When I sat in the office of the school principal, Sr. Doris Laventhal, along with my family at my final interview before acceptance to Villa Walsh Academy, an all-girls private Catholic school in Morristown, New Jersey, I somehow sensed that my life would never be the same after that day. It was the climax of a long acceptance process that is the most selective in New Jersey. That process included entrance and IQ exams, submission of application, multiple interviews, letters of reference, every test score that I had ever taken and every grade that I had ever received in my life. When Sr. Doris finally invited me to join the small student body of one-hundred on a secluded campus of over 120 acres it brought tears to my mother’s eyes. As they discussed my personality, likes, and dislikes, my mother hinted at the fact that my “gifts and talents” didn’t include athletics – which had to be the understatement of the century. The young nun who was quietly filing paperwork, eyes averted, and head bowed behind Sr. Doris mumbled, “She ought to get a Varsity letter sweater here!”

That may have been the first “good sign” that it was the place for me. It was an environment where it was cool to be intellectual, there was an almost unparalleled “culture of kindness” among the “Villa girls” and above average achievements were not only encouraged, but also expected. The school lived up to its stellar reputation, and was worth every penny. It made all of the difference in my life: it shaped my views on education, values, and life itself.

Attending Villa Walsh Academy was what turned out to be right for me, and somehow my parents knew that it would be, and made it happen, no matter what the cost and personal sacrifice was to them. However, what is right for one student is not right for every student. There are as many different types of schools as there are students, and every one needs to be evaluated with a critical eye. But make no mistake about it, whether we are considering Private schools, Public Schools, Charter Schools, Online Schools, Religious Schools, or one of the myriad of alternative schools available – it doesn’t come down to a question of price, but of value. Where is the value in the schools that are available, and how will it benefit your child? Remember the words of businessman and philanthropist Warren Buffett, “Price is what you pay, value is what you get.”

Public Schools

If you think public school is free, you are wrong. Public schools are funded mostly through property taxes. So, what makes Arizona attractive to many residents, may also be its downfall.

Years ago, when Arizona was primarily a vacation resort, a retirement state, and a place to which doctors sent their allergy and pulmonary patients because of the dry climate, the low property taxes was a motivating factor in the decision to move to the Grand Canyon State. In recent years there has been an influx of residents to the state – and many of them from states where the property taxes are easily four to five times what they are in Arizona. Many of these new inhabitants are not members of the usual AARP crowd. They are young families with children. At this point, the low property taxes have been stretched to the limit in order to accommodate the influx of students. Couple this with a failing economy, and it may spell “disaster.”

So, just how does Arizona compare to other states in the nation? Arizona’s expenditure per student is little more than $5000 per year. Compare this to the state of New Jersey – a state that is regularly the target of many jokes – that spends more than $16,000 per student, per year, and very few people are laughing. New Jersey is number one in the nation when it comes to public school expenditure per student. Where does Arizona fall on the same list? Arizona is number forty-eight of fifty states. Only Idaho and Utah fall below Arizona’s yearly expenditure per student. Arizona will move to the bottom of the list if the current proposed state budgets pass.

Deep budget cuts are plaguing Arizona right now, and will directly affect the Deer Valley School District (DVUSD). These budget cuts – which began this year, an estimated 4.5 million dollars absorbed in the current budget – were necessary to help balance the state’s budget. The District is planning on an estimated twenty-five to thirty million dollars in cuts for next year. However the “good news” is that, according to Sandi Hicks, Director or Public Relations for DVUSD, there are some guiding principles in where cuts will be made. “We will stay away from the classroom in general, especially when it comes to class size,” explains Hicks. “In our district we have a very solid class size policy (please refer to www.dvusd.org.) The District is welcoming input from the community and invites parents and concerned individuals to attend one of the public forums on the topic – in fact three, more have been added recently.

So, when the actual value of public school is examined, there is a lot to be considered, budget cuts aside. “We have the highest quality f teachers and instruction,” said Hicks. She explained, “Non-public schools may not require a teacher to hold a teaching certification. Ours do, and 98 percent are also designated as ‘Highly Qualified.” This means that they must be practicing in their area of instruction and have demonstrated proficiency in that area.”

There is even more value to be found in the areas of enrichment and extra curricular activities. “Very exciting public school education reforms are happening now in our school district,” explained Hicks. “Last year, we named a forty-member blue-ribbon task force to examine recommendations for schools of the future. “Project 2021” is a coalition of parents, students, teachers, and administrators who meet monthly to research and discuss the ways in which the face of education is changing global job market and economy.

Tricia Graham, principal of New River Elementary School explains, “Currently all schools are educating and training students for jobs which do not even exist at this point. The Boulder Creek Region’s goals are to 1. Increase second language proficiency to a minimum of two consecutive years of the same language in high school and initiate second language study at an elementary level pending further research. 2. Increase technological literacy through content courses. 3. Increase rigor and access to challenging curriculum in all classrooms. By working toward these goals, we will automatically increase student engagement in the classroom.”
Principal Graham sees the necessity, and opportunity for drastic change. “As a parent and a school administrator, I see the face of education needs to change exponentially. We live in an information age where current, worldwide information is available at our fingertips or one of the many TV stations we receive. Twenty years ago, we had to research and find information in a library or through our teachers and books at school. Many of our students and our own children are much more technology-savvy than we, or their teachers are. Email only began wide-usage in the mid 1990s. Look how far we have come! We can get that information faster now on our iPhones and Blackberrys than we could on our home computers even five years ago. However, we cannot discount nor can we devalue the important role that school plays in the sense of community and social skills; nor can we devalue the role a caring, certified, and highly-qualified teacher plays in the life-long learning of a child.”

With a diverse environment and a plan for the future, a public school education may be the one that inspires your child to dream.

Charter Schools

Charter schools are a relatively new, radical innovation that has only been in existence since the 1990s. This new concept was born of the need to tailor the schools to what the community actually needs and desires, rather than try to remake existing schools in order to fit those needs.

State-legislated charter schools are legally independent, innovative, outcome-based, public schools. They are public schools – they do not charge tuition. Charter schools are mandated to teach all students, not just gifted or well-financed students, and admission cannot be limited by any intellectual or athletic characteristic. Prospective students do not have to show special skills or pass tests for admission, however the schools may target certain enduring learning problems, developmental needs, or educational possibilities. They tend to have specific organizing themes and educational philosophies that guide their work. Students and their parents may be attracted by the educational idea and vision that guides the learning experience offered by a Charter School. Delivery of instruction may also be varied, as there are charter schools that deliver instruction online (please see section on Online Schools, below.) Parents choose charter schools for a variety of reasons – high academic standards, small class size, innovative approaches, or educational philosophies (such as the Montessori method) in line with their own. Some also have chose charter schools for their relatively small size and associated safety (charter schools serve an average of 250 students.)

Because charter schools receive government funding, chances are they will not be untouched by the budget cuts that are imminent. However, just how much they will be affected may depend on the size of the school.

If a student and his family were to find the right charter school for them, it would hold an immense amount of value for them. Get out and investigate what is in our area – there are quite a few well-respected charter schools with proven track records of academic excellence.

Private Schools

Private schools are tuition based, and may come in the form of a religion-based school, a non-denominational school focused on academics, or even a boarding school.

Kelly Johnston, Director of Marketing at The Orme School (www.ormeschool.org; 928.632.7601) a private boarding/day school north of Anthem, agrees with the public school assertion that the Twenty-First Century will call for increased awareness of and achievements in academics, and that it will be “defined by people who can adapt, evolve, and who are original thinkers.” However, unlike the public schools, private schools do not feel the budget cuts from the state. Johnston observes, “As President Obama referenced in the recent State of the Union Address, education is of monumental importance right now. Fifty percent of the students who start college drop out. To quote him, ‘It is no longer acceptable to drop out of high school.’ It lets the country down as well as the individual. That’s why it is more important than ever to get a good education. How terribly ironic, then, that the state is forced to make budget cuts statewide in education. Usually when those cuts come, they end up with entire programs being eliminated – programs like music, art, and athletics. While the economy affects us like everyone else, we are able to keep programs intact that are dwindling in public school. At Orme, arts are considered a core part of the curriculum. We also believe in every student being physically challenged through athletics and outdoor leadership programs. As the oldest boarding/day school in Arizona, we are preparing students for success in college: academically, socially, and mentally.”

Darren Lee, School Administrator of The Caepe School (www.thecaepeschool.org; 623.551.7808) in Anthem asserts, “private schools engage students and spark the desire to learn. Teachers expect excellence from students and students tend to live up to those expectations. This rigor helps to account for above average standardized test scores and increased college attendance. Parents often look to private school as an extension of the home in promoting the values they embrace, and private schools respond.”

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that more than three-quarters of private school parents are “very satisfied” with their child’s school. What may almost be of more value in today’s society, is that in a joint student with the Bureau of Justice Statistics and a private study by the Horatio Alger Association, it is reported that a significant percentage of students feel safe in private schools.

For the families who may want to incorporate religion throughout their student’s day and have it weaved into academic curriculum, there are religion-based schools for all grade levels in the North Valley. Tom Geyer, Principal of Cross of Christ Christian School (www.crossofchristschool.com; 623.551.3454) a Lutheran-based private school in Anthem, believes in their mission, and offers these words about the value of a Christ-centered educational experience, “Some suggest that Christian school don’t have real world and real life situations in their school. It has been suggested that Christian schools have been sheltered from the problems and challenges that public schools face each day. In some cases that may be true, but I would refute those who say that we don’t have the real world in our school. For our real world includes Christ in all that we do and provide the opportunity to teach reading, math, science, art, social studies, and music in a Christ-centered environment and to speak words of Christ’s forgiveness, grace, and love when discipline situations arise. Such values and spiritual elements prepare our young people to face life knowing that they are never alone in their journey.”

Depending on the values that your student and your family espouse, there may be private schools that hold more value for your student, above any other. Find the school that is right for your family, and when you have finally found an academic “home” one cannot put a price tag on it.

Online Schools

Just a few years ago, the options we now have available in online education were unheard of. Programs now exist for elementary education through terminal degrees in specialized fields. Online schools may be private or charter schools, and there are a number of options offered in Arizona. These online options can hold much value for the right type of student. Students work within a rich curriculum and attain technical and organizational skills as well. Parents have complete visibility into their student’s lessons, interactions with teachers and school staff, and academic achievement. An online education allows a family to work hand-in-hand with the virtual school to educate students using Twenty-first Century curriculum and technology.

One of the options available is Arizona Virtual Academy, a K12 school (www.k12.com/azva). Because the school is a charter school, there is no cost associated with the program. Instruction comes in the form of a curriculum that meets or exceeds state standards, and students demonstrate their knowledge and skills through state standardized tests. Computers and printers are loaned through the program if needed, and course materials are free. There is also an online tuition-based private school option available in K12’s International Academy, iCademy (www.k12.com/int)

So what type of student might find value in an online program? According to High School Director Megan B. Henry, “Many parents choose virtual schools in order to take a more active role in their child’s education and to work in partnership with the school and teacher(s) within the home environment. This is particularly true of the elementary program in which the parent takes on the role of the learning coach, mentoring their student through the online curriculum under the guidance of the virtual teacher. Parents might consider the secondary programs for the depth of curriculum, the large number and level of courses, and the ability for student to pace themselves, within a week, through their lessons. Many parents enjoy the flexibility of an online program; they can school for six hours a day, but fit those schooling hours around museum visits, piano lessons, or doctor’s appointments. For some parents, this is a great benefit, for others, it is a necessity based on the needs of the student and his or her family. Every parent has a different reason for choosing AZVA for their child – I have heard everything from students who have been bullied and need a fresh start (safety concerns,) to parents who had to drive an hour each way to get their kids to school, to children with chronic illnesses who had previously missed too much school, and finally students who are pursuing acting, modeling, sports, or other extracurricular activities that didn’t fit with the brick and mortar school hours.

Online schooling may be the environment in which your child flourishes. Parents might want to enroll their child in an online course to give it a “virtual” test run!

Financing Your Academic Dream

Once you have decided on the school that offers your child the opportunity he or she deserves, don’t let finances get in the way. There are comfortable ways to finance your child’s education, and with a little bit of determination and creativity, it can be done,
Banks such as Wells Fargo Bank, as well as corporate institutions offer education loans that have great terms that fit the needs of a parent who is struggling to offer their child what will be a good fit.

Be sure to “let your fingers do the walking” and research both needs-based and merit-based scholarships that are available in your state, region, and school. Even your employer may offer scholarships to dependents of employees. Believe it or not, there are scholarships that go unused each year.

Something that should not be overlooked is the Arizona School Tuition Tax Credit, which provides a credit against state income tax obligations for Arizona taxpayers who make a contribution to a qualified School Tuition Organization. The maximum contribution is $1000 for married taxpayers and $500 for single taxpayers. This contribution will be credited dollar for dollar against your Arizona income tax. In order to be eligible for this tax credit for the tax year, the contribution must be made by December 31st. Ask your child’s school (or prospective school) about what organizations they work with.

Finally, if you have multiple children attending the same school, don’t forget to ask about a multi-child discount, which most schools offer.

Investigating the right options for your child, and then subsequently making the right decision for him may be the single most important thing you do for him. Leave no stone unturned – make it a part time job, if need be. The monetary and time investment will never outweigh the result, which will pay off exponentially.