Benefits of an Independent School Education
Finding the right environment–the independent school that best fits your child and works for your family–will make a world of difference for your child’s education. Choosing an independent school for your child or children’s education is an investment in their future and one that will pay dividends throughout their lifetime.
At an independent school, you will find an environment that nurtures intellectual curiosity, stimulates personal growth, and encourages critical thinking and innovation. Independent schools are committed to providing students from kindergarten through high school with a unique and high quality education and to helping young people develop-not only as students, but also as well-rounded individuals.
IPA is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World Continuum School (IB programs offered to all grades), one of only two in the state*. The IB programs and learner profile support IPA’s mission and vision to provide an environment where all students develop:
- Strength of character, based upon the core values of respect for others, recognition of the inherent value of each human being, generosity of spirit and the power of human kindness;
- Commitment to become involved citizens both within their communities and the world – citizens who understand and practice democratic values;
- Confidence to maximize the use of their intellectual, academic, physical, artistic and creative gifts in preparation for college and as life-long learners
In addition, students and alumni of schools like IPA, which are part of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), hold distinct advantages over students without the benefit of an independent school education.
At the request of the NAIS, the College Board looked at scores on the 2014 SAT and compiled a report comparing statistics of public and private school students’ results on the exam. Students attending an NAIS-member school scored higher than their public school counterparts; in many cases girls also outscored boys. Beginning in spring 2016, a redesigned SAT will be administered; this retooled SAT will place a greater focus on critical thinking. Read more about the SAT report here.
A study conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA looked at how graduates of independent schools fared in college as compared with public school graduates. They found that freshmen from an independent school background felt more prepared than their public school counterparts and experienced a more successful adjustment to the demands of college life.
Independent school graduates had greater confidence in themselves to succeed, and combined their academic and career goals with a desire to make a contribution to their community to a greater extent than the public school graduates in the study. Read more about the UCLA study here.
*Only one other school in Hawaii, Le Jardin Academy, offers the IB program to all grades.
