Preparatory school facts for kids

A preparatory school (often called a prep school) is a special type of school. What it means can be a bit different depending on where you are in the world. These schools help students get ready for the next big step in their education.

What is a Preparatory School?

A prep school is usually a private school. This means families pay money for their children to attend. The main goal of a prep school is to prepare students. They get ready for important entrance exams or for higher education like college.

Prep Schools in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries, a prep school is a private school. It charges fees for students to attend. These schools get students ready for entrance exams to special public schools.

Getting Ready for Public Schools

In the UK, a "public school" is actually a type of private, fee-paying secondary school. It's a bit confusing! Prep schools usually take children around 11 years old. They prepare them to join public schools when they are about 14 years old.

Prep Schools vs. State Schools

This is different from the state school system. In state schools, children go from primary school to secondary school at 11 years old. Many well-known public schools now have their own prep schools. Some of these schools even allow students to enter at 11 instead of 14.

Prep Schools in the United States

In the United States, a preparatory school is also a private school. However, its main purpose is different. These schools prepare students for college. College is where students go for higher education after finishing high school. For example, Village School (Great Neck, New York) is a type of preparatory school in the US.