Choosing a Private School: What Helps Fearless Thinkers Grow
When choosing a private school, look for an environment where academic challenge comes with thoughtful guidance, students have opportunities to explore their interests, and growing confidence shows up in everyday life.
A school visit can help you see those qualities firsthand. Listen to the questions students ask. Notice how teachers respond when an idea needs more work. Ask students what they have tried that once felt difficult.
At BASIS Independent Schools, we believe students are capable of more than they can imagine. Our approach brings together an advanced liberal arts and sciences curriculum and expert teachers who help students develop the knowledge and confidence to think for themselves.
For families exploring private schools, the important question is how that belief takes shape in a child’s experience.
How does a school help students become confident
Confidence can grow through opportunities to attempt something difficult, receive support, and try again. Look for a school that can describe both the challenge and the people who help a student work through it.
Consider Bennett, a student at BASIS Independent Schools in Manhattan. In Grade 3, speaking and performing in front of others were difficult for him. He left the stage during a drama performance after stumbling over a line and was reluctant to read his work aloud at a publishing celebration.
During Grade 4, with support from his Learning Expert Teachers and the Student Affairs team, Bennett began taking on new roles. He performed as Pongo in an after-school production of 101 Dalmatians. He also became a student ambassador, conducting admissions tours and speaking with prospective families on student panels.
His story offers a meaningful way to think about growth. A student who found it difficult to speak in front of others became someone who could help new families get to know his school.
On your visit, ask: How do you help students take a step that feels challenging to them?
What does meaningful academic challenge look like
Meaningful challenge gives students something worth thinking about and asks them to explain how they reached an answer. As you compare private schools, ask how teachers help students build understanding and apply what they know.
During a classroom visit, listen for students explaining their reasoning, considering another perspective, or using evidence to support an idea. Ask how lessons connect across subjects and how learning builds from one grade to the next.
The conversation should include support, too. What happens when a student needs another explanation? How do teachers recognize when a student is ready to go further? Those answers can help you understand how an ambitious curriculum will work for your child.
How much room is there for a student’s own interests
A child’s interests can open the door to deeper learning. Look for opportunities to investigate a question, create something original, or take responsibility for a project.
Ask students what they are excited to work on and why. Their answers can reveal how much ownership they have in their learning. You might hear about a classroom investigation, a performance, or an idea they are developing with classmates.
Bennett’s experience is one example of how opportunities beyond the classroom can become part of a student’s growth. His participation in theater and admissions events gave him different ways to practice speaking and connect with others.
What should families look for on a private school tour
A tour is a chance to connect a school’s promises with the experience you observe. Alongside practical questions about schedules and programs, consider asking:
How do teachers get to know my child’s strengths and where they need support?
Can you share an example of a student growing in confidence?
How do students explore an interest or contribute an idea?
What opportunities will my child have to explain their thinking?
Speak with students when possible. Ask what surprised them about their school, what they enjoy, and who they turn to when they need help. Their perspectives can help you picture your child’s day more clearly.
Where could your child grow next
Choosing a school means considering who your child is today and the possibilities ahead. At BASIS Independent Schools, we want students to discover the satisfaction of understanding something deeply and the confidence to take their next step.
We invite you to visit, meet our community, and see what that could look like for your family.
Find a BASIS Independent School near you and explore upcoming tours and admissions events.