Private and parochial schools other options to consider when selecting a high school. Private schools (often known as independent schools) and parochial schools operate separately from the public school system and are not funded with public tax dollars. For these reasons, they often differ in many ways from public schools.

Many private schools are run independently by a Board of Trustees that governs only the individual school. For that reason, private schools can be very different from each other, depending on the mission and character of the school. Many families seek out private schools, since they often have smaller class sizes, creative curriculum materials, strong academics, and small, safe environments where students have strong relationships with teachers. Many independent schools require that students take either the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) or the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE), please see below for links to webpages on each of these exams.

Parochial schools are run by the Catholic Arch-Dioceses across the country. They are known for their mission of providing strong academic preparation for students, particularly in disadvantaged areas. Since the schools operate separately from the public school system, they are able to incorporate religious teachings as part of the curriculum. Students who are interested in applying to a parochial school must take the TACHS Admission test. Many individual parochial schools make financial aid available depending on students’ scores on this test.

There are also other private schools that are affiliated with religious bodies other than the Catholic Arch-Dioceses (Jewish/Hebrew schools, Christian, etc.). Some private/parochial schools are day schools (where you attend for the school day and then go home).

Another type of private school is the boarding school, where students live on a school campus, either for the five-day school week or the full academic term - just like going away to college.

Unlike schools in the public school system, attending a private or parochial school requires paying tuition, because these schools are not supported by tax dollars. Before assuming that the price tag may be beyond your means, it is important to note that there are many scholarships that are available, particularly for lower-income students and families.

Individual schools have their own financial aid and scholarship programs, and you can learn more about them by calling the individual school. There are also foundations and organizations that provide general funding to students who need financial assistance to attend private school.

If you think you would like to consider attending a private or parochial school, we recommend following the same steps as you would for looking for your best public school match:

• Figure out your interests and school selection priorities.
• Create a list of possible schools and call for more information about the schools’ missions, goals, and programs.
• Find out how to apply for admission and for financial aid.
• Arrange to attend open houses and tour the schools.
• Submit your applications.

VERY IMPORTANT: Remember, if you do apply to private schools, it is extremely important also to apply to public schools; you do not want to be left without a school to attend if you are not admitted to a private school.

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Below are a few useful resources for researching your private school options:

• Private School Review This site allows you to search for a private school by zip code, state and county, type of school (all boys, girls, etc.), and compare schools side by side. It also provides information about the areas in which schools are located.
  www.privateschoolreview.com

• Independent Schools Admission Association of Greater New York Designed to simplify the process of selecting an independent school, this site provides an index of all of their member schools.
  http://www.isaagny.org

• Great Schools This site allows you to research and compare schools across the country. It is also a great resource for college preparation and readiness information.
  http://www.greatschools.net

• New York State Association of Independent Schools This site provides a directory of independent schools in New York, sorted by area, and provides weblinks to each school listed.
  http://www.nysais.org

• Private School Insider Provides many useful links to directories of private schools and admission to private schools.
  http://www.privateschoolinsider.com

• SSAT and ISEE Many independent schools require the Secondary School Admission Test or the Independent Schools Entrance Exam for entrance to the school. Visit www.ssat.org or www.erbtest.org/pages/ERB_ISEE.html for more information.

Parochial Schools:

• Archdiocese of New York Use this link to search for parochial schools of the Archdiocese in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island.
  http://www.archny.org

• Diocese of Brooklyn Use this link to search for parochial schools of the Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens.
  http://www.dioceseofbrooklyn.org

• TACHS Info . To attend a Catholic High School, students must take the Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools (TACHS). Use the link here to find out more.
  http://www.tachsinfo.com

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Below are a few helpful links for preparing your child for admission to a private or parochial school and getting financial aid for school tuitions.

• A Better Chance
  “A Better Chance is the preeminent national resource for recruiting, identifying and developing leaders among young people of color-African-American, Latino, Asian-American, and Native American—in the United States.”
  www.abetterchance.org

• Children’s Scholarship Fund
  “The Children’s Scholarship Fund Aims to maximize educational opportunity at all income levels by offering tuition assistance for needy families and promoting a diverse and competitive educational environment.”
  www.scholarhshipfund.org

• Prep for Prep
  “Prep’s strategy is to identify talented students from minority group backgrounds, prepare them for placement in independent schools…”
  www.prepforprep.org

• Scholarships in New York
  www.freescholarshipguide.com