Jane Carter didn't take the task of choosing a private school for her three children lightly.

"It's a huge investment," she said. "We contemplated our decision for a while."

Carter wanted a school that would challenge and nurture her children. She wanted smaller classes and quality education.

"What I love about private schools is that there is a mission," she said. "It's more about the process. It's not just about pen and paper, but also about the person."

After a few site visits, Carter chose The Steward School in Henrico County, which currently has about 600 students.

"We really liked what we saw," she said. "Steward lives by the belief that childhood is a journey, not a race. That's been our experience. We've found a sense of community and an excitement about learning at Steward."

Carter is representative of the thousands of parents who opt to send their children to private schools. Many are looking for a school experience with more individualized instruction.

"Private schools are quite a different experience," explained Deborah Hanger, head of the Lower School for The Steward School. "They give parents the opportunity to find the right match for their children."

Hanger finds that many parents don't want a test-driven curriculum. "They would like for their children to be taught in a more developmental curriculum. Private schools teach a college preparatory curriculum that is based on the needs of the children. It's flexible."

"There's also a new generation of parents that are asking, 'How can I best meet my child's needs?'" said Ken Seward, headmaster of The Steward School. "These parents are smart consumers asking value-added questions. They want to know what they are getting for their investment."

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The Richmond area has a wide array of independent schools.

"Families need to explore all the options available to them in order to determine which program is the best one for their child and their family," said Amanda Surgner, director of admissions for Collegiate School in Henrico.

Independent schools are not all the same. They vary in size and mission.

"Some have religious affiliations; some are single-sex; and some are coed," Surgner said. "It is up to parents to explore and understand the differences in programs and the individual needs of their children."

Collegiate has an enrollment of 1,553 children in the school's K-12 coeducational program. During middle school, boys and girls are separated for most of their academic classes.

"This provides a unique support system during the pre-adolescent years when children need additional time and space to develop self-confidence and independence," Surgner said.

Private schools like St. Catherine's School in Richmond with a total student body of 862 have the ability to focus on their students as individuals.

"One of the big draws for a private school is that it is small and students are known by name by the faculty. You can't just sit and get by in the classroom," said Cathy McGehee, director of St. Catherine's Upper School. "I think that students find their voice as learners and leaders in private school. In our Upper School, we have 144 course offerings so students have the flexibility to pursue their passion in depth."

Parents may also choose a private school because of philosophical differences with the public school system or because they want their children to have a religion-based education.

"As a private Christian school, religion is integrated into our curriculum," said Marty Reed, dean of faculty and interim principal at West End Christian School in Hopewell. The school has 220 students. "Many parents want that religious aspect."

Children who attend private schools have the opportunity to form personal relationships with their teachers.

"Teachers get to know students on a one-on-one basis," Reed said. "They develop close relationships to motivate and challenge students."

Richmond Christian School in Chesterfield offers a faith-based curriculum from a Biblical world view. The school has an enrollment of 550 students.

"Our students come from homes where a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is a priority," said Stan Stone, administrator. "This also includes a priority for personal growth and enrichment in their faith through regular, faithful attendance at a Bible-believing, Gospel-teaching church. Our staff is committed to not only the students' academic and physical growth, but also their spiritual and emotional growth."

Patricia Ligon graduated from Richmond Christian in 1990. She says she wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world.

"The relationships I formed were very strong," she said. "They helped me. Looking back on it, I feel that I got a better education than I would have gotten in public school. I had opportunities to serve in class office and be in leadership roles. I wouldn't have gotten those experiences in a larger class."

Academic excellence is a definite draw for parents.

"Our teachers raise the bar high in academic excellence, personal growth, social skills and spiritual life," said Andrea Cassidy, principal of Victory Christian Academy in Richmond. The school has 170 students. "When teachers expect excellence, students tend to live up to those expectations."

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Parents who send their children to private school are likely to be actively engaged in their child's education.

"Parents feel more confident that the issues and concerns that are important to them are not only taken seriously by the school, but also can be acted upon," said Hilary Scott, director of admission for Chesapeake Academy in Irvington, which has an enrollment of 150.

Often, learning extends beyond the walls of the classroom into local, regional, state and global communities.

"We are situated in a rural setting where we are embraced by our community," Scott said. "In the summer, for example, we offer programs that include onand off-site travel experiences."

Children in some private schools don't have the pressures associated with some standardized testing.

"Private schools focus on giving time and attention to help lessons soak in deeply," explained Amy Farley, enrollment and development coordinator for Richmond Waldorf School, which has 105 students. "Teachers focus on the needs of the students rather than standardized test results."

Farley has seen an increased interest in Richmond Waldorf School in the last two years.

"We tend to get a lot of calls from moms of children who are . . . moving into a testing year," she said. "There is definitely a place for having educational benchmarks, but standardized testing gives everybody sort of a one-size-fits-all marker that children have to meet. That's not always best for the individual child."

"A lot of people are recognizing the value of letting small children be creative and play," Farley said. "We reach out to the whole child what they are doing, feeling and thinking through all of our lessons."

Parents have an important responsibility when it comes to educating their children. Often, they look for schools like Blessed Sacrament Huguenot, a coed Catholic school in Powhatan with an enrollment of 485, that mirror their family values.

"Being a unit school [all grade levels on one campus] fosters the family atmosphere," said James A. Fortune, school president. "Our mentorship program matches older students with the younger ones, offering both youngsters unique opportunities."

"Communication between home and school is at the forefront," Fortune said. "We allow the faculty to nurture and develop each student's full God-given potential."