Former South African President and statesman Nelson Mandela once said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” The belief in the power of education is a foundation of Western society and, from kindergarten to high school and college, young people are taught to value the opportunities they are given. That initial foundation is crucial and can set a child up for success or failure in the future.

In fact, giving your child a pre-school education start is the first step to academic success; three separate studies found that the vast majority (over 80%) of children who were involved in some form of pre-school education did better than children of the same age who did not attend pre-school. Scores in maths and reading tests were 21% better for those from pre-school programs. More than 4.4 million three and four year old children attended pre-school between 2011 and 2013.

Once children begin kindergarten and move through primary into middle school and high school, the debate then turns to the value of private education verse public school programs. There are great public schools across America, but studies have found that student in private high schools score better in, for example, SATs. Public school SAT averages for math, reading, and writing are 514, 497, and 489 respectively, while private schools average 541 for reading, 579 for math, and 550 for writing.

The benefit of a private school is not only about skilled and committed teachers but also classroom and school size. More than 85% of private schools have fewer than 300 students and most are less than half the size of public high schools. Resources like infrastructure for student athletes and a well-stocked school library are also on offer. There are more than 5.3 million students from pre-school to grade 12 currently enrolled in the more than 30,850 private schools in the U.S. Enrollment in private schools accounts for 24% of all of America’s schools and 10% of student enrollment from pre-school to the completion of high school.

A solid, well-rounded education is a gift that parents and care-givers offer their children to provide them with the best start in life. It can and often is a tool for change, helping families lift themselves out of difficult situations and and allowing individuals to become role models for future generations.