some disabilities that many schools recognize include ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), speech and language impairments, developmental delays, mental and emotional disorders, and physical impairments that require accommodation.
Students that have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 from public schools are eligible for the McKay scholarship and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA). Both these scholarships are in place to help fund a family’s choice of a private education for their child with disabilities.
Financing plans
Most private schools also offer financing plans for families. These payment plans are in place to alleviate the burden of having to pay tuition in full. Instead, these plans allow you to pay smaller monthly fees throughout the school year.
South Tampa Christian Schools
Are you looking for a private Christian school for your child? We might be a great fit for you. Bayshore Christian School is a South Tampa Christian School for grades pre-K through 12th grade. We offer low tuition rates, as well as financial aid, payment plans and scholarships for additional support.
Contact us, today, if you have any questions about financing, as well as if you have any general questions about our programs!
Is Private School Really Worth It?
Deciding where to send your child to school can be difficult, especially if you are trying to choose between public schools and private schools. You might be wondering if enrolling your child in a private school would make that big of a difference in their life. After all, from an outside perspective, private schools can appear to just be smaller schools that cost more money and require students to wear uniforms. However, there is a lot more to them than those things.
Sending your child to a private Christian school gives them the opportunity to create a foundation for their faith. Building this foundation doesn’t just stop at elementary or middle school. Enrolling your child in a private high school in Tampa FL will provide a continued space for growth in their faith to prepare them for college and beyond.
Is private school right for your child?
Though we believe that private school is worth it, how much of a positive difference it makes for students depends on a few factors.
It depends on the family. Some children may benefit more from attending a private school than others. This is especially true for students from Christian families. Unlike most public schools, Christian schools in Tampa FL have character development lessons incorporated into their curriculums. Additionally, the teachers have the opportunity to teach about God, so these lessons are often faith-based. Enrolling your child in a private Christian school provides them with the opportunity to learn and develop in an environment that encourages living how God has called us to live. This stands true for high school-aged students as well. We recommend looking for private high schools in Tampa FL so that your child can continue to grow their faith into adulthood.
It depends on the school. It is important to find a private school that lines up with your families values and priorities. When evaluating different private schools, we suggest that you ask about their beliefs about things such as teaching methods and behavior management strategies, as well as about their doctrine of faith. Attending private school may be the right choice for your child, but finding the right private school can greatly impact how “worth it” it is to send them there.
Christian schools in Tampa FL
Bayshore Christian school is a private Christian school in Tampa FL with a vision to shape young people in Christ to make an impact on the world. We offer curriculum for pre-K up through 12th grade. Contact us, today, if you are searching for a private Christian school for your child. We might be the perfect fit for you!