For many parents, one of the most difficult decisions they face is where to send their child to school. This decision is wrestled with, prayed over, talked about and ultimately decided at an earlier age of the child than ever before. There are many considerations including cost, academic offerings, and location, to name a few. As the options are weighed, families may choose to explore the benefits of sending their children to private Christian schools.

Christ-Centered

A school that is built on the truth of God’s Word will instill in a child a worldview that includes the gospel message of hope, love, service, and redemption. The school should be a “training ground” to prepare for life in a world that is not Christ-centered. “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Community

Many parents of students in Christian schools say the most valuable benefit is the strong sense of community that exists within the school family — faculty, administrators, and parents, as well as the students. One mother said, “When I found out I had cancer, the school community prayed for my family, brought us dinner, picked up my children and loved us with a sacrificial love.”

Character

Proverbs 22:6 teaches, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” A clear picture of right and wrong must be planted in the hearts of children. Our postmodern society tells us there are no absolutes: What is right and good for you may not be right for me. A solid Christian education will include character education built on Biblical principles such as compassion for the poor and marginalized, humility, honesty and integrity. Scholar J. Gresham Machen said "An education that trains the mind without training the moral sense is a menace to civilization rather than a help.”

Consistency

Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.”If what is taught at home and church is repeated and reinforced at school, the foundation is stronger. Mixed signals are quite confusing, especially to young children, who are still very concrete in their thinking. Conflicting worldviews tend to make children uncertain and anxious.

Curriculum

Government-funded (public) schools and private secular schools are not able to teach the truth of God’s word. In a Christian school, teachers have the autonomy to present Biblical truth alongside scientific theory and incomplete historical accounts. Christian schools are not limited to the biased narrative often included in the textbooks and curriculum required by public and private secular schools. A child’s education will be holistic only when all needs can be met — mind, body and spirit.

While parents are and should be the primary influencers in a child’s life, children will spend over 900 hours in school each year of their elementary education. No school can promise or predict outcomes with 100 percent certainty. Parents pray and choose that which they believe to be best for their family and child, leaving the outcome to the One who created and loves each of the children entrusted to them.