Choosing a private elementary school is one of the more consequential decisions a parent makes, and one of the more overwhelming. In the Abington area and across eastern Montgomery County, families have real options, which is a gift and a challenge at once: more choice means more to sort through, and the schools can start to blur together after a few tours. How do you actually tell them apart, and how do you know which one is right for your child?
This guide is the anchor for everything to think about. It walks through what genuinely matters when evaluating a private elementary school, links out to deeper guides on each piece, and gives you a clear way to compare your options and arrive at a confident choice, rather than a stressed guess.
Start with what matters most at this age
Before you compare specific schools, it helps to be clear about what actually makes a difference for elementary-age children, because that's the lens you'll evaluate everything through. The research and practice of early education keep pointing to the same things:
- Being genuinely known. At this age, a child who is truly known by their teachers thrives; a child lost in a crowd struggles. This is why class size matters so much.
- The whole child. Social and emotional growth aren't extras at this age, they're the ground academics grow in.
- Curiosity protected. Whether a child keeps loving to learn, or loses that spark early, is shaped heavily by their school.
- Character and academics together. The best elementary schools grow both at once rather than trading one for the other.
If you want to ground yourself in how children actually learn in these years before you tour anything, our guide on how children learn best is the place to start. It'll make every school visit more useful, because you'll know what you're looking for.
The factors that actually distinguish schools
With that lens, here's what to evaluate as you compare private elementary schools. These are the things that genuinely separate a strong fit from a weak one.
Class size and how well your child will be known
At the elementary level, this is arguably the single most important factor. Small classes change the texture of a child's entire day: more individual attention, instruction that fits the learner, struggles caught early, and every child participating rather than a few dominating. Ask every school for its actual average class size and student-to-teacher ratio, and notice whether the classrooms feel calm and well-attended when you visit. Our guide on what a small class size actually changes explains why this matters more than almost anything else.
Educational approach
How does the school actually teach? You're looking for developmentally appropriate, engaging learning, hands-on and active, not drill-and-worksheet, and not aimless either. Ask what a typical day looks like and how they keep children curious and engaged. Our guide on play-based learning describes what strong practice looks like, and why its principles should carry all the way through elementary, not stop at preschool.
Whole-child focus
Does the school attend to your child's social, emotional, and physical growth alongside academics, or does it treat everything but test scores as secondary? Ask how they support children socially and emotionally, and how they get to know each child as an individual. Our guide on whole-child education explains why this is foundational rather than a frill.
Teachers and stability
Teachers are the school. Look for warm, engaged, experienced teachers, and ask about staff stability and turnover. High turnover is a warning sign; consistent, caring teachers who stay are one of the strongest predictors of a good experience for your child.
Character and community
The best elementary schools care who your child is becoming, not just what they score. Ask how the school builds character, what kind of person they hope students become, and how families are included in the community. A strong school community is something you'll be joining, not just enrolling in. Our guide on building character and academics together shows how this works in practice.
Environment
Does the school feel warm, happy, and calm when you walk in? Is there real outdoor space, and is it used? Does it feel like a place your child would be safe, known, and glad to be? Your gut impression on a visit is real information worth weighing.
Practical fit
The best school still has to fit your life. Consider the hours and before/after-care options, the location and daily commute, the calendar, and the cost. On cost specifically, remember that published tuition isn't always what every family pays, many private schools offer need-based financial aid, so don't rule a school out before understanding its aid options. Our guide on private school tuition and financial aid walks through how that works.
How to actually compare your options
Knowing the factors is one thing; comparing five schools against them without losing your mind is another. A few things make it manageable:
Tour in person, and tour more than one. You can't evaluate a school from a website. Seeing classrooms in session, watching how teachers and children interact, and feeling the atmosphere is irreplaceable. Touring several also gives you a basis for comparison, schools look different once you've seen a few. Our guide on what happens on a school tour tells you what to expect, and how to prepare your child if they're coming.
Bring the same questions to each. Asking every school the same core questions is what lets you actually compare them. Our printable list of questions to ask on a private school tour is built for exactly this, take it to each visit and take notes.
Notice what a school says it's not right for. A confident, honest school can tell you what kind of child thrives there and what kind might not. A school that claims to be perfect for everyone is less trustworthy than one that knows itself.
Weigh fit over prestige. The "best" school in the abstract matters far less than the best school for your particular child. A quieter child, an intensely curious child, a child who needs extra support, each may thrive somewhere different. Trust what you observe about your own child's needs.
Involve your child appropriately, then trust your judgment. Your child's reaction to a school is worth listening to. But you're the one equipped to weigh all the factors, so gather their input and then make the call with confidence.
Understanding the types of schools
As you look, you'll encounter different labels, private, independent, parochial, and they mean genuinely different things in terms of governance, mission, and cost. Understanding the distinctions helps you know what you're comparing. Our guide on independent vs. private vs. parochial schools sorts them out.
Timing your search
One practical reality catches many families off guard: private school admissions timelines are often earlier than expected, sometimes with application and financial aid deadlines months before the school year begins. If you're considering private elementary school, it's worth understanding the timeline early so you don't miss a window at a school you love. Our guide on when to start looking and applying lays out the schedule, and the application process guide walks through the steps.
The bottom line
Choosing a private elementary school comes down to finding the place where your child will be genuinely known, taught well, cared for as a whole person, and glad to be, at a school whose community and practical realities fit your family. Evaluate class size, teaching approach, whole-child focus, teachers, character and community, environment, and fit; tour in person with the same questions at each school; and weigh fit over prestige. In the Abington area and eastern Montgomery County, you have real choices, and with the right lens, you can move through them with clarity rather than overwhelm. The best next step is always the same: visit, ask your questions, and see how it feels to picture your child there.
Ready to see one for yourself? Schedule a tour of The Meadowbrook School, a school built entirely around the preschool-through-sixth-grade years, and bring the questions from this guide with you.