Public Versus Private School Education

Education is becoming essential in our country. It is important to sufficiently educate your children in today's society. There are several options to getting your child the education they need to be successful. Decide what is best for your child's needs. Do they excel with their academic priorities? Do they lack discipline? Would they be comfortable in a structured environment? Is your child a "social butterfly?" Do they make friends easily? Would they do better among average students in the community? Are they college bound and if so are they looking for an Ivy League college or do they plan on starting at a community college? All of these questions can be determining factors when contemplating if public or private school is best for your student. If you answered yes to the Ivy League college and excelling in academics questions then private school would be the better choice because they can offer a higher academic standard and look better on a college application.

Public schools are available to everyone. Private schools are becoming more popular for upper-middle class and higher income families. Home schooling is an option some mothers chose in order to shelter their children from the evils of the world and make sure they are learning the things they want their children to know.

What is the difference between Public and Private schools?

One of the major differences between a public school and a private school is the funding. The government and tax dollars are used to fund the public school system fund public schools. The parents, private donations and fund raising projects fund private schools. Another difference is that public schools are required to accept every student that applies (according to "the no student left behind bill") and private schools can be selective about the students they chose to enroll. A private school can instill religious values and standards for their students, where a public school has to stay neutral as far as religion goes. Also the teaching curriculum often differs between public and private schools. Public schools are required to follow certain standards and guidelines that meet federal and state education requirements. They tend to have a broad spectrum covering math, science, history, English and vocational skills. Private schools have the freedom to establish their own programs and teaching curriculums. A lot of private schools choose to specialize in certain subjects and go into depth about the subject. For example science is a popular area to study in detail.

There are pros and cons to attending public and private schools. Here is a list of some advantages and disadvantages to sending your children to each type of school.

Advantages to public school are:

- Children get to go to school with other kids and friends that live in their neighborhood
- School is funded by your tax dollars so you don't have to pay as much money to enroll your children in school
- Public schools admit all children so you child doesn't have to be in the top of his/her class to attend
- Diversity of student background-helps students become familiar with other cultures
- Offer a general program designed for all children
- Teachers are required to be state certified

Disadvantages to public schools are:

- Class size is usually larger-children don't get as much one on one attention
- Course work is generalized and not specialized-this might limit a student who is interested in learning more about certain subjects
- Usually doesn't have as much money to spend on extra-curricular activities and field trips

Advantages of private schools are:

- Provide smaller class sizes-able to offer more one on one teaching
- Higher academic standards-most private schools require certain scores to be able to attend their school
- Offer more specialized programs for students who want to study a certain subject
- More money available for high tech equipments and extra-curricular activities
- In-depth discipline-students are required to follow stricter rules
- Your tuition is often tax deductible

Disadvantage of private schools are:

- Cost-they tend to be expensive
- Teachers don't have to be state certified to teach the children
- Don't have follow state and federal education guidelines
- May not be located close to your home

Many factors come into place when choosing between a private and a public school. You need to take into consideration the needs of the child, what you can afford and the advantages and disadvantages of each type of school. Money is usually a big factor. Most of the high rated private schools can be costly. According to the National Association of Independent Schools the median for private day schools in the United States is close to $12,000 for grades 1-3, $13, 000 for grades 6-8 and $15,000 for 9-12 grades. Research indicates that 88 percent of private school students apply for college compared to 57 percent of the students attending public schools. Because of the smaller class size, teacher/student ratio and individualized attention the scores for standardized tests tend to be higher in the private schools. If your child does extremely well in school and you have the money to spend on private school, then this might be a good option for you. But, if your child is not interested in studying, likes the social aspect of school and enjoys attending school with other students in the neighborhood and community, then public school may be a better choice. There have been many scholars who graduated from public school; so attending public school doesn't have to limit the educational experience, but you do have to remember that they teach at an average academic level. Finding a school that is right for your child should be your main goal.