Your child spends five days a week at school. It’s a place where they not only learn academically, but also grow and develop socially and as members of a community. For this reason, faith-focused parents often seek out private Christian schools where the teachers, staff, and fellow parents share their values.

But how do you know which private school is right for your family?

At St. Barnabas, we encourage parents to ask questions and listen carefully to the answers. We take pride in being completely open and transparent about our academic programs, our faith-based virtues, academic curricula, hiring practices, and more.

If you’re wondering how to choose a school, there are some good places to start. Here are a few of the most important questions we suggest asking at any Volusia County private schools you’re considering.

How Is Christian Faith Incorporated Into the Curriculum?

It’s typical for Christian schools to have religion classes and chapel services for students. St. Barnabas is no exception. We teach God’s Word in developmentally appropriate ways, creating space for questions and personal faith exploration as students grow older. We also host a weekly chapel service where students, faculty, and staff worship together in the presence of God.

One thing that sets us apart at St. Barnabas is the way we integrate our faith into our academic programming. Whether in Reading, Math, or Music, our talented faculty are always finding ways to incorporate Bible-based lessons.

Learning deepens as our students grow in faith and knowledge:

• K4 and Kindergarten students follow a Fruit of the Spirit curriculum and listen to daily Bible stories.
• Elementary students begin the year by studying Genesis and proceed through the Old and New Testaments.
• Middle school students dive into the Gospel in more depth and explore their personal faith.

What Are the School’s Values?

You can expect a Christian school to have Christian values, but it’s worth digging a little deeper into what that really means and looks like on a daily basis. At St. Barnabas, we put our Christian values front and center, and we frame them as three separate but related imperatives: Faith, Virtue, and Excellence.

• Faith is the assurance that God is at work in our lives, even in the most challenging of circumstances.
• Virtue is the truth, honesty, and integrity that we all seek to embody each day.
• Excellence means doing our very best in honor of the unique talents God has given each one of us.

These are the values our faculty, staff, and families all espouse, and the values passed on to students by example.

Who Are the Faculty?

Teaching is a rewarding but challenging profession. The best faculty are not only experts in their fields of study; they also have the ability to connect with and support each student as an individual.

At St. Barnabas, we ensure all of our teachers hold at least a bachelor’s degree in their field. Many hold master’s degrees. Our faculty also participate in peer mentorship programs and continuing education, not only to advance their subject matter knowledge but also to support their teaching, communication, and classroom management skills.

Our small class sizes also help support our faculty. They have more time to answer questions, tailor the material to each student’s learning style, and incorporate activities aligned with the students’ talents and interests.

What Extracurricular Activities Are Offered?

The best private schools don’t just focus on academics; they aim to support and educate the whole child. Extracurricular activities are a wonderful way to support social growth and a community mindset. Good extracurricular programs also support students with God-given talents in music, sports, or the arts.

St. Barnabas Episcopal School offers top athletics programs not only for middle school students, but also for the elementary grades. We also offer programs in music and stage performance, using these as opportunities for students to learn about different cultures and styles of self-expression. In all of our extracurricular programs, students learn the importance of working together, supporting one another, and practicing integrity.

Is the School Involved In the Local Community?

As Christians, we let our light shine by doing good for the communities we belong to. The best private schools are involved in their local communities, helping to instill these values in students early on.

At St. Barnabas, we:

• Send shoe boxes of gifts to the less fortunate through Operation Christmas Child.
• Have a float in the Annual DeLand Christmas Parade.
• Welcome alumni and former staff to share ways they’ve spread The Good News through their work.

We hope these questions to ask schools have given you a better idea of what to include on your private school checklist. Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions about St. Barnabas Episcopal School. We’re proud to be the best Christian school DeLand families of faith turn to, and we’d love to meet you.