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From our Principal, Patti Sanderson
In my high school years, I was a pretty good tennis player.
During my senior year, my doubles partner and I were ranked
second in our conference. With my team’s MVP trophy
in hand, I confidently joined my college’s tennis team.
The first day of practice had me hitting against women who
hit harder and with more accuracy than I had ever encountered.
I quickly altered my assessment about my ability as a tennis
player. Their level of play demanded so much more of me that
I needed to improve or to not play at all.
My attendance at a recent seminar presented by Pat Bassett,
president of the National Association of Independent Schools
(NAIS), confirmed for me that peers do significantly influence
each other. Mr. Bassett stated that the value of persistence
and the importance of peer norms were the leading factors
for post-secondary achievement. The results of the National
Education Longitudinal Study (NELS) show that students who
attended NAIS schools have experienced remarkable success
relative to their peers. This study began tracking a nationally
representative sample of eighth grade students in 1988. Two-thirds
of these eighth graders anticipated attending and graduating
from college. By 2000, only 38.1% of these students who attended
public schools had completed a four year college degree while
76.3% of these students who attended NAIS schools received
a bachelor degree or higher. Quite an astounding comparison!
Just as my college teammates were more focused and disciplined
than my high school tennis team, more students in private
schools are achievement oriented than their public school
peers. I was a better tennis player having played with better
teammates. Your child will have better chances for success
in life because he/she has attended an independent school.
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