Finding Educational Alternatives to Public School

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If you walk into a classroom today, you’ll likely find a very different scene than you would’ve found years ago. Your child may be one of 40-50 students in a class with one flustered teacher; computer labs have been replaced with outdated textbooks; and if you need an after-school or summer program, you’re simply out of luck.

Public Education Cuts

The ailing economy has left everyone strapped for cash, including homeowners, cities and states. Some of the public education cuts, such as those in California, are the largest since the Great Depression, resulting in teacher layoffs, cuts to art, music, and athletic programs, increased class sizes, and reduced access to books, supplies and the latest technologies.

Nationwide, budget cuts are affecting public schools in a variety of negative ways:

Increased school expenses including books and materials, use of outdated materials, and reductions to a four-day school week in some areas
Lower quality education because of faculty cutbacks, larger class sizes and teacher burn-out
Dramatic cutbacks in art, music, vocational education and physical education
Cancellations of after-school and summer school programs
Fewer college assistance grants and less support from college counselors
Who suffers most from these cutbacks? Children and adolescents who are stuck with poor academics, a lack of tutoring and support, and fewer opportunities to engage in fun, confidence-building activities.

The most recent spate of budgetary cuts has left many parents questioning the value of the education their child is receiving in public school. For those seeking a different type of experience for their child, other options may be more attractive, such as therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers and wilderness therapy programs.

Option 1: Therapeutic Boarding Schools and Residential Treatment Centers

Despite the economic downturn, private therapeutic boarding email data have maintained a standard of excellence. These schools combine superior academics with intensive therapy to help teens who are struggling with learning disabilities or emotional or behavioral issues, who may be falling behind in public school, and who are contributing to a hostile home environment.

While public schools are getting more crowded and less effective, therapeutic boarding schools offer the following:

Smaller class sizes, one-on-one attention and individual learning plans, which help teens catch up in school and develop a passion for learning
Teachers who are passionate about their work and are able to spend their time teaching rather than managing large numbers of students
A full spectrum of enriching activities, including sports, fine arts, equine programs, adventure activities like rock climbing and white water rafting, and trips abroad
Access to new computers, technologies and the latest learning tools
Opportunities to get to know students from different places and backgrounds
A supportive and nurturing environment where teachers and staff work to help teens feel good about themselves
Family therapy and workshops to improve the functioning of the family system
College and career guidance that helps teens set goals for the future
While private school or residential treatment may seem like a luxury to some, for many teens with emotional and behavioral issues, these programs can be a necessity. Students get a rigorous, college-prep education, individualized attention and opportunities for emotional growth, which are missing in most public schools.