San Diego’s private schools are the preferred public schools for teachers and students. They have the advantage of not being bound by many of the rules that apply to traditional public schools. In general, these schools give teachers and students more decision-making authority. More information to link below: https://smapse.com/catalog/san-diego-california/boarding-school/.
Rather than being responsible for enforcing rules and regulations, they are responsible for maintaining academic excellence and status. This freedom has brought some benefits to charter schools. They can independently experiment with new experimental methods and better ways to connect with students. It also avoids government regulation and government intervention. Charter schools view education as a product.
Today, parents and students have few opportunities to receive an education. In most cases, the two options are neighborhood schools or private schools, but for many families, these are often financially unaffordable. But today there are many learning options. Charter schools, home schools, professional schools, online schools, and nearby private and public schools offer a wide range of options for students and their families.
The U.S. School System
In U.S. schools, children study for 12 years – from ages 5-6 to 17-18. Each school independently determines the age of entry for foreign students. In some cases, children are accepted from age 7, but few parents are willing to send their children abroad at that age, so as a rule, the middle (13-14 years old) or older (16-17 years old) school age comes.
Coming to the United States with their parents, they can be admitted at any age, and the 12 classes are divided into elementary (1-5), middle school (6-8) and high school (9-12). All of these divisions (elementary, middle, and high school) are separate educational institutions, and each is also like an academic campus within itself. Educational institutions are separate from each other, and each has its own director, teachers, and administrative staff.
Elementary Schools
There are no public kindergartens ─ children attend private kindergartens and stay at home with relatives or babysitters. Secondary education in the United States does not start in first grade, but in grade zero, which is called kindergarten, but kindergarten in the United States is usually called pre-school (not grade zero in schools).
Thus, children start in “preschool” (age 3-4) at age 5 and then enter “kindergarten” or nursery school. The elementary school classroom is divided into several learning areas – students sit either at round tables for 5-6 people, on the carpet near the bookshelves, or behind the computer (usually there are several computers in each class). The teacher gives the tasks, the children do them on their own, and they can move around safely (this is even welcome).
The teacher follows a certain daily routine, not divided into sections, and students eat lunch at large recesses, which are held outside during fall and spring breaks. Basic subjects: writing, reading, math basics, the world around them (taught by one teacher), creative, music, and physical education classes are taught by other teachers.
Secondary School
In the middle class of American educational institutions, each subject has its own teacher and students have some freedom in choosing their subjects. Math, English, science (physics, chemistry, biology, geology, astronomy), history, physical education, and creativity are still required subjects. Students choose 1-2 subjects of their own choice: most often computer technology, cooking, foreign languages, or art.
High School
High school means more freedom in choosing subjects and levels of study.
Starting in 9th grade, some subjects can be studied in greater depth. In most cases, students choose the subjects they want to study later. Advanced Placement consists of 38 programs. The most prestigious colleges do not consider certificates with a grade point average below 4.25, which cannot be earned without an Advanced AP course.
High school consists of 4 years of study, from 9th to 12th grade: they have their own majors, so from grade 9, get ready for school (college, professional courses, colleges). During your education, you can accumulate enough knowledge for admission and get a loan (special education, not bank), which will save significantly. The high school involves mandatory courses in English, mathematics, social studies, and natural subjects.
Studying in San Diego for Children and Teenagers ─ The Advantages of the City
San Diego is a large city in California with a high standard of living, a well-developed educational and business district, and a rich social life. The growth of the science sector and high-tech companies have made San Diego a leader among developing cities on the West Coast of the United States.
San Diego is a vibrant and unique city that hosts the largest international anime festival, Comic-Con: Money Magazine ranked San Diego as the fifth most livable city. It is attractive to tourists due to its developed beach infrastructure and the abundance of amusement parks.
Preschools and Schools in California and San Diego
Preschool in California is optional, but children can be placed in kindergarten if desired.
Kindergarten is usually paid for, but there is a subsidy system and free places for low-income families. A child can be placed in public kindergarten at age 4 and in a private kindergarten at age 3 months. The cost of private kindergarten programs ranges from $500 to $2,500 per month.
Compulsory education in California begins at age six. The authorities are obligated to provide a place for the child in a local educational institution. There is no test necessary, but foreign children must pass the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) in order to find a program that suits them.
Private schools in California score significantly higher than public schools in terms of educational quality and college acceptance rates. The best private schools are concentrated in Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, and Pato Alto. Four of them rank among the top 10 schools in the country.
How do apply to private schools in San Diego?
Applying to American schools is usually a long and complicated process. The admissions application is a long form that requires applicants to include not only their grades on school and standardized tests but also their interests, achievements, and awards outside of the school curriculum, as well as one or more essays on a specific topic. In addition, students must submit letters of recommendation from their teachers and, at some schools, pass an interview.
Many schools evaluate applicants based solely on grades and test scores, but also look at applicants’ extracurricular achievements – sports, arts, community service – and accept those who show particular initiative and add luster and diversity to school life. It’s not just about level, but also about areas of achievement: an athlete playing a sport that lacks participants, or a musician playing the right instrument, can be selected even if his or her other qualifications don’t promise much.
Many schools require you to take the SLEP English Language Test. The best schools require a more rigorous TOEFL iBT English test score of 90 or higher. In addition, the best schools must take the SSAT General Education test or even the SAT I – a test that tests knowledge of core subjects. Some schools require you to appear in person for an interview at the school. Some schools do not require an interview at all, or do not require a Skype or phone interview. In the United States, there is no limit to the number of educational institutions to which an applicant can apply. Therefore, prospective students usually send their documents to several schools.
Tuition at San Diego and California Schools
The average cost of private school education in California is approximately $13,000 per year. Meanwhile, parents pay an average of $10,000 per year for an elementary education and $18,000 for a high school education. Tuition at the most prestigious educational institutions can range from $200,000 to $30,000 per year.
