Independent & Private School

Why choose an Independent School?

Families most often choose to send their child to independent school because they are seeking an educational environment that matches their values, offers a rigorous academic program, and holds the promise of knowing each child well within a strong and caring community.

Independent school teachers, particularly those at progressive schools like Park Day, work with great intention to get to know each and every student and create safe and collaborative learning environments. This is the solid foundation upon which to build deep intellectual development and healthy identity formation, and is part of progressive education’s distinctive educational philosophy.

• Good independent schools center the whole child, and explicitly consider student’s social emotional development alongside academic growth.
• Social justice, inclusion, a sense of belonging, environmental responsibility, and intellectual curiosity are a focus.
• Critical thinking is prioritized over rote memorization, and independent schools, and progressive schools in particular, are noted for teaching in cross curricular, project based ways.
• Creativity is centered and students are encouraged to demonstrate their understanding in a variety of ways, all of which brings a depth of understanding and a joy to learning.
• Independent school teachers use a variety of well researched assessment methods, and their curriculum isn’t tied to any one testing approach.
• Independent schools often host smaller class sizes, with an average class size of around 18 in the lower grades, and 20 in the upper grades.

At Park Day School, the emphasis is on academic engagement, critical thinking, and cultivation of intrinsic motivation embedded within a culture and community that prioritizes inclusion, kindness, and a sense of belonging. The goal is not just for children to acquire knowledge, but to become curious and capable learners who take academic risks, understand different perspectives, and participate meaningfully in their communities.

What is the difference between a Private School and an Independent School?

Unlike public schools which are funded through a combination of local, state, and federal dollars, a private school is any school that does not receive state funding. All independent schools fall under the broader “private school” category, although not all private schools are “independent.”

• Independent schools are nonprofit institutions specifically governed by an independent board of trustees. Independent schools typically can be more flexible and unique in terms of their mission, but often follow stricter guidelines for governance.
• Private schools that are not considered independent schools are most often governed by religious organizations, for-profit corporations, or larger entities. They may therefore adhere to governance structures that are influenced and managed by larger or more expansive umbrella organizations/companies.

How is the structure of an Independent School different?

Due to their independent governance, independent schools have the flexibility to create curriculum that best aligns with the organization’s mission and/or educational goals.

Independent schools typically adhere to state educational guidelines and standards, but will follow an educational approach that meets their core mission. This may include a focus on project based learning, differentiating instruction, or including social justice and civic engagement as a core tenet. Independent schools may also utilize assessment tools that measure student understanding in a way that is centered on the child – keeping students in a proximal zone of learning as much as possible.

As a progressive school, many things set Park Day apart:

• Students learn by doing and are encouraged to follow their own curiosity.
• The focus is on mastering academic challenges, and developing intrinsic motivation.
• Teachers and lesson scope and sequence helps prepare students for participation in a democratic society.
• There is a strong emphasis on collaboration and perspective taking which helps prepare students to navigate future learning and professional environments
• A deep commitment to focusing on the whole child, and their social emotional growth alongside their academic growth.

Most independent schools offer smaller class sizes that maximize student interaction with teachers and build a nurturing learning environment. The smaller nature of most independent schools also provides the opportunity for consciously building inclusive, diverse student and family communities that encourage active participation and engagement.

Park Day is widely renowned as the Bay Area’s top TK – 8 school developing intrinsic motivation and a mastery approach to academics.

What Sets Park Day Apart

Why We Love Progressive Education