Firstly, the student ratio and teacher-student ratio of the school. The student ratio mainly refers to the racial ratio. America is an immigrant country, and students from all races and ethnic groups can be found in schools. In a class, the number of Chinese students should not exceed 15% of the total number. Exceeding this ratio is very detrimental to students' English learning and cross-cultural communication. If this condition cannot be met, the minimum acceptable ratio is 1:20.
● Provide opportunities for students to study their interested special subjects
Many parents come to talk to me and say they just want their children to attend top high schools, the top 10 or top 20 high schools. We usually ask parents not to rush, but first understand their child before giving advice. For a child at the middle school stage, the school environment is very important. Top schools will certainly give children a good learning atmosphere, but correspondingly, entering such a school might also put a lot of pressure on the child, making them busy dealing with studies, which could greatly damage their confidence. On the contrary, if a child enters a school below their level, they might feel too relaxed, lacking challenge and pressure. Therefore, when choosing to study abroad in American high schools, it's essential to choose a suitable school, not blindly, but considering how the child can maximize their potential while also being beneficial for future university applications.
Studying abroad is a very important matter, especially at a young age, directly affecting the student's future. Therefore, we suggest that parents and students take it seriously, consult early, and make relevant preparations. Don't blindly follow trends or blindly believe various kinds of information. It's necessary to carefully understand the child's character and overall quality, choosing a school that suits the child's personality traits and benefits their development.
Private middle school libraries, performance venues, and sports facilities are far superior to those of public high schools. Students can obtain more resources and support at school. For international students, the school provides English tutoring classes during summer and after school, making it easy for students to adapt to the American teaching environment and methods.
The school's biggest feature is emphasizing excellent academic performance, encouraging students to learn new things, and advocating the promotion of independent spirit among students. The teachers continuously strive to ensure that students can study and live in a safe, academically challenging, lively, and interesting environment. Diversified subjects and extracurricular activities are also one of the characteristics.
Features of Private Middle Schools
● Tight courses, systematic, diverse choices
● Language assistance and academic tutoring courses
Thirdly, consider the region. Generally speaking, the cultural heritage along the East Coast of the United States is better, and there are more quality schools. Geography also involves differences in tuition and living expenses. Schools on the East and West Coasts of the United States are more expensive, requiring students to spend over $40,000 annually, whereas tuition and living expenses in the central region are lower, approximately $30,000 annually. In the actual selection process, parents often overlook choosing middle schools in remote areas. In fact, the urban-rural gap in the United States is not significant, and the quality of education does not vary significantly between urban and rural areas. The main advantage of choosing a middle school in a remote area is peace of mind. Experts indicate that all big cities have the influence of nightlife, and instead of students spending their free time going in and out of bars, it’s better for them to study peacefully in the countryside and enjoy the scenery.
American Private Secondary Schools and Their Features
● University preparation courses
Unlike universities, American secondary schools do not have so-called national rankings. We find that many parents and students always like to ask about the ranking of a certain secondary school in the United States, and some study abroad intermediaries, in order to cater to the needs of the former, even produce so-called national secondary school rankings. Experts state that any promotion with similar wording is deceptive packaging. Choosing a secondary school in the United States based on rankings has no practical significance, and should mainly be considered from the following three points.
It's once again the busiest time each year for applying to American high schools. Recently, I've received many consultation calls from parents asking about sending their children to American high schools. We find that some parents have already made early preparations, such as strengthening their child's English learning and practice a year or half a year ago; while other parents still know very little about studying in American high schools.
● Cultivate an independent spirit
● Cultivate active learning abilities
Courses are divided into different levels, and students can choose courses according to their own level and learning interests. Most high schools allow high-achieving students to take advanced college credits. Besides being able to offset college credits later, good grades can serve as strong application materials for applying to American universities in the future.
School Facilities and Resources
Faculty
The overall American education system leans towards privatization, and American private secondary schools are generally considered the cradle for cultivating students who will enter prestigious universities. Many private secondary schools in the United States are also famous worldwide for their strict admission standards and high-quality teaching levels.
● Diverse activities
● More interpersonal interaction
● Small-class teaching, catering to individual needs
Middle School Rankings Are Meaningless, Choose Based on Three Tips
Consultation and Counseling
Private secondary school counseling offices consistently provide comprehensive counseling services and professional teachers who can help students test their personal interest points and personality traits using highly accurate professional tests in the U.S., thereby guiding students to complete career planning. For students focused on further education, the school offers a sound university application guidance program, providing students with a complete plan and suggestions from personal data to exam preparation.
● Better faculty, richer equipment
Academics
As everyone knows, American private high schools are renowned for their high admission rates and excellent academic performance. Schools encourage students to develop interests in various fields, fully demonstrating their academic direction and increasing participation in various extracurricular activities. Schools encourage students to ask more questions and seek various possible answers to acquire broader knowledge.
Generally speaking, private secondary schools adopt small-class systems, with about 20 students per class. Students can receive more care and have more time to use the school's learning resources, such as libraries, computers, and the school counseling center, organizing their studies effectively. Most teachers at private secondary schools have postgraduate degrees in education or higher.
● Safe environment
Secondly, focus on church schools, determined by the characteristics of American culture and Western culture. Experts claim that if foreigners chat with Chinese people without knowing who Guanyin Bodhisattva and Sun Wukong are, or without understanding the thoughts of Confucius and Mencius, even if their Chinese is good, it's hard to say they have integrated into Chinese society. Similarly, in Western culture, over 90% of idioms and traditions originate from the Bible. If students don't know who Saint Peter and others are, it will be difficult for them to communicate and interact with the Western mainstream society in the future. Those studying in the U.S. at the middle school stage, unlike at the university stage where they learn specialized knowledge, should start from the cultural roots of the host country, and church schools undoubtedly serve as the best intermediary bridge.