List of 6 items.

• The Independent School Difference at Ranney

  Independent schools are valued for their dedication to mission, intellectual inquiry, rigorous course of study, and curricula that is creative, meaningful, and relevant to history, society, and progress for the future. Ranney School is the only Age 3-Grade 12 co-ed, secular, independent day school serving Monmouth & Ocean Counties. At Ranney, students have the opportunity to pursue all of their ambitions, from rigorous academics and leadership opportunities to the visual and performing arts, athletics and technology. Ranney is a school that children can truly grow up in and reach their full potential; it is a place where teachers and parents play a fundamental role in shaping the next generation for meaningful, honorable, and creative leadership and contribution.

   

  True Independence

  Ranney School is governed by a Board of Trustees, rather than a public school board or other outside governing body. The Board is responsible for establishing overall policy and assuring financial stability. Ranney relies on tuition, charitable donations, and other revenues. It is the duty of the Board not to operate the school, but to see that the school is well operated.

   

  Mission-driven Education combined with Admissions Selectivity & High Academic Standards

  Independent schools like Ranney are not governed by specific state laws or educational trends regarding what to teach; they are free to design curricula and co-curricular activities that are mission-based and responsive to needs in society and global events. Programs are grounded in a respect of tradition, but are also renewed continually for meaningful approaches and best-practice.  It is the goal of Ranney School to be challenging, competitive, and selective. This approach, combined with a selective admissions’ process, fosters a community of motivated, committed students and parents.

   

  Expert Faculty

  As an independent school, Ranney hires teachers who are experts in their fields and who possess an educational philosophy that is centered on students and aligns with our mission. Our faculty members are skilled educators both in and out of the classroom, acting as not only teachers, but also as mentors, advisors, and coaches. They uphold the model standards set by Independent School Management—the only comprehensive management-support firm for private-independent schools in the United States and abroad.

   

  Rigorous Accreditation Process

  Ranney School holds dual accreditation with the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The accreditation process provides Ranney with the opportunity for regular self-assessment and input from a committee of independent school peers designed to assess adherence to mission, institutional effectiveness, student learning outcomes, and sustainability. Ranney School is also a member the National Association of Colleges and Schools.

   

  Strong Sense of Community
  

  Students come to Ranney School from across Monmouth and Ocean Counties, representing more than 60 towns. Our after-school programs and athletics, combined with an active Parents’ Association, enable students and families to build strong friendships in and outside of school. With a robust “Lifer” community (30-40% of our Upper School students have attended Ranney for 10 or more years), students, teachers, and families are able to grow meaningful relationships in which each child and family is truly known and valued. 
  
  Read NJAIS Executive Director Carole Everett's piece on independent schools (Star Ledger, March 2017)

• How does an independent school community function?

  Our Students are:

  • Prepared for the academic challenges and opportunities that await them in a diverse, globally connected world
  • Engaged in the local community and understanding of the world around them
  • Known & Valued through close and lasting relationships with advisers, teachers and coaches
  • Confident in their abilities both in and out of the classroom
  • Problem-Solvers who can apply hands-on, design-thinking approaches across disciplines
  • Resilient self-advocates and lifelong learnersable to speak up for their individual needs and pursue their ambitions and interests at Ranney and beyond.

  Our Faculty are:

  • Dynamic teachers, mentors, advisors, coaches, and department leaders, all of which contributes to building and nurturing meaningful relationships in and out of the classroom
  • Experts in their field; our faculty (particularly in Middle and Upper Schools) have degrees in their discipline, expertise in content, as well as focused education degrees
  • Collaborative & Innovative in teaching subject matter, which affords them the opportunity to adjust the curriculum to meet the needs of students, including through differentiated instruction and varied assessments that provide the opportunity for critical-thinking and reflection. Their approach goes beyond teaching just the facts or to the test, so that they can utilize time where it is needed, thereby giving students skills and strategies for content-driven courses
  • Student-Centered. Course goals and exit outcomes are focused on critical-thinking, analysis, and creative problem-solving across the disciplines
  • Lifelong Learners who pursue professional development beyond their advanced degrees and who focus on content-specific methods of teaching that is tied to current best practice
  • Part of a Community that seeks to hire teachers who value independent schools, pursue life-long opportunities in learning, and seek the credentials that will allow them to contribute meaningfully and dynamically to the institution.  

  Our Parents are:

  • Involved through the Ranney School Parents’ Association (RSPA), Admissions  Ambassadors team, New Family Mentor Program, Board Committees, Panther Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), Ranney Fund Ambassadors team, and Grade-Level Parent Representatives program (NEW).
  • Engaged as part of our Coffee & Conversation Series, Grade-Level Coffees, and more
  • Supported & Supportive through the Ranney Fund, Community Garden, and Volunteer Programs.

   

• How does an independent school compare to a private school?

  There are 1,800 or so independent schools across the country, each with its own unique mission. They serve about one percent of the student population, from early childhood through high school ages. Unlike some private schools, independent schools are not owned or governed by a diocese; nor are they under municipal government, as in the public sector. Independent schools can be co-ed or single-sex as well day schools or boarding schools.  

   

  The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) sets certain criteria for its nonprofit member schools, which are held to the highest academic standards and non-discrimination policies. Independent schools are supported by tuitions and charitable giving, not by public or government funding, and are therefore financially independent. This gives us a number of freedoms.

   

  An independent school is free to define its own mission and core values, with the flexibility to set up and adapt curriculum to meet the needs of students. We are free to be forward thinking and offer unique learning opportunities in and out of the classroom. We can regulate admissions to choose the best students, and hire the best teachers recruited from top universities. Independent schools generally adopt a mission to support core values, student/life balance, global initiatives and citizenship while setting and maintaining high academic and leadership standards.

   

  Independent school students are encouraged to pursue their individual interests, whether in visual and performing arts, coding and robotics, writing poetry, young entrepreneurship or a particular sport, for instance. Faculty members take pride in providing a nurturing and inspiring environment for every single student. 

• What type of learning experiences/curricula are offered compared with public schools?

  Independent schools not only ensure that their students meet state and national standards in core subjects – they also typically go way beyond that. A strong independent school will offer an accelerated, advanced curriculum integrating a wide variety of subjects, often with an emphasis on hands-on learning at all grade evels. Foreign language instruction sometimes begins in pre-k, as is the case at Ranney, much earlier than in public schools.

   

  An additional benefit of self-governance is that independent schools don’t have to do the same amount of preparation for standardized testing, so students have more time for innovative learning projects, electives and independent studies. For example, an elementary science class may learn about water cycles and plants by digging a small irrigated garden, and planting and harvesting vegetables that will then be served in the school’s dining hall. Middle and high school students may participate in year-long independent study courses where they not only research a topic that interests them, but also work in teams to develop a product or marketing plan to launch a business and see it through. 

   

  Class sizes across all grade levels in independent schools tend to be quite small. This low student:faculty ratio allows independent school teachers, most of whom will have advanced degrees, to form strong relationships with their students, to cultivate their individual talent and to help them overcome challenges and thrive. Moreover, independent school faculty members value their autonomy to shape and design curricula, which encourages their own individual passion and engagement. Fully 80% of NAIS faculty feel that they have direct impact on curriculum design as compared to 40% of public school faculty.

• What can a student athlete expect?

  Independent schools support and promote competitive athletic programs in a wide range of traditional sports. In addition, we have the flexibility to offer sports like fencing, crew, sailing, equestrian, and others that may not be found in typical public or magnet schools.

   

  Due to the size of most independent schools, the percentage of student participation in athletics, as well as in the arts and other extracurriculars is very high, and we take seriously the benefits that come from these activities. Our students are encouraged and even expected to participate in activities where have the chance to play sports, compete in robotics or forensics, or perform in front of an audience, for example. The result is that students take risks, try new things, start clubs or teams.  And these actions translate into success in the college admissions process, at college, and beyond in their careers and lives.

   

  Another key difference a student athlete can expect from an independent school experience is flexibility in his/her schedule, accompanied by support from teachers to maintain a strong balance between academics and athletics. 

• How are independent schools held accountable?

  Independent schools are governed by a Board of Trustees, typically comprised of school parents and alumni and occasionally community leaders. The trustees regularly engage in strategic planning with the Head of School and faculty members, to chart the course for improvements to the campus and to the academic life of our students. Strong independent schools are members of NAIS, and usually their state and regional associations as well. These associations are accrediting agencies that do intensive assessment and evaluation of their member schools.

   

  Since independent schools depend on tuition and charitable giving for funding, we are answerable to the marketplace. We also have very active and engaged parent communities that ensure we are meeting the needs and educational goals of their students.