PRIVATE SCHOOLS MAKE THE GRADE WITH SMALL CLASSES, NICHE CURRICULUMS

Why pick a private school? Just ask Meg Kennedy, a senior at Lake Forest Academy in north suburban Lake Forest.

"I do best at a small school," says Ms. Kennedy. Her biggest class has 14 students, and she gets a lot of help from her teachers and feels close to them. She also competes on the school's track team—something that might not have been possible at a big public high school—and has a well-rounded social life, with friends from all grade levels, not just other seniors.

The academics are challenging too, and Ms. Kennedy feels she'll be well-prepared for college. "The school is a good fit me," she says.

The Chicago area has a wide range of private schools. Some emphasize the arts, others focus on certain religious traditions or educational philosophies, and all stress academics.

Today's private schools don't fit the old stereotypes either. No longer enclaves of privilege and wealth, private or independent schools offer many students scholarships, and a growing population of overseas students adds to the diversity too.

At the same time, private schools, freed from the constraints that accompany public funding, can fashion their curriculums to suit the needs of their students. Private educators are often the first to experiment with new programs, teaching methods and approaches.

"We offer students the opportunity to investigate the world," says Evelyne Girardet, communications director at the Latin School of Chicago. For instance, 12 students from the school helped run a camp this summer for children with AIDs in Kigali, Rwanda. The students raised funds over the course of a school year to pay for their trip and for the supplies needed at the camp. It's just one of the programs offered by the school that involves travel overseas, says Ms. Girardet. "We promote global awareness."

EXTRA ATTENTION

As public school class sizes mushroom amid budget cuts, private schools generally offer small classes and lots of adult attention— a big reason why families pick a private school. Though private school students admit they'd occasionally like to fl y under the radar, they're generally glad their teachers really know them and how they're doing. Parents like that too.

The median student-teacher ratio in private schools was 8.8 to 1 in 2010-11, according to a survey by the National Association of Independent Schools, almost half that of the public school ratio, according to a 2011 survey from the Institute of Education Services at the U.S. Department of Labor. Another study, by the Center of Evaluation and Education Policy at Indiana University, found that more than twice as many private school students received helpful feedback from teachers on assignments than students at all other types of schools. Statistics also show that 99% of private school students graduate from high school and 90% attend four-year colleges.

Dan Kipp, a partner at private equity firm Winona Capital Management, says he feels that his son, a senior at Roycemore School in Evanston, benefits from the small class sizes of about 10 students. He doesn't think his son would thrive in a large school. "Roycemore is a high-touch environment," says Mr. Kipp, adding that his son loves the school. "It's very inclusive."

Rebecca Reategui agrees that small private schools include everyone in a variety of activities. She's a freshman this fall at Bennington College, a small liberal arts school in Vermont. Ms. Reategui graduated from North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka, where her senior class was 50 students. "Everyone knows everyone. It's a tight community," she says.

Ms. Reategui was also on the cross country team. She says she wasn't very good at track, but she had a lot of fun. "There were so many options."

In fact, every 9th grader at North Shore Country Day School must join a sports team. Each student must be in a theatrical production too. "The school is all about testing yourself and learning in a range of ways," notes Tom Doar, head of the school.

UNIQUE APPROACHES

Many families seek out a private school for its specialized curriculum.

At Chicago Academy for the Arts, which has about 150 highschoolers, applicants audition or present a portfolio for review prior to admission. About half the students who apply are accepted. Music or dance lessons that might be extracurricular activities at a public school are part of the daily schedule. "Kids need a desire to commit to this program," says Pam Jordan, head of the school.

Lycée Français de Chicago combines the well-regarded French school system curriculum and key American subjects, with students taking classes in English and French. In sixth grade, students add a third foreign language—Spanish, German or Mandarin. "Parents want a return on their investment," notes Alain Weber, school president. "Our students are tri-lingual and multicultural. It's a great advantage."

Many families seek schools that teach specific values. At Wheaton Academy, an evangelical Christian high school with 600 students in the western suburb, the curriculum includes Bible study.

Because Steve Remy wanted his children to attend Catholic schools, five of his seven children are now graduates of Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst. He and his wife felt their kids would not only get a good education there but also strong values. "There's a lot of involvement from parents. They know what values they want their kids to learn," says Mr. Remy, owner of RVG Partners, an accounting firm in Oak Brook.

Values can be reinforced at a school that can make its own rules. Saint Patrick High School for boys in Chicago screens students for drugs when they enter the school as 9th graders. Every fall, they're retested and a quarter of them are tested again each spring. "It gives our boys an excuse to say 'no' if they're out on the weekend," says Principal Joe Schmidt.

Besides teaching values, perhaps the biggest plus of a private school education is the bond between kids that fosters lifetime friendships. Mr. Schmidt says: "It's a brotherhood like nothing else."

— Jane Adler