| The question of how to educate a child is one of the | | | | be given more access to information about college |
| most important a parent can ask. A basic choice that | | | | options, and they may be made more aware of the |
| many parents struggle with is that of public vs. | | | | requirements they must fulfill to qualify for a specific |
| private school. Parents do not want to take on | | | | school. |
| unnecessary expenses if they will not ultimately | | | | Community Service and a Sense of Values: |
| benefit their child. After all, many public schools do an | | | | Private schools often put a major emphasis on |
| excellent job of educating students. But while it is | | | | personal values. When choosing a private school for |
| true that public schools do not have tuition costs | | | | your child, it is possible to find a school that |
| (and a private school can run, on average from | | | | incorporates a great deal of your own values into its |
| 12,000 to 30,000 dollars a year), the benefits of a | | | | everyday curriculum. Private schools often have |
| private education can still far outweigh the costs | | | | honor codes and stricter behavioral standards that |
| depending on the local options parents may face. | | | | help students develop into mature adults. |
| Students who attend private schools can be more | | | | According to The Condition of Education 2001 from |
| academically challenged, exposed to clearer value | | | | the National Center for Education Statistics, 'At |
| systems, given greater access to teachers, and may | | | | private schools, a greater percentage of children had |
| simply feel safer than local public school options. If | | | | parents who were very satisfied with order and |
| you do decide to pursue private schooling for your | | | | discipline than with the school or teachers in 1999.' |
| child, start the research process early. Admission to | | | | Parents are often given greater say in school policies |
| private schools can be competitive, and finding a | | | | at private schools. |
| school that is a perfect fit for your child where he or | | | | Many private schools require that their students |
| she will be also be accepted, may take some time. | | | | complete a mandatory number of community service |
| A Higher Bar: | | | | hours. This not only provides the obvious benefit of |
| A major advantage to private education is that your | | | | instilling a sense of respect for the community and |
| child will likely be challenged to a higher academic | | | | the importance of making a contribution to society, |
| standard. Private schools can be more academically | | | | but it also happens to be something colleges |
| rigorous than public schools, and private school | | | | especially favor. Students may also find possible |
| students may have to meet more criteria to keep up | | | | career options while fulfilling this service requirement |
| their grade point averages. According to The | | | | such as political involvement to aid the community or |
| Condition of Education 2001, from the National Center | | | | counseling for endangered teens. Community service |
| for Education Statistics, Private high schools typically | | | | experiences teach students that education goes |
| have more demanding graduation requirements than | | | | beyond the walls of the school, and that it |
| do public high schools. | | | | sometimes requires action and initiative. |
| Compared with public schools, private schools | | | | Discipline and Safety: |
| required more coursework (in 4-year high school | | | | Beyond the fact that smaller classrooms are by their |
| programs). More can be expected of private school | | | | very nature easier to control, most private schools |
| students in terms of quality of work, course | | | | put special emphasis on discipline. Even if your child |
| workload, and special requirements such as | | | | does not have discipline problems, disruptive peers |
| community service or Arts participation. In some | | | | could take away from your child's valuable learning |
| schools, what would normally be considered | | | | time. The Condition of Education 2002 states that, |
| extracurricular activities, are prerequisites for | | | | 'Private school teachers were more likely than public |
| graduation, which ultimately round out students' high | | | | school teachers to say that they had a lot of |
| school experience. The push to meet this higher | | | | influence on setting student performance standards |
| standard often results in a greater level of student | | | | (63 versus 38 percent) and on student discipline |
| performance. In a recent NAEP report it was found | | | | policy (48 versus 30 percent).' |
| that, 'Students in private schools scored significantly | | | | The push for discipline in private schools teaches |
| above the national average in grades four, eight, and | | | | children self control, which will ultimately be a |
| twelve. | | | | requirement in college where the student will be far |
| As the report put it, 'Performance results in 2002 | | | | more responsible for his or her own attendance, and |
| show that, at all three grades, students who | | | | achievement. Also, stricter disciplinary policies mean |
| attended nonpublic schools had higher average writing | | | | that any major problems will be handled and |
| scores than students who attended public schools.' In | | | | eradicated quickly. Typical crimes that plague public |
| general, a student given the opportunity to attend a | | | | schools are less common at private schools. The |
| private school will most likely reach a higher level of | | | | School Crime and Safety Report found that, |
| academic achievement. | | | | 'Students in public schools (37.3 percent) were more |
| Student Teacher Ratio: | | | | apt to see hate-related graffiti at school than their |
| Private schools also tend to focus on controlling their | | | | counterparts in private schools (16.8 percent).' |
| class sizes. The NCES Schools and Staffing Survey | | | | A Word About Teachers: |
| found that, 'Private high schools on average are less | | | | Because teachers at private schools are not required |
| than half the size of public schools. In central cities, | | | | to earn the same certifications as public school |
| for example, the average size of a private high | | | | teachers, some parents worry that the teachers are |
| school is 398, compared to 1,083 for a public school.' | | | | not as qualified. This is not necessarily true. Private |
| Students of private schools may have more | | | | schools must maintain their reputations and create |
| opportunities to form relationships with their | | | | positive word of mouth to survive. Toward this end, |
| teachers, which can lead them to greater academic | | | | private schools are generally very selective about |
| success. In such cases, a student is given help for his | | | | who they place in front of their students, and they |
| or her specific academic problems, which can allow | | | | choose educators with training specific to the subject |
| the issue to be resolved quickly and correctly. | | | | they will be teaching. |
| Once any issues inhibiting a student's progress have | | | | A Community in Itself: |
| been addressed, the child can go on to achieve at his | | | | When you decide to enroll your child in a private |
| or her highest level. In The Condition of Education | | | | school, your family becomes part of a network of |
| 2002, it was found that, 'Placing students in small | | | | families with the same goals. Parents at private |
| groups tends to foster close working relationships | | | | schools are more involved in the lives of the students |
| between teachers and students, thus enhancing | | | | and various school events. As a parent, you may |
| learning, particularly among at-risk students and those | | | | have the opportunity to connect with other parents |
| in the early grades.' | | | | to discuss the lives of your children. Such relationships |
| Also, small classes allow the teachers to have a | | | | allow parents to learn from each other and support |
| better sense of who your child is, and what his or | | | | each other. |
| her specific strengths and weaknesses are. Your child | | | | The students also benefit from the community |
| will also have more opportunities to speak up and | | | | atmosphere of private schools. The very specific |
| participate in class discussions. In addition, students | | | | personalities of private schools often lead the |
| may be offered office hours during which the | | | | students to have a strong sense of pride and loyalty |
| teacher will be available. Students who have worked | | | | to the school and its community. The student may |
| closely with their teachers are less likely to feel | | | | also benefit from affiliation to the school far beyond |
| intimidated about using such time to actively seek | | | | graduation day. Many private schools have alumni |
| help from their teachers directly. | | | | mentoring programs that connect older alumni with |
| Exposure to the Arts: | | | | newer ones. Recent graduates may find internship |
| Private schools have the ability to create their own | | | | opportunities with alumni who have been working in |
| curriculum. Although, they must ultimately prepare | | | | their field of interest. |
| students with the same basic course as any other | | | | Every Family is Different: |
| school, private schools also have the option to add | | | | Despite the numerous benefits of private schooling, it |
| various elements to their programs. Private school | | | | must be said that private school is not for every |
| administrators often develop programs that | | | | child. Some children would benefit from the diversity |
| emphasize the Arts, perhaps more so than local public | | | | a public school can offer. Some parents would prefer |
| schooling options. | | | | their children to be more focused on the core |
| Schools may choose to produce elaborate plays and | | | | subjects rather than the arts and extracurricular |
| musicals, giving students unique opportunities to | | | | interests. And, of course, the financial burden that a |
| explore their talents and express themselves. | | | | private school brings is considerable. No student is |
| Government regulations on public schools prevent | | | | exactly the same as another, and only a parent can |
| them from spending more than a certain percentage | | | | know what the best option is for his or her child. Any |
| of school funds on the Arts. Private schools, | | | | child, whether in private or public school, will need the |
| however, are not subject to the same regulations, | | | | active participation of his or her parents in order to |
| and they have more freedom to develop and expand | | | | achieve true success. |
| these programs as they wish. Some private schools | | | | School Choice: |
| may even offer filmmaking or video production | | | | The major advantage of private schooling is choice. |
| courses which are opportunities normally reserved for | | | | Rather than sending your child to a public school that |
| college students. | | | | is required based on geography, now you have |
| Potentially More Funds: | | | | opened up a selection of several schools that may |
| The tuition that you and the other parents of a | | | | have very different educational styles and emphases, |
| private school contribute often will go toward | | | | simply because you are deciding on private education. |
| developing and funding special programs that would | | | | Every private school has a unique personality, and |
| be restricted in public schools. The school may be | | | | with a little research, certain schools will emerge from |
| able to offer other activities such as special field trips | | | | the pool as having more features than that will |
| that reinforce the school's curriculum. Such trips can | | | | benefit your child. |
| give your child opportunities to form close friendships | | | | Perhaps the school is affiliated with your family's |
| and build independence. The school may have more | | | | religious faith, and your child can be given a religious |
| funds available to provide supplies to student-run | | | | education along with his or her core studies. Perhaps |
| clubs. The school also may create programs that | | | | the school emphasizes writing, or it pushes |
| better tie the arts or sciences into the overall general | | | | self-expression. With the vast variety of private |
| curriculum. | | | | schools available, it is easy to select a school that will |
| A Push Towards College: | | | | help your child to shine and develop the values you |
| Private high schools can instill their students with the | | | | find most important. |
| expectation of attending college. Data from the | | | | Conclusion: |
| National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, 'Fourth | | | | No choice can guarantee that your child's formative |
| Follow-up' (NELS: 1988/2000) show that, 'Students | | | | years will go smoothly. Parents should always remain |
| who had attended private school in 8th grade were | | | | highly active participants in the education of their |
| twice as likely as those who had attended public | | | | children. Still, in the interest of giving a student the |
| school to have completed a bachelor's or higher | | | | most advantages and opportunities possible private |
| degree by their mid-20s (52 versus 26 percent) and | | | | school can be an attractive option. |
| far less likely to have had no postsecondary | | | | Private schools can reduce worries about safety, |
| education.' | | | | increase a child's exposure to discipline, offer reduced |
| With college as a focus, students can be more goal | | | | class sizes, and offer a good environment for high |
| oriented, and often elements of the schools | | | | academic achievement. In many cases, a private |
| curriculum will be specifically aimed at preparing your | | | | school can prove to be much more than that, |
| child for college. Many private schools are even | | | | providing a community environment for your family |
| referred to as 'college preparatory.' Private schools | | | | and special opportunities that your child would not |
| often encourage their students to take an active role | | | | have otherwise. |
| in their own college admission process. Students may | | | | |