Students who believe public high school isn't for them may consider attending a college preparatory school. Many private high schools consider themselves college prep schools.

According to the National Association of Independent Schools' Web site, nais.org) families send children to private schools for their small classes, teacher excellence and high academic standards. "But the main motive for families looking into independent private schools can be summarized in one word: Quality," the site states.

It also states that NAIS students "do twice as much homework as their counterparts; watch only two-thirds as much television; are significantly more likely to participate in varsity or intramural sports; and are more likely to agree that students and teachers get along well, discipline is fair, and teaching is good."

The advantage of attending a prep school, according to an e-mail from Margaret Broad, head of school for St. Margaret's School (who stated that her perspective is on girls' boarding schools), is that "research by national organizations as well as the experiences of our graduates show that those who attend our schools are well-prepared for both the academic and non-academic aspects of the transition to college.

"Our students understand how they learn and how to balance their time and commitments," Broad wrote. "They are also comfortable with approaching teachers to clarify expectations or ask for help."

St. Margaret's School in Tappahannock is a college preparatory, Episcopal girls school on the banks of the Rappahannock River. It has 157 students (36 day plus 121 boarding from 18 states, D.C. and 13 other countries), according to Broad. Last year Broad said 100 percent of St. Margaret's graduates went on to college. (804-443-3347; www.sms.org.)

Virginia has almost two dozen boarding schools where students can learn lessons of independence and academics. Some offer an extra "college prep" year.

Some of the schools are coeducational, while others are all-boys or all-girls. Still others combine a coeducational day school with single-sex boarding options.

Other college prep schools include The Miller School of Albemarle, a nondenominational boarding and day in Charlottesville (434-823-4805; www.millerschool.org); and Hargrave Military Academy, a secondary boy's military boarding school in Chatham (434-432-2481; www.hargrave.edu).

Information about many Virginia boarding schools and private schools in the Richmond metro area may be found in the Private Schools guide found on The Times-Dispatch's web site at www.inRich.com.

At the bottom of the home page, click on Special Publications, then select the Private Schools guide from the menu on the left side.

The Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE) oversees accreditation for private boarding schools in Virginia. For more information, go to the council's Web site at vcpe.org or contact the Richmond-based council at (804) 423-6435.