Private or Public School- Which is Best for You and Your Child?

The decision of where to send your child to school is often a choice controlled by different factors. Those factors include costs, location, quality of the teaching program, and the size of classes as well as other personal factors.

Some people prefer private schools believing that their child will benefit from generally smaller classes and more specialized teaching programs. But again, other factors often come into play when the final decision is made.

Unfortunately, perhaps the greatest factor is the cost of private school. Sometimes parents simply cannot afford to send their children to a private school. Tuition can be quite expensive. It could range anywhere from a couple of thousand dollars a year up to as much as twenty thousand dollars.

The method of payment accepted by the school can also dictate whether or not parents can afford to send their children there. Being able to pay by the month may make it easier to afford than having to come up with the entire yearly tuition.

Most private schools do offer smaller classes per teacher than public schools. Private schools may have as few as ten to fifteen students per class compared to twenty-five to thirty-some students in a public classroom. This is usually one of the persuasive features of private schools. Parents often feel that smaller classes allow the teacher to devote more time to individual students.

The quality and variety of the teaching program often plays a part in parents' decision as well. Since private schools are not funded by the government, they can have different rules and regulations. Some of the parochial schools may include some religious classes in their general curriculum.

One way to check the quality of the teaching program is to research the average test scores of the students. Of course, you should do this with any school you may be considering, public or private. And while public schools do often have larger classes than private schools, public schools' test scores will vary. Some public schools may rank higher or as high as some of the private schools. The only way to know is to do your homework and check all the schools in your area.

The location of the school can also be a crucial deciding factor in a parent's final decision. If delivering your child to the school everyday will cause problems with your job or your everyday routine, it doesn't make sense to enroll your child in that school.

After school programs and sports programs are sometimes very important to parents and children. Check with the schools nearby and ask about their programs.

It is often a good idea to take a tour of the school and check out its facilities first hand. Try to talk to other parents whose children attend the school and see if they are satisfied with the school.

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when facing the decision of your child's education. Check out all your options ahead of time so that when the decisions have to be made you will be ready.

Credit: www.greatschools.org

Photo: Shelia West