There are advantages and disadvantages to both public and private schools. Here are some areas to consider if you’re trying to make the choice for your child.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both public and private schools. If your child is about to enter school for the first time, or if you are thinking of having your child change schools, you should know that you have choices. Do some comparing to become well informed. Here are some areas to consider while keeping your own child’s interests in mind.
Special Services
Public Schools tend to have more services. If your child needs any kind of special service, such as a gifted and talented program, a program for learning disabilities, speech or counseling, you’ll be better served in a public school. By law, a child can go to a private school and still receive these services from a public school, but the reality is that it is more available and convenient if the child actually goes to that school.
Opportunities
Public schools offer more opportunities in terms of programs such as foreign languages, sports, music and the arts, etc. They have more teachers, more money, more space, and therefore more resources. Private schools often have to fund-raise for money to provide these types of extra opportunities. Private schools, on the other hand, have different types of opportunities, such as religious classes, more one-on-one time with teachers (and therefore a student’s education is more individualized), and smaller classes. Private schools often do have sports outside of school as well, depending on the size of the school.
Classroom Size
Private schools tend to have smaller teacher to student ratios. Especially if it is a small church school, your child will get more individual attention. Public schools normally put as many kids in a class as they legally can. I once had a (private school) class size of eleven. We finished the entire curriculum for the year by mid March, so we were able to get a head start on the next year’s curriculum. On the other hand, I once had a (public school) class size of thirty-two. With so many kids and their different needs, we did not finish the curriculum for the year in a couple of subjects. But it’s not all about curriculum. With a small class size, your children have fewer choices of friends.