---
title: What Private School Education Has to Offer Your Child
description: As Director of Enrollment Management and a private school parent, Rafhia Foster sees firsthand the benefits of private school education.
---

[The Shipley School |](https://blogs.shipleyschool.org)

# [What Private School Education Has to Offer Your Child](https://blogs.shipleyschool.org/blog/featured/why-private-school-shipley)

 Written by [Rafhia Foster](https://blogs.shipleyschool.org/author/rafhia-foster) | Mar 16, 2017 6:00:09 PM

In my role as Director of Enrollment, I get many questions from prospective parents/guardians, but the one I enjoy the most is this: “What is the value of a Shipley education vs. a public school education?” I love that question because for me, for Shipley, it’s an easy one.

We all know Shipley provides an outstanding [academic](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/academics) education; [our record](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/academics/upper-school--gr-9-12/college-counseling) speaks for itself. But Shipley offers so much more. We couple our high academic standards with a foundation of strong [support](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/academics/seed-service--support) so that students know they can stretch themselves. From Pre-K on up, students take academic risks and get support when they need it.

## Branching Out of the Classroom

In fact, [risk-taking](https://blogs.shipleyschool.org/shipleystories/confidence-explore-breaking-barriers-everwaters-co-founder-matt-lisle-11/) in a safe, supportive environment is one of Shipley’s hallmarks. Michael Turner, our Head of School, talks about [this](https://www.shipleyschool.org/page/news-detail?pk=1043875&fromId=227766) all the time. Kids are encouraged to branch out and explore areas they may not have considered [academically](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/academics), [athletically](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/athletics/about-shipley-athletics), on the [stage](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/arts/theater-arts), and [socially](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/about/our-community).

In [Lower School](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/academics/lower-school--prekgr-5), for example, students have the opportunity to practice public speaking and engage in leadership roles from the very beginning so it becomes second nature. During [Middle School](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/academics/middle-school--gr-68), kids experiment with every sport before choosing one for each season. In the [Upper School](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/academics/upper-school--gr-9-12), the depth and breadth of our [curriculum](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/academics/upper-school--gr-9-12/upper-school-curriculum) allows for students to explore new areas of interest and fields of study that they may not have had the courage to try elsewhere because at Shipley, there is no social penalty for trying. In fact, it is very much a part of our culture to try new things.

## Building Strong Relationships

The [bonds](http://www.shipleyschool.org/Page/The-Shipley-Method) students form with teachers further help to provide encouragement and support. Without the demands of government-mandated testing, our teachers have the extra time and the freedom to get to know our students at every level: in the classroom, on the [playing field](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/athletics), and after school with extra help or special projects. Our teachers pass along information about our students from grade to grade so that we, as a school, develop an institutional knowledge and understanding of each individual child. Nothing demonstrates Shipley's knowledge of and affection for its students so deeply as the celebratory and detailed citations that are read for every [graduating senior](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/academics/upper-school--gr-9-12/meet-the-class-of-2016) each year. Thanks to small class sizes, we truly know and love our students.

## Looking Towards the Future

I know that when our students graduate, Shipley gave them the [opportunity to develop](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/about/strategic-vision-and-leadership) into the people they were meant to be at that point in life. They go out into the world ready with all the skills needed to be successful—and by that, I mean *all* the skills, not just the academic skills. They have the ability to take on leadership roles, to ask the hard questions, to look for guidance, and to have the humility to do so. They have the courage to reach for the challenge, and above all, be good people. I see it in our graduating seniors and our [alumni](https://blogs.shipleyschool.org/shipleystories/welcome-home-jenn-devines-shipley-journey/) body.

Shipley educates the whole child all the way through. To me, [the value](http://www.shipleyschool.org/page/is-private-school-worth-it) of that is priceless.

 

[View full post](https://blogs.shipleyschool.org/blog/featured/why-private-school-shipley)

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