"Why choose an independent education?"

As many of you know, I grew up in the suburbs of Rochester, New York. While I began my own education at an area Montessori school, I switched in my elementary school years to my town's local public school system. It was a fine system, and I enjoyed a solid elementary, middle, and high school education. However, I have spent my entire adult life working in independent schools, be they boarding or day, urban or suburban, single-sex or co-educational. Why the discrepancy between my own education and my professional choices? Or, as I now find myself being asked as a parent of three small children, why choose an independent school for your kids?

Earlier this winter, Patrick Bassett (the executive director of the National Association of Independent Schools) created a video to help describe the importance of having your child attend an NAIS independent school. The video basically details several criteria for families to consider in making this pivotal decision of where to send their children–great teachers, a focused mission, demonstrable successes, and strong values. In short, as I watched the short clip, I thought about these things in the context of our own Upland community and I felt a swelling of pride within me.

Great teachers provide inspiration, challenge, support, and a positive model for their students. As William Arthur Ward once wrote, "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." When our recent parent satisfaction survey returned with 94% positive response to the quality of teaching assessment, it affirmed that we are providing/delivering this service each and every day through great teaching. Countless qualitative comments about our students being engaged, nurtured, and inspired supported these comments, as well. Teaching kids to love learning is a pivotal part of our goal at Upland during these formative years, and I am proud of our success in this area.

Mr. Bassett paraphrases a famous New England head of school when he promises that at a small independent school like Upland, "We will know your child. We will love your child. And we will help your child be successful." It is not easy to be a child growing up in the early 21st century; they encounter a very different world, in many ways, from the world you and I faced as kids. But Upland's focus on each child as a student, artist, athlete, and citizen is what distinguishes us from other educational opportunities. The "4A's" of Upland is not a marketing gimmick, but a genuine way of educating each student. It is not just a different option; we believe it is a better option, developing the whole child, providing unique opportunities, and concentrating upon important social, civic, and personal responsibilities as a key aspect of our program. We also know our current families appreciate this approach, as measured by their 90% satisfaction rating on how well the Upland experience is positively impacting their children.

And for those looking solely at the bottom line, Mr. Bassett acknowledges the "return on investment." We all know the incredible sacrifice families make to provide an independent school education for their kids. However, nationwide studies have borne out the increased likelihood for success (in academic achievement, civic participation, etc.) for students attending and graduating from independent schools. At Upland, we are extremely proud of our students' successes before and after their 9th grade graduation; this spring we look forward to releasing a study that supports the notion of Upland graduates having disproportionately large numbers of leadership roles at secondary school and in college. Why is this true? Because our school culture and program provide active opportunities for students to learn leadership skills, safely 'test the waters' in educational areas they might not otherwise encounter, and manage success and failure throughout their lives.

So to answer my initial questions, hopefully you will now know why I believe so strongly in independent education, and Upland, in particular. I think it is one of the best decisions parents could ever make for their children.