Public School w/extras Vs. Private School

[fac]

Around here $10k a year won't get you a really good private school - double that for high school and you MIGHT get them into a college prep high school. You'd be better off with a good public school and $10k in enrichment.

I recently faced with similar decision.. we are in a "good" school district. rank top 5% in NJ (but we know what those ranking meant, therefore just take it as a good school system).
However, I do know that it is mainly because of the parents, extra help at home. (I have no plan to to go into the parenting vs school education debate). If I take away the extra help, I think the education is decent and I spent some time to talk to the teachers last year, I think many are just doing a decent job, not great. Hence I decided to let my kid try private schools. She was accepted in both, one charged over 31K and another over 21K tutition alone, not to mention transportation for 3k...
One attaction of the private school for me is that they group the kid by ability, say if my kid were in 6th grade, if her Math is at 7th grade level, but LA is at 5th grade level, then she would take 7th grade Math and study with the 5th grade kid for LA...
Then I thought about the 35K, I may as well use the money to get a private tutor to give daily help ...another major reason is that DH thought I better spent the money for college...
Obviously, there are other advantages in private school too, smaller class size and they may be able to learn as an individual thinker..

difficult choice... but I can tell you that if it were 10K, it would be a no-brainer.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

I am a public school teacher and a HUGE public school supporter, however, there are a lot of public schools in our area that I would NOT send my child to. Our house is for sale and we are specifically choosing where we live based on the elementary school. If they keep making cuts to the public schools, the boys may end of going to a private school anyway.

 

[2 lil'princesses]

I definitely agree that it depends on the area you live in and the public schools. I'm a public school teacher (and I love it) but I teach in a different state than where I live.

Where I live has busing, and I wouldn't send my kids to most of the schools that they "might" be able to get into. You also can't pick a place to live and be guaranteed a good school. Heck, you won't even know where they are going to go to school until you apply for kindergarten. This left DH and I with private schools. We chose Catholic after looking around quite a bit. Luckily we are paying less than $10,000 for both of them.

Now that they just completed their first year there, I have to say I'm extremely happy with our decision. I can compare it to public schools (at least the ones around here) and I know my daughters are getting a great education. Plus, the environment is very conducive to learning. They don't have to put up with nearly what I'm forced to deal with (student behavior) and we love the Christian education they are receiving as well.

No, we don't get to travel as much and we do have to give up some extra activities but I don't feel that it will affect them in the long run. Honestly, I feel that parents put there kids in way too many activities as it is.

 

[princessmom29]

As I said, your mileage may vary. I don't think that one must have a natural talent to benefit from something. I made all my kids take a language even though dome were better than others. My ability to read music didn't make me a musician. But I can go into any church or bar in the world and contribute, lol.

An understanding of music makes travel even better. It was written as a universal language.

The op mentioned music, and educational opportunities. You liked dance. I can't imagine liking it.

That is exactly my point I would not say that any one activity is a must for every child.

 

[nicki.momof3]

All the neighbors kids go to the local public school. I can tell you that my kids are farther along then the public school kids. .

This statement cracks me up. How by any means how can you tell that your kids are "farther along" than all the other kids.

There are some great private school and some great public schools. I teach in a great pubic high school in a upper class area. We have a great number of kids that go to private school for K-8 and than transfer to our public HS due to all the "extra" classes available. We offer 5 languages, an engineering academy, a working public TV studio, a IB program, over 20 AP clasess and the list goes on, .

Many of the students that come to the HS with their expensive, wonderful, private school education often struggle with the social aspect of school. Many provate school are very small with the same kids moving from grade to grade. They never learn to adjust to new environment and so on.

I would advise you to spend some time in both environments. Tour the school during school hours when students are engaged in learning. Don't just visit during "open house" when everyone puts their best foot forward.

Don't go by test scores alone. They only tell a small part of a schools picture. Look at the students interactions with the teachers and other students. Look at the creativity in the clasroom -are the walls decorated proudly with the students work. Look at the "extras" your child might enjoy. If they are into performance - look at the arts programs, if they are into sports - check out the facilities and attend a few games.

Whatever you decided respect others decisions and realize what is best for your family is not the best for everyone.

 

[averysmom]

Depends on the private school and the public school, and what your expectations are at both of them.

I teach at a public school AND mu kids attend a different public school in another district, which are miles better than 90% of the private schools around here. There are only two private schools that I would pay for if we had the money... all the others are religious-based and they cannot give the programming that we have at our schools. They don't have the funding and they don't pay the teachers near what they make in the public... so the a lot of the really good teachers go public. Especially those who teach in demand subjects; Computer, science, French, math.

Do NOT think that just b/c it is private that it is better. Make sure you are judging apples to apples.

 

[drinkme]

What about putting that $10,000 toward a home that is in a good public school district? Our public schools are top of the line over here. No need for a private school education, unless you want the religious atmosphere and teaching. However, the private schools don't offer all of the extra-curricular activites/sports that the public schools do. So, basically, imho, the public schools are superior to the private schools in our area.

 

[princessmom29]

It amazes me how much the sitaution with public vs private differs form area to area. In our area private elementary schools generally offer more enrichment programs (art, music, foreign language, ect) than public schools.Private schoosl are also the only schools that have recess and PE every day. All of the money in the public school system is funneled into raising test scores. They are spending on special ed services, reading intervention ect, so if you have a special needs child, you are much better off in public.

It is just the opposite in high school. Most of the public schools that are sought after apply for grant funds to run special programs like IB, engenieering, performing arts, ect that private schools just cannot fund.

 

[CowboyCO]

I'd send my kids to public school, put $5,000 year in a college fund and take a $5,000 Disney vacation every year...

Just sayin...

 

[Pigeon]

Where I live the parochial schools are mediocre at best, and they do run about $10K/year. The good private schools are about $20,000/year per kid, and the great private schools are more.

Most of the non-inner city local public schools provide a much superior education than the mediocre parochial schools. Any extra for enrichment is gravy.

I'd move to a better school district.

 

[Bobcats2003]

I think it depends on where you live AND your child's interests. I chose public schools for my daughter. I actually relocated (not a homeowner) to one of the better school districts in my area so that she would have a chance to get a great education. With that being said, I still pay close to $5K a year just for before/after school care, school lunches, supplies, field trip fees, swim, ballet, etc. As a PP mentioned, sucess in these extra-curriculars can be linked to better performance in the classroom. I can't imagine trying to maintain these costs AND private school tuition.

On the flip side, our school district is getting ready to face HUGE budget cuts and teacher layoffs. I'm concerned that all of this will eventually effect the quality of education...

 

[mafibisha]

Depends on the private school and the public school, and what your expectations are at both of them.

I teach at a public school AND mu kids attend a different public school in another district, which are miles better than 90% of the private schools around here. There are only two private schools that I would pay for if we had the money... all the others are religious-based and they cannot give the programming that we have at our schools. They don't have the funding and they don't pay the teachers near what they make in the public... so the a lot of the really good teachers go public. Especially those who teach in demand subjects; Computer, science, French, math.

Do NOT think that just b/c it is private that it is better. Make sure you are judging apples to apples.

THIS is an excellent post!! And I couldn't agree more!
Especially the last sentence: 'Do NOT think that just b/c it is private that it is better. Make sure you are judging apples to apples'

 

[Planogirl]

I see several people posting to move to a good school district. This is what we did. We chose a district that limits class and school size, that rates well and offers a lot of extras. I worry that the endless budget cuts will undermine this since these schools already have had to deal with the Robin Hood mentality of our state government but it's been good for DS.

 

[Abbeys_mom]

To answer the original question, we went private only because there are no charter Montessori schools near us. We knew we wanted Montessori after researching our options.

Our best friends have a DD six months older, and our neighbors have a DD a few months younger. It is hard to not compare, all three girls are very bright and engaging. I look at their very different educational settings and I wonder. All things being equal (very involved parents, so far no learning challenges, similar socio-economic situations), I wonder how they will differ as they grow up.

DD's class has 26 kids and three full time Montessori teachers. Older friend is in a charter IB program, one full time teacher and always one parent in the room of 28 kids. The other is in a traditional public school, 28 kids, one teacher, no helpers. It is going to be interesting to see how all three girls turn out.

 

[rvchat]

with all the public school budget cuts in Florida, we are now thinking to go private. Although I'm not sure we really 'want' to. ?

 

[rvchat]

with all the public school budget cuts in Florida, we are now thinking to go private. Although I'm not sure we really 'want' to. ?

 

[ccgirl]

This statement cracks me up. How by any means how can you tell that your kids are "farther along" than all the other kids.There are some great private school and some great public schools. I teach in a great pubic high school in a upper class area. We have a great number of kids that go to private school for K-8 and than transfer to our public HS due to all the "extra" classes available. We offer 5 languages, an engineering academy, a working public TV studio, a IB program, over 20 AP clasess and the list goes on, .

Many of the students that come to the HS with their expensive, wonderful, private school education often struggle with the social aspect of school. Many provate school are very small with the same kids moving from grade to grade. They never learn to adjust to new environment and so on.

I would advise you to spend some time in both environments. Tour the school during school hours when students are engaged in learning. Don't just visit during "open house" when everyone puts their best foot forward.

Don't go by test scores alone. They only tell a small part of a schools picture. Look at the students interactions with the teachers and other students. Look at the creativity in the clasroom -are the walls decorated proudly with the students work. Look at the "extras" your child might enjoy. If they are into performance - look at the arts programs, if they are into sports - check out the facilities and attend a few games.

Whatever you decided respect others decisions and realize what is best for your family is not the best for everyone.

I can't speak for others and I'm sure everyone's situation is different so I can only comment on my situation. I send my DD to private. The public school was offering a math/science camp last summer. I sent my DD there with one of her friends who goes to public. I got a call from the public school teachers after the second class offering me a refund as my daughter was two grade levels above what they were teaching (according to the public school teachers). So, that is my experience with it.

Depends on the private school and the public school, and what your expectations are at both of them.

I teach at a public school AND mu kids attend a different public school in another district, which are miles better than 90% of the private schools around here. There are only two private schools that I would pay for if we had the money... all the others are religious-based and they cannot give the programming that we have at our schools. They don't have the funding and they don't pay the teachers near what they make in the public... so the a lot of the really good teachers go public. Especially those who teach in demand subjects; Computer, science, French, math.

Do NOT think that just b/c it is private that it is better. Make sure you are judging apples to apples.

Bolding mine. It is interesting you said that. I would agree that private tend to pay their teachers less. I am friendly with many of the teachers in my DD's school and have had the same conversation with them. They chose to teach at the private school (for less money) for the quality. They said the atmosphere is better and the quality of life was better for them as well. One teacher transferred from public and said she was tired of dealing with the uninvolved parents, the dispruptive students that didn't want to learn, and teaching by a test. She said she got much more freedom to teach in the private school, the parents were involved, and the children seemed to want to learn more than the public school. My DD's school offers more "programming" than the public schools do. They offer drama, music, art etc. Again, schools vary greatly.

Again, private schools CAN BE better than public and public CAN BE better than private. It's not correct to make a blanket statement that one is better than another.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

I'd go with choice number 4. Find a good public charter school (private school benefits at public school prices) and supplement with outside activities.

Public schools in the Vegas area leave a lot to be desired, and unfortunately with all the budget cuts they are about to get worse. I'm so happy we found my DD's charter school.

 

[jorybella]

Our son goes to parochial school. We are lucky in that his school does the "extras" he was on the basketball team this past year. A few years back he was involved with the choir.

We did put him in guitar lessons in town. The school didn't have that for him. He loves music, so I wish they did offer more in that arena.

We take his education AND supporting his extra cirricular interests very seriously. I wouldn't trade his education and the atmosphere in which he has received it for anything. It is worth every penny we spend.

 

[Colleen27]

Public, but that answer is specific to my area where the public schools are good and the private options are not. Even if money were absolutely no object there isn't an academically oriented or secular private school within a reasonable commuting distance, and the parochial schools that are closer to home aren't any better (and in some ways are worse) than the neighborhood public schools.