Opinions! If you were me, would you send your child to Catholic or public school?

[Whosemom]

There seems to be a jump in maturity and what is expected academically from 3rd to 4th. It might be nice to move him this year, so that he can get acclimated without it also being a harder year.

That being said, I think you'll see that "gimme" hand out at the public school too. And, if you get involved in pta or anything, you'll see people acting petty. People are people where ever you go.

 

[cedmonds]

Again, I think it just depends on when and where. Which particular school, and the environment in which the school is in. And sometimes it depends on the kids too. Some do great in public school, others do better in private school.

Thank you! You can't blame poor morals on a school alone. How about the parents of these kids doing there job why is it the "schools" responsibility .
Sorry a little cranky...just tired of "catholic bashing" if it is important to you then do what you think is best. Having put two kids through hs and now college- its not all about academics -I am happy my youngest son will be attending a catholic school after 8 years of public in a district I am a teacher in.
On another note don't think public school will not be nickel and dimeing you to death as well, just no tuition!

 

[CampbellScot]

Not saying this to offend anyone here....

I have gone to public school all of my life. Later in high school when many of the Catholice school kids decided to transfer the pulic school kids had the advantage. The public school has so much more to offer and in my opinion turn out better- more rounded students. Of the top ten students in my graduating class, all of them had gone to public schools all of their lives despite their being a huge population of students who started off in the "better" Catholic schools. In addition, I have noticed that the people more likely to stick to their morals etc. are from the public schools as well. Many, many of the girls at least from the Cathoic schools in the area were out partying and having sex much more so than the people from the public school.

WHOA! That is a huge generalization and pretty unfair. Those girls weren't out doing those things BECAUSE they were Catholic school educated for goodness sake! That is a stereotype that has been perpetuated for years and it's offensive to those of us who went to Catholic institutions.

I was in Catholic school from 3-12th grade. Every single girl in my graduating class went on to college...most to Ivy league schools, myself included. Nobody was pregnant or attending gradution with a police issue ankle bracelet on! Teenagers can make bad choices no matter where they go to school. I found that my Catholic school education focused not only on academic excellence but also on building our character and teaching us to be charitable and community minded people. I loved it and I will send my children to Catholic school as well. It's a good choice if you can make it...but like any school, public or private, you need to know what their philosophy is, who the teachers are...what is their level of experience. I wouldn't send my child to ANY school without researching it first.

Anyhow...to the OP--if you are going to send your kiddo to public anyway, you might as well start with 3rd grade. That way he can make some friends before the big merge in 4th grade. I'm sure he'll do just fine!

 

[mla1977]

I will probably send my kids (when I have them) to a Catholic school. My church's school closed this year, but we have also moved and there is a school on my way to work. I also live in a good school district, but I would be sending my kids to the Catholic school primarily for the religious education. I see the difference between me (Catholic schools through 9th grade) and my cousins and our religious beliefs.

 

[Disney-For-Life]

I found the courses very limited at my catholic high school. Plus we were forced to take religious credits every semester. Friends of mine in the same grade (in the public system) were taking courses like economics and sociology. Our school didn't offer those and I would have found those courses much more beneficial.

 

[chrismom2005]

id move him sooner then later if the move would be in the middle of the year then i would wait but the farther along you are the harder it will be to leave friends and make new ones

 

[krystalleigh1]

I can give you some personal experience here: I attended Catholic gradeschool from K-5th grade. My 6th grade year we moved and I then attended a public school. It was very hard on me. I hated the public school. There was a complete lack of respect there for the teachers and between the kids. Way different than the Catholic school.

I attended public school from 6-9th grade. My Sophmore year I convinced my mom to let me move in with my dad (devorced) so I could go back to Catholic school. I hated the public school that much. So, anyway I went to the Catholic school after that and graduated in 1997.

To me it was a night and day difference between the two schools, but then I was older than your ds would be and that was probablly a large factor in my transition. And I was doing fine in the public schools, was one of the "cool" kids-but it was NOT the same. When I went back to the Catholic school I was actually about a year behind everyone else in my class academically. They were into the Physics, Advanced Biology, Calculius classes and I was where most public school kids were academically (actually a little ahead of most kids in my public school).

If you're just deciding when to move him, and your mind is already made up I'd say definitely do it sooner rather than later. The younger he is the easier it will be for him.

 

[belle&beast]

I am the product of Catholic schools and I work in public schools, so I have experience with both. If your public school district is good, I would change without hesitation. One thing I did not notice is are you Catholic? Along with the great academics, the religion is a big part of why DH and I are sending our DD to Catholic school in the fall.

 

[irish dancer]

I found the courses very limited at my catholic high school. Plus we were forced to take religious credits every semester. Friends of mine in the same grade (in the public system) were taking courses like economics and sociology. Our school didn't offer those and I would have found those courses much more beneficial.

Imagine that, required religious credits at a Catholic high school .

I agree though with other posters if you are going to move him to public school eventually I'd do it sooner rather than later. Give him time to make friends before the big jump to 4th grade.

 

[DonaldsDaisy]

I would think that since your DD is only in 2nd grade starting 3rd grade will be much easier for her. My sister sends my nephew to Catholic school because they live in Philadelphia and well the schools aren't that great.(understatement) She had the opportunity to send him to a very exclusive private school on scholarship this year. He refused because he has went to school for 7 years with all these kids. My sister supported his choice but has already said if the opportunity came up he was going for high school.

My DH and I decided to buy our first home in a Philly suburb because the school distric is one of the best in PA. We chose to live in a 2 bedroom condo just so DD could have a good education. We could never afford the homes here. Sure space is tight but if I had to choose again I would do the same thing.

Do what you think is best for your DD. You are her Mom and know what is best!

 

[brymolmom]

I went to Catholic K - 8 and Public 9-12. While I agree that a lot depends on the schools themselves, many Catholic schools just do not have the funding that public schools have, and therefore cannot offer as many opportunities as public.

As an honor student (way back when) - I was not offered the advanced courses in the Catholic school. The schools did not have the funding or resources to offer Regents courses at earlier grades. So, when I got to Public school, I was way behind the other advanced students.

A very general rule of thumb is that if you are at either end of the spectrum, either needing extra help or being more advanced than the general population - you will get the 'extra' resources you need more easily in a good public school setting. While those in the middle - will academically likely do just as well in either environment. I know, a HUGE generalization - but, I think that it will fit in most cases. There are always exceptions.

 

[amykathleen2005]

I did not mean it as a generalization. I was speaking from my own personal experiences. From what I have seen, I would never sent my child to a Catholic school and gave examples why. It meant it as a take it or leave it suggestion. If someone is satisfied with their schools, then that is great. But I have just graaduate high school and therefore have a first hand experience in this area as a student listening to other students talking and not necessarily what streams up to the parents/adults/admins.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I am reading everybodies responses with interest.

I did go to a Catholic elementary and middle school myself and had a very difficult transition to the public high school, that is why I was thinking the transition for DS might be better sooner than later.

Yes, we are Catholic and as I stated I do love the school in general, its teaching in respect and Catholic beliefs but it can't offer what the public school does. It is a very small Catholic school vs the public school in a very generously funded area. I understand they also ask for time and donations in the public school but its not the same. Its not required, I won't be paying tuition and I won't have it tacked on at the end of the year if I don't meet my quota.

DS is making his 1st Holy Communion this year and will continue evening religion classes when he goes to public school. We do have a Catholic high school but its about 45 minutes on a school bus from where we live. Plus the tuition runs about $7000.00 a year. We figured moving would be better in the long run to a better school district then paying $28,000 over 4 years for high school for 1 child.

It is a difficult decision but I did have a long talk with DS tonight about it. he seems OK with going to the public school next year . I was going to send DD to pre-school at the same Catholic school DS attends but opted to send her to a pre-school in the district we are going to live in.

I scheduled a tour of the elementary school on a day when DS is off from school so he can see it too. I think I'm actually more worried about this whole thing than he is.

 

[mla1977]

My DH and I decided to buy our first home in a Philly suburb because the school distric is one of the best in PA. We chose to live in a 2 bedroom condo just so DD could have a good education. We could never afford the homes here. Sure space is tight but if I had to choose again I would do the same thing.
QUOTE]

I am in one of the good school districts in the Philly suburbs, but I would still send my kids to Catholic schools. That is just a personal decision though. My BF's SF and DB live with us and his brother goes to the public schools. My BF spends hours every night working with his brother. If his brother were at a Catholic school, he would be getting more individualized attention. (His problems extend to bad parenting though, not a problem with the school system.)

A major diffence between the Catholic HS (Freshman year) and Public HS (Soph-grad) was the languages offered. This was a big issue for me too. At the Catholic HS they offer Spanish, French, Latin, and added Italian for my Sophomore year. At the public school, they only offered Spanish and French. This was a big issue for my because my mother insisted I take French, and after begging and pleading with her, I was allowed to sign up for French II and Italian I for my soph year. I then had to switch to a public school where I could only take French.

There were also many more disciplinary problems at the public school. The Catholic school just got rid of the kids.

 

[CampbellScot]

I am reading everybodies responses with interest.

I did go to a Catholic elementary and middle school myself and had a very difficult transition to the public high school, that is why I was thinking the transition for DS might be better sooner than later.

Yes, we are Catholic and as I stated I do love the school in general, its teaching in respect and Catholic beliefs but it can't offer what the public school does. It is a very small Catholic school vs the public school in a very generously funded area. I understand they also ask for time and donations in the public school but its not the same. Its not required, I won't be paying tuition and I won't have it tacked on at the end of the year if I don't meet my quota.

DS is making his 1st Holy Communion this year and will continue evening religion classes when he goes to public school. We do have a Catholic high school but its about 45 minutes on a school bus from where we live. Plus the tuition runs about $7000.00 a year. We figured moving would be better in the long run to a better school district then paying $28,000 over 4 years for high school for 1 child.

It is a difficult decision but I did have a long talk with DS tonight about it. he seems OK with going to the public school next year . I was going to send DD to pre-school at the same Catholic school DS attends but opted to send her to a pre-school in the district we are going to live in.

I scheduled a tour of the elementary school on a day when DS is off from school so he can see it too. I think I'm actually more worried about this whole thing than he is.

It sounds like you have really thought about this decision and it looks like it would be best for your whole family for the kids to be in the public school in your area. Especially if the school district is well funded...absolutely take advantage of that...you pay taxes for your schools you should be able to benefit from them!! I think your DS is going to do VERY well. The transition to public school is usually a lot harder on older kids than it is for younger. After the tour of the school I bet y'all will be really excited and feel good knowing where DS will be next year!!

Congrats on your son's First Holy Communion. That is such a special time! My step daughter is also making her FHC this year. She can't wait.

 

[shelly3girls]

We were in this exact situation last year. We spent a great deal of time thinking and praying about it. We ended up moving our children from Christian into public school immediately instead of waiting. We realized the older the children got the more difficult the move would be. I stressed over this decision for a long time for nothing. The kids were comfortable almost immediately and made friends easily. It did help a great deal that we made sure they got to know the children in the neighborhood before school started. Once dd met a girl in our neighborhood I called the school and had my dd placed in the same class. Also, the school tour really helped too.

As for the debate of private over public schools, no one should generalize. The schools vary in all areas. Our Catholic schools are actually behind the public with over 10 kids/class more than public. Our Christian school is ahead in the younger years but falls behind in later years (great readers in k5 but poor advanced math and language skills by grade 6).

One thing that we found surprising is that my dd's have as many if not more Christian friends in public school. My kids (b/c they were younger) were very confused thinking that everyone in their school should be Christian but they sure didn't act that way (many kids were there for academic not religious reasons). I find their faith is even stronger being in public school.