When you’re swimming with thousands of fish, it’s easy to get lost in the pond.
Public high schools don’t have many choices when it comes to their size. Thanks to boundary maps and rapidly growing cities, many public high schools have swelled to populations in the thousands. While these ‘megaschools’ serve some students well, other great kids get lost in the shuffle.
Private high schools have an advantage because they get to choose exactly how big or how small they want to be. Private high schools fit their population to their mission and values, not the other way around. Take these examples:
HIGH SCHOOL A HAS 1,200 STUDENTS.
That size is ideal for High School A because it values:
– A world-class athletics program with 23 teams and, in particular, a competitive football team.
– A large and diverse student body that represents many different communities and backgrounds
– A long list of academic and extracurricular opportunities for students
HIGH SCHOOL B HAS 500 STUDENTS.
That size is ideal for High School B because it values:
– An inclusive and competitive mid-size athletics program with 18 teams
– A strong college preparatory curriculum with a complete suite of AP offerings
– The ability to connect with a small network of passionate alumni who have excelled in all areas of business
HIGH SCHOOL C HAS 200 STUDENTS.
That size is ideal for High School C because it values:
– A community of students and teachers who know one another
– Small classes in which teachers can be creative and students can be challenged
– The flexibility to implement new school-wide programs and innovations
– An inclusive and competitive athletics program with 15 teams and other sports-based clubs
The best way for a family to gauge their optimal school size is to visit. In addition to website research and conversations with fellow parents, parents should be sure to tour high schools of all shapes and sizes.
THE UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL ADVANTAGE
University High School is small by design, with 300 students in grades 9-12. University emphasizes academic excellence and a strong sense of community. A population of 300 is the perfect size for that. Here’s why:
In a school of 300, the entire community can gather each day for a 15-minute morning meeting. In this daily time spent together talking about school business or what’s happening in the world, University High School teaches you how to be part of something bigger than yourself.
In a school of 300, all students eat lunch at the same time, so you don’t have to worry about your friends being in a different lunch period. You also aren’t confined to the cafeteria. Campus is open, so you can eat anywhere you’d like – outside, in the lobby, even in the art room.
In a school of 300, there is less competition for a spot in the class you really want to take or on the sports team you really want to join.
In a school of 300, your teachers know your name and treat you like a person. You’ll have conversations with your teachers, and they’ll say hi to you in the hallways. At first you may have to fight your instinct to hide, but it won’t take long for you to appreciate being in a place where you don’t have to.