Education is a hot topic these days, especially in light of the provocative, powerful film Waiting for Superman. It would astound many black parents, most of whom are painfully familiar with our nation’s failing public schools, to learn that there are excellent private, college preparatory schools that would pay to have their children attend them. Though most of these schools are majority White, many are eager to connect with the African-American community, other communities of color, and those from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Implicit in this stated interest in diversity is a commitment to extend financial assistance to those who need it. But would an investment in independent schooling be a worthy one for your child?
Sandra E. Timmons, president of A Better Chance, the only national organization that identifies, recruits, places, and supports students of color in independent college preparatory schools, says these schools work because of their holistic approach. “It’s not just about the academics,†she says. “There’s also the community service and high cultural aspects that promote a love of learning. The campuses are beautiful and comfortable, so students feel like the school is theirs–they own it. Teachers aren’t disciplinarian or authoritarian–no one’s going to yell at your kids and tell them to get out of the hallway. They’re free to lounge around, read, or study, and achievement is expected from all students.â€
 Timmons also says the teachers have room to be innovative. Because they aren’t bound by a prescriptive curriculum, they’re free to create one that’s engaging and flexible.
 Susan Fox, whose son, Lucien, has attended Dalton, an independent school in New York City for all six of his years of schooling, is happy with her son’s experiences.
“He was a very bright toddler, and I was concerned that he wouldn’t be challenged or understood in a public school setting,†says Fox. Fox felt that her son needed to be challenged and nurtured. His school’s highly stimulating, creative environment has been a good fit for him, and she encourages Black parents of all socio-economic backgrounds to explore independent schooling for their children.
“Look for schools that offer robust, flexible after-school care,†she suggests. “That’s one indication of their interest in attracting diverse families.â€
Fox and her husband connected to Dalton through Early Steps, a unique program in New York that works with youngsters prior to their kindergarten or first-grade years. All the other programs (see Resources below) target children in middle school or even high school. By then, it’s often too late, says Early Steps Executive Director Jacqueline Pelzer. Early Steps supports families of color through the school selection and application process; it also assists with school tours and financial aid applications, and positions children to be accepted into the city’s top independent schools.
What does Pelzer look for in the preschoolers she works with? Not necessarily precocious reading–though she has known youngsters who were reading at age 3–but she expects them to recognize the difference between numbers and letters, to speak in coherent sentences, to know basic colors, and “to be open to wonder.â€
An Education-focused Lifestyle
Independent schools differ from other learning institutions in that they require a commitment from families–they don’t support the drop-off-your-child-at-the-school-door lifestyle. “You may have to restructure your life to make this a priority,†notes Fox. Timmons discloses that the families are being interviewed just as much as the students are, and that parents are seen as “a volunteer corps.â€
But the education the students receive is worth it, says Pelzer, who says graduates of independent schools make up 25% to 30% of students in the Ivy League. Fox, who calls her son’s teachers “amazing,†has been pleased. “They’ve surpassed my expectations. They understand who my son is and discipline him gently, in a way that allows him to maintain his sense of self. There’s no ‘bad child’ ethos.â€
Pelzer encourages families of color
to explore the independent school option. “These schools are sincere about diversity,†she says. “I tell [the parents I work with] to suspend doubt while maintaining a healthy skepticism.â€Unfortunately, doubt is easy to come by. African-Americans make up only 6% of the roughly 588,000 students in schools that are members of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), a membership organization that is the national voice of independent schools; nonmember NAIS schools have even fewer–only 5% of 52,000 students are African-American. This stark imbalance leaves some Black parents uneasy. Concerned that their child will merely serve as someone else’s cultural experience, or that their children will develop only a tenuous connection to their own community give them pause.
Manasa Tangalin, executive director of the Independent School Alliance in Los Angeles, works with the most underrepresented populations in independent schools: African-American, Latino, and Native American boys and girls. Support for students is an important part of what it does, perhaps because of the age range of its students. “Our organization is the only one in the country that works with students K-12,†Tangalin says. The Alliance assists families through the admissions process, but also provides a “whole series of programs†that support students after they’re admitted. The support component is for the “students and families as well as the schools.â€
Financial Aid Is Available
Perhaps the greatest obstacle to an independent school education for most black families is the price tag. According to the NAIS, the average median tuition is $18,347 per year; in some areas it
can reach $35,000. But Tangalin notes that 82% of the families she works with receive aid that makes independent school possible for them. Timmons, who also says financial aid at many of these schools is available, encourages parents who receive an inadequate award to ask for more. She stresses the need, however, to get applications in early. “Deadlines matter. Schools have more money early in the process. Early applications get more.â€Timmons advises interested parents contact local or regional resources, such as Independent School Alliance, before contacting A Better Chance. “First ask parents who have children in independent schools about their process, then link with an organization that can support you while you’re selecting schools and applying to them,†she advises. She does not recommend applying on your own.
Interested in pursuing independent schooling for your child? Many schools take youngsters up through 11th grade, but you must begin the process the year before. See resources below to help you get started.
Know of resources that should be added to this list? Or do you have a child in an independent school? Feel free to comment below. Â
More Resources
Prep for Prep (New York area)
The Steppingstone Foundation (Boston area)
Boston Scholars Program (Boston)
Oliver Scholars Program (Northeast)
Black Student Fund (Washington, D.C. area)
Independent School Alliance (Southern California)
National Partnership for Educational Access