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We are very fortunate in that our two children have attended Portland Jewish Academy, which prepares its students for success from an early age through Middle School.  The small school allows individual care, which I think is vital to success.  When you look around the car park, you see many older model cars (we personally drive 10 year old cars), which reflects the sacrifices parents make because they believe in the education and caring environment PJA provides.  )The school also provides financial aid to around 50% of the students, which is a huge percentage for a private school.)  The kids go to high school more than prepared, and many are valedictorians.  The majority go on to college.  The kids also learn independent study and research methods from an early age, which prepares them very well for high school and college.  PJA is also a candidate school for the IB programme, which is less common in K-8 schools than the high school programme, but which is a great preparer for later life, especially in this global age.

Our older daughter now attends Riverdale High School, which has similar educational methods and goals.  Again, independent study and giving the kids a sense of responsibility for their education.

Both schools also encourage a significant amount of service work, locally or in the wider world.

Parents are very involved in the schools; many of them are involved in learning themselves at some level, so teach by example.  An expectation that kids will take their education seriously is a given.  This active approach takes a lot of time and commitment, not to mention money, but we feel this is what it takes for children to succeed.

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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