Most likely, you will look for the best private primary schools in your area. But sometimes, parents will move to gain access to the best private schools in the country. For either search criteria, parents can search through online databases, or poll other parents with elementary-school-aged children for an assessment of the best private schools for their needs.
The application process for a private primary school can be rigorous -- more so for the parents than the children. Openings are scarce, and the pressure to get accepted at the top school can be overwhelming during a highly competitive, often cut-throat process. Private schools want to know what your child can do academically, such as knowing numbers, letters and words, as well as socially. They will often arrange for an in-person interview to evaluate your child's behavior, and may ask your child to perform assessments or tests.
The parents' choice of private primary school often hinges on that school's ability to prepare children for other prestigious secondary schools and colleges. Also important is the school's ability to fulfill the needs of your child and family. For example: Do you want your child's class to have a lower teacher-to-student ratio? Do you want a traditional classroom setting or one that incorporates innovative learning approaches? Are you willing to bus your child to a school or are you looking for a school you can easily walk to?
Private schools are typically rated based on a number of factors, such as the academic performance of the students, their enrollment history, the cost to attend, and the variety of academic and extracurricular opportunities offered. In addition to these factors, parents will have their own rating criteria. With that in mind, private schools will never have clear-cut ratings the way public schools do. Each school is so unique that the only way to truly rate a school is to arrange a visit and evaluate its ability to meet your child's needs.