In a recent poll conducted by the American Family News Network, a Christian news service, people were asked the following question – “What’s the primary reason most Christian parents send their children to secular public schools instead of opting for private or home schooling?” The results were quite interesting.
Of the 34,476 respondents, a full 70 percent of the respondents answered, “It is easier and less expensive than private or home schooling.” But in the same poll, only four percent said “They are convinced public schools offer a higher-quality education for their children.” It would seem from this result that while most believe that private education does offer better quality education, many Christians do not consider it because the perception is it is too expensive.
But much has changed since the days when private schools were seen as elite institutions serving only a privileged class. Today plenty of ‘middle-class’ parents are investigating private school, either in response to a specific academic or spiritual need, or out of dissatisfaction with local government schools. According to the National Association of Independent School, private-school enrollment shot up 19.4 percent in the last 10 years. While economic prosperity over the last decade is one reason for the attendance boom, an increase in financial-aid assistance offered by schools is also a factor.
“Over 55% of our students receive financial aid,” says Elizabeth Hosmann, Admissions Director at Trinity Classical Academy in Santa Clarita. “Many families who never thought they could afford private Christian education have been pleasantly surprised to find out that they indeed qualify for assistance and can give their children the gift of an excellent Christian education.”
Surprisingly, even some parents earning six-figure salaries discover they qualify for assistance, because Trinity uses a financial aid analysis that goes beyond income to include assets and special circumstances. Families with older siblings in college, for example, or heavy debts due to medical bills, school loans, or job loss, may receive help with tuition even though their salaries appear substantial.
Don’t assume you can’t afford private, Christian education. Many families are making private education a reality by taking advantage of school aid, examining their lifestyle and considering creative financial adjustments, and still more are getting help from extended families to help pay for private education. For Christian families, when God wants to do something, like giving your children an education that honors Him, He finds ways to make it happen.
For more information about Classical, Christian education, contact Trinity Classical Academy at 661-296-2601 or visit www.TrinityClassicalAcademy.com.