There is a lot of debate taking place right now in our culture about the state of public education. We are not going to dive into that political conversation here today. However, this is such a hot-button topic because we all agree that education is not just a system that affects students at the moment. The quality and nature of a child’s education will have long-term impacts on their future.

St. Barnabas Episcopal School is a small private education institution in Deland, Florida. We are proud of the quality of education we provide our students with and believe that being a private school enables us to give our students the education they deserve. If you are considering sending your child to a public or private school, here are some factors that should impact your decision.

Individualized Attention Puts Kids Ahead 

We’ve said this repeatedly and will continue to shout it from the rooftops. Private schools can provide individualized education in the way our public school counterparts simply cannot. Our commitment to small classrooms enables teachers to individualize their lesson plans to meet the specific needs of the students sitting in front of them. Every student has areas in which they excel and areas in which they fall behind. Large classrooms do not give students enough opportunity or the support they need to level the playing field in the areas where they are less naturally successful.

Relationships With Teachers

Along the same lines, teachers in private schools have more ability to uncover the specific social and emotional needs of their students and support them accordingly. Our teachers are committed to developing strong, safe relationships with their students so that they can partner with parents and caregivers to provide the support students need through all phases of their childhood.

Access To Extracurriculars

Quality education is central to the service we provide at St. Barnabas School. However, a great education is more than classroom learning. Our students can access many extracurricular activities, from athletics to the arts, and even advanced learning opportunities. Extracurricular activities provide students with a well-rounded slate of talents and abilities to take forward with them. They also teach students important life skills, like teamwork, the ability to recover from failure, and how to work hard, even when it’s difficult to do so.

High Academic Standards

So many of the benefits of private education are inextricably linked. When you provide quality education in a small classroom and offer students strong teacher relationships and a complete offering of extracurricular activities, you end up with a system whose academic standards are higher than average. At St. Barnabas, we work hard to balance supporting students’ needs and holding them accountable to a higher standard. Once you learn to excel in our classrooms, you’ll be better prepared for the world beyond our school.

Connection To A Community

Finally, human beings are meant to live in a community. Our children are living in an era that is unrecognizable from the childhoods of their parents and grandparents. So much of the world has gone online, and students need opportunities to learn to create healthy relationships in the present. Being part of a strong faith-based community gives students security, support, and a soft place to land. Plus, it teaches them how to seek a healthy community as they grow and start lives of their own.

At St. Barnabas Episcopal School, we know that we are setting our students up for long-term success when we provide students with a holistic, faith-based approach to education. Contact us today if you want to learn more about setting your children up for future success.