Private School Vs. Public School

I grew up in public schools and my children are going to grow up in public schools as long as the schools have a good track record in academics and safety.

If you can work out the finances you child will be better off in the long run if you sent her to private school.

I am also considering private versus public and parochial versus non-parochial. I am researching and being open-minded to make the right choice for my children and my family. In my case, the cost is not the issue at all. So my question is, if money is not an issue at all, would everyone still choose public? I was in private school and my well-rounded experience came from the school itself, outside church, neighborhood, community and travelling around the world meeting different cultures and people. So my parents did not have to rely on public school to give me a nurturing well-rounded experience. I also attended top 10 university--right under Harvard, Yale, etc. and I believe I am a well-rounded (not snobbish) person and have friends from all different cultures and backgrounds. If you research public school system, you will notice ratings of each school and district. You cannot generalize any public school system based on district location. Go to www.tea.state.tx.us to research each district and individual schools. For example, for the "2007 District Accountability Rating", I believe the Plano ISD school district is rated as "Academically Acceptable" and only 24 out of its 67 schools or about 36% are rated as "Exemplary". Highland Park ISD district rating is "Exemplary" and all 7 schools are individually rated as "Exemplary". Lastly, the Lovejoy ISD (where I am considering) has an Exemplary rating and all 4 of its schools are individually rated as "Exemplary". Sorry for so much detail. I am brand new to Texas so I am doing a lot of research about private and public schools since I knew nothing before. You can e-mail me personally if you want to find out more.

Currently, we have my oldest daughter in preschool at Legacy Christian Academy and I love it.

I agree that there is no correct educational answer for everyone or even every child all time.

Personally, I don't agree with what is taught in the public schools and that's why we've chosen the christian private school route. By the way, Legacy goes preschool through high school....and, yes, they have a football team, etc.

There are so many choices, feel free to explore them all and don't ever feel locked into one decision. pray and God will guide you.

L.,
There is no one right answer to this question. It is fine to ask for the opinions of others but you need to prayerfully consider what is right for your family. My children have had very positive experiences in both public and private schools. My sister's chidren are homeschooled and that has been great for them. I think the greatest thing you can do for your children is to choose to be involved in whatever they do.

It depends on the school district. Even the elementary school. I've met our public elementary school principal, vice-principal and some teachers and I was very impressed. You should stop by the school, get a tour. You can pick up so much just from seeing how the teachers walk with their kids down the hallway, how they talk to them. We plan on saving our money and sending our kids to public school. Save your dough for dance, gymnastics and all that other stuff you end up paying for anyway. Make your tax dollars work for you, honey!

My daughter (only child) is in 7th grade public school. We are in PISD and we live in an area where the schools she attends are very good. Her elementary was and is one of the highest rated.

We thought about private vs public a lot. Because the schools where we are loacted are so good, we decided to go the public route and possibly later enroll her in private high school if the higher grade schools are not where we think they should be for her. Cost has not been the issue...in our case we look at Quality.

Another reason for going public, knowing we are in good schools, is that we want her to be able to get along, mingle, and work with all types of people and personalities. I did NOT want her to graduate from a private school, start college and and be dumbfounded as to how to get along with all types of people. I would like to enable her to be as well rounded as possible.

So far, we are pleased with our decision. She remains on the honor roll, she is very strong willed and sticks to her guns as far as her opinion is concerned. Her teachers have commented on how she stands by her convictions and we have been told she is a good candidate for the debate team. (ha) Yes, that can be good or bad..

Outside activities are important as well. She has friends from her orchestra group, her self defense group (attained black belt in 7/06) and neighborhood friends.

It boils down to a personal choice and what you feel is best for your child. Like another poster said....you might need to try both to see where your child best fits.

As hard it is to believe....she already has her heart set on some great schools.....Her Dad is an MBA from DUKE and we are Bigtime Blue Devil fans as well as Dad's undergrad Penn State where he is recognized in the sports hall of fame...GO PATERNO...(TOO COLD THERE, LOL) as well as other schools of great distinction.

Good luck! These little blessings grow up TOO fast!

Susan

We have been discussing the same dilema lately. Our son is 4 and has been in our church preschool for 2 years. He is very energetic and must have a teacher that will challenge him, or he will act up (the issue we're dealing with currently). I was raised in a private school and was way ahead academically to the public schools. That was great when I finally did go to the public school in high school. I didn't have to worry about the school-work, I was ahead there, but dealing with a whole bunch of new kids took all my energy (I was very shy.) so that I didn't succumb to the negative peer pressure. I'm proud to say that I handled it well and while I hated high school, I did survive it with my morals intact.

What we're planning on doing is trying the local public kindergarten. We will be very active parents, as we already are, and will monitor how he's doing in that setting. The one thing we do really like about the public schools is the diversity of people he will be interacting with. We live in such a global world now, I feel it's better if our kids grow up with more understanding of the world and the different cultures/beliefs within it. If he isn't doing well in K next year, we will reevaluate and go from there.

I don't think there is one universal correct answer. Some children will do fine in a public school setting, some will need more personal attention that is going to be more attainable in a private school setting. Some private schools are not going to be any better than the public school, just pricier. Some public schools are going to be better than others. In the end, all of our children are going to have to deal with the world around them, so as parents we just have to find that correct fit for them.

There all the same!! There is no such thing as safety anymore, the world has changed !
Private schools you have to pay for supplies, monthly fee's, uniforms and that can get very expensive !
When you go to a public school it won't have all those costs ! You will get a good education either way you go !
I also put my daughter in church scools ! She loved it !
It's ashame they won't stay small !! I loved those days !

I have done all versions except homeschool full time.

I have taught preschool, subbed in several grades at a couple of different areas, and worked with kids in our church, community, etc.

I highly reccommend looking at the individual child and what they need. My older one needed an environment with a smaller class size where the teacher could monitor and motivate him to keep on task or work ahead if he was bored. My second one was an independent worker and helper so she needed higher level curriculum but not as much monitoring. The third one needed even more monitoring and much higher curriculum. They entered public school first at ages 8th, 7th, and 5th grades respectively. It was according to what they needed. They went to private school before that.

It was also dependent on our circumstances. Each school district will have different things to offer in their public schools. ;-)

I suggest look at curriculum first, atmosphere second, and group dynamics lastly. Kids have to learn how to get along in all situations. They need to be motivated to learn and not be bored with the academics.

They also need to see school as a fun exciting adventure. I would not trade an excellent K and 1st grade year for anything, no matter money or if I had to go to work to pay for private school (which I did). After that it is all about the best your area provides rather than fitting it to your kids style.

I have also driven for my kid to go to school in a nearby town, if that was the best to offer for that time in their lives. It is still cheaper than paying high tuition in some areas!

Good luck,

It does depend on what school you are assigned to as far as sending kids to public school. Where I live, the schools are great and not too overcrowded, yet! Also, something to consider is, that my mother is a teacher and she has told me several times that they have gotten a ton of kids from private schools and they always end up being behind in the learning curve than the other kids. I am not sure why-it is supposed to be the other way around, but turns out it is not.

Homeschool! It's very challenging and very rewarding! Your child won't have the influences of public and private school. You can do in a few hours what takes all day at school and then have the rest of the day to love on your baby. There's so many resources out there to help get started and carry on. Start looking into it now before the pressure comes to enroll and you will be ready!
Blessings,
T.~

I am all for private schools. I teach CCD at my Church and am planning on teacher at a private school when I graduate. My daughter will alos be attending a private school as well. They are very safe schools.

My honest opinion is that you may have to try both.
My son is four and he is in Primrose and we love it! LOVE!
But we tried others first. Primrose is franchised though, so each one has a different owner and they are slightly different.
Plus, we are private school advocates probably because we have lived around the world (military) and you just don't have good choices always unless you go private in that realm. That being said, I understand there are some awesome public schools around here. Keller, Northwest ISD, North Richland Hills, and even Eagle Mountain ISD all have great ratings.
We are leaning towards private school. I am eager to read other responses. Great question.
E.
Update: now I'm just sad that people seem to be judging. Especially the person who insinuated that everyone who goes to private schools are snobs and/or sheltered. That just isn't true. I know on a public forum you will get all types of responses. I attended private school and a private college. I am a very capable, educated female. And if you knew me in real life, you'd know I was NOT a snob.

Personally we use private school. I feel that it is easier to find an environment and curriculum closest to what you and your spouse want for your child in the private sector. Also I feel I do not have to settle, example: at a public school things are done how they are done, period no changing it. At a private school if the teacher is doing something you feel is wrong or ineffective you can ask for it to be changed/rectified. My husband and I also personable believe public is the most suitable option for some children, it really depends on your child and what they respond to. Our son is in Montessori, it works great for him, but not so well for others. I say look around, take some tours and think about what you want out of a school and what environment your child thrives in best. Realize though you my not get it right the first time, we didn't either.
Good Luck

My husband and I are products of the public school system. We both have Master's degrees and turned out just fine. I honestly think it depends on where you live. When I was starting school, my parents moved my sister and I to a city with excellent schools. (My mother was a NUN so was for catholic schools, but compromised on a great public school system with top marks) We had a planetarium in our school, My sister was in the honors program, while I was only in the advanced classes and my little sister was an average student. They also had the funding for the mentally challenged and students with learning disabilities. In the end, we just moved to the Houston area and I bought a house in the Katy school system because the schools are ranked top in the area. I will pay a little more in taxes for my children to have a broader education. God will be with them in their lives everywhere not just school and lets be realistic they are no better or safer necessarily in a Christian school. Even christians do drugs and other stuff we may not approve of!!!

Sorry for the rant, but I really think it depends on where you live and what your schools have to offer.

K.

Have you considered a charter school? I work at one and we are rated Exemplary by TEA. Yay! :) We go K-6th grade. We teach the Core Knowledge education, along with the TEKS. Charter schools are public schools that are allowed to be more innovative with their curriculum. Our students wear uniforms (which I love), and we offer extracurricular activities such as PSIA (academic competitions), choir, chess, and a radio station.
If you're interested, our website is www.arlingtonclassics.org

Good luck with your decision!
K.

All of this really depends on where you are located. If you are in dallas, I personally would not go to public school, but rather a private school and you would be wise to get on a waiting list now so many people in Dallas want to go to private school that the tuitions have risen drastically and there area almost always waiting lists. but, if you are in a smaller school district where the teachers can manage the workload I would consider public.

(I am stepping on my soap box now, ) I think its sad that athletes and movie stars are paid so much but our public servants are struggling to survive and we expect our children to be safe and actually get a good education when the system entrusted for that job is tired and broke. (ok off now. LOL)

any way, what ever you choose, visit, and make yourself known so you can advocate for your childs needs.

Dear L.:
It depends strongly on the ISD you are assigned to, and within that even the individual schools. If they are up-to-par, I would not hesitate putting my kids in public schools. They get a more 'normal' interaction with others than in the somewhat more 'elite' private schools. Private tuition may be more exclusive and sheltered, but it can make for snobs, arrogant persons and 'life-impaired' adults (having a Harvard degree but not being able to hammer a nail in the wall).

I would save my money for the kids' college. I chose my house in SBISD close to central Houston for that reason. Tip: Check the ratings of a school over the last few years. You will see their performances and trends.

As for safety, I agree with the other poster. You cannot guarantee it.

Regards,
W.

Homeschooling is a wonderful alternative if you want to guarantee a safe, loving environment. We have homeschooled for 5 years now, and would never go back. Its not hard, you just have to be somewhat disciplined, and you have almost unlimited flexibility.
There are also University Model Schools, which are private schools kids attend M,W,F and are homeschooled T,Th. They only run about $3000-$4000 a year with books and uniforms. Curriculum is provided for you.

L.,

This is one where your "Mommy-gut" will guide you. We educated all three of our kids in Catholic school K-12 and it was the best decision for our family. We have friends who educated their children in the public schools and they are amazing kids. There are so many pros and cons to consider that it truly comes down to doing what feels best for your family -- that includes finances, time committment, location, the factors go on and on. My older two children are in college now and we chose to send them to public universities. Our youngest is a high school junior and we are looking at all options for him due to his needs -- he's a soccer player; but, I don't want him playing for a D1 school; he's ADHD w/inattentiveness, which lends us to consider a smaller school; he suffers from severe migraines, which cause missed school days -- again, a small school, perhaps even private. So, it just depends on your family's situation and where your heart leads you. On private vs public, there's really no right or wrong choice; it's the choice that's best for your family and your children.

I would say a private school. I went to one and I loved it, I never had to worry about to much of anything. I have four boys and I wish I could get them into private school but it is pricey and I can't afford it for four kids. I have them in the best public school around my area.

I would go and visit your local public school and see how you feel. Also pick a few private schools and visit with them also. Once you have it narrowed down to two or three, perhaps repost here with specific schools to get opinions on those in particular. I am a big believer in going with your gut instinct. I bet once you take the time to visit some, you'll have a better idea of what you want to do. I don't think a mother's instinct will steer her wrong!

I went to private school from preschool through fourth grade and was homeschooled through graduation. I had lots of friends who either went to private school or was homeschooled (my sister graduated from a private school.) My husband went to public school and also have many friends who were either in the public school or private school system.

I taught in preschool and kindergarten programs (LaPetite, Kids R Kids, and a few others.) My experience with day care type programs is that they are understaffed and things go on there with your child that the director does not tell you or even tells the teachers not to say. They lie often.

With the higher levels in private schools, with the exception of possibly montesori, they aren't any better then the public schools and often worse. I would not waste money on private schools and neither will my sister. They typically do not provide a better education, they do not have a more 'selective' group of students or protected environment, and they usually will not work with you if there's a problem. In public school at least you have a pyramid of authority you can speak to and have the IEPs and school boards and the court system that can help (private schools will just say if you don't like it take your child out.)

That said, I won't put my children in the local public school either- they will be homeschooled.

I think that first it is important to see what is available in a reasonable drive time. If you are near Flower Mound I highly suggest you take a look at Explorations Prepatory School. It has given my children an incredible love of learning. They now attend North Hills in Irving which is a charter school that brings together the best of both worlds (private/public). Your children are still very young and what will be your deciding factors on what school will be the best for them in the long run is still to be determined (interests/ learning style). Have fun!

Truthfully I would say if you and the hubby can afford to put your kids into private schools (Christian Academy would be the best) to do it. They are more expensive for a reason! Public schools are "basic education," just think of it with the mentality... "you get what you pay for." Not only that, but you will know the moral standard (God) that guides the teachers. You may also have more peace of mind as to their safety. The liberalism that abounds most schools anymore is simply absurd. As your daughter is still young this won't be so much of an issue, however, it is better to start them off young with the right mindset rather than trying to changer her as she ages.

B.

I would do private school. I am going to school to be a teacher right now and I know that I will have to teach in the public school system for a little while and I have noticed a big trend in the public schools of teaching to the test. It is a shame that public school have gone to this but they have. All the classes I am taking right now say don't do that but in all honesty we as teachers can not go against what our school district wants. I think the most tragic part is, is they have already started this in Kindergarten. Kindergarten shouldn't be about worksheets but that is what it has become. I strongly recommend a Montessori School. They are excellent schools (I looked into them but way to expensive.) My son currently attends Holy Rosary Catholic School and he will attend their till he is in 8th grade and then he will go to Nolan High School. I just do not trust public schools anymore and I want my son to get the best education possible.

Hi - I'm A. - mother of four. We've done both private schools and public. And, I have to say that given our situation and school district - the public school system has been able to offer our children so much more when it comes to academics, top of the line teachers, laboratories, etc. None of the private schools our children attended had anything close to the library resources, computer labs, science labs, and teachers. If you start out with the private schools, make sure that the teachers are certified. Some of the private schools don't require that they are (Texas private schools, for example). Two years ago, we switched from private christian schools to public and we are amazed at the difference and all that our children were missing. Good luck!

With my experience growing up in Public, I would have to vote for Private. My daughter is currently attending a Private school but Kinder is their last level. I'm not sure if I can afford Private for the rest of her school life but if I could, that's definitely where she'd be going.
Public schools really scare me and I just feel like you have a much better relationship with the school at a Private school.
Good luck to you in whatever you choose. I know this is a hard decision for you and I'm here if you have any questions.

Hi L.,

Oh my, if you can afford the private, it is better hands down. No question!! If not, you have to do as much research as possible to place yourself in the best subdivision possible and stay up at the school as many days a week as you can. Stay in contact with teacher and principal regularly and communicate daily with your child. If I had the money to do private, I would choose to do the early education years in order to train my child in daily inclusion of prayer, forgiveness, integrity, and kindness. Then later, they will hopefully have developed wonderful character traits and coping skills. You just can't get that from the public school system. We have been blessed and pray over our children their teachers, principals, friends, and school helpers daily as we drive them to school. I volunteer regularly and attend all activities to get to know as many people that are influencing my child as possible. I hope this helps.
Take Care,
W.

i just posted a similar post! i have a 5th grader in public school now she goes to fort sam elementary, and it a great school almost all of the school she has attended have been great, but i have been praying long and hard and my husband and i have decided private school is be for our family, we are currenly looking for one now to start next year, i think public schools fine ,but i want my kids to grow spiritually also, this is my personal preference, i would say write down the pros and cons and what mean the most to you in raising your kids, good luck!!

My son attended Primrose... then Fort Worth Christian for 2 years and then he's in Hidden Lakes Elem. in KISD right now.

Primrose - I wasn't thrilled about this place primarily because you've got hourly workers that aren't 100% vested -- he changed teachers 3 times in one year... after that I had enough and pulled him. The PROGRAM was great but I think the way they were handling things left MUCH to be desired. I chose NOT to have him attend K there for that very reason.

Fort Worth Christian - I honestly primarly chose this because KISD only had 1/2 day K (and I wanted a full day program). After him being there -- I loved it... the school itself is a little old but if you are a faith based family and want an equal emphasis presented on the Lord, the bible, living morally, then you'll choose private school. I loved the teachers - the fact that you can SAY Merry Christmas -- I LOVED the fact that they attended chapel EVERY DAY... and they had scripture to back up the life lessons they taught. Their program was great and they offered a D-1 program which is ultimately what I put my son in -- so he went to K and then to D-1 (he has a late may birthday so I wanted to hold him out of school a year but I chose not to since they offered this program).

Hidden Lakes - within KISD - I was pretty excited for him to go here as it's got a great reputation but the changes they've had over the past couple of years... they got a new principal last year... and she's been making lots of changes... the socialistic politics are ridiculous... I feel like there are just a ton of eliteists that feel that their kids are all over-achievers and they hvae them signed up in everything known to man (can you spell burnout?)

If you're in a good school district and stay involved - I feel the educational opportunities are pretty equal -- however the education system is run by the government -- so can you tell me any governmental program that is run well and efficiently? Exactly...

The only thing I'd consider is ... if you wnat your kiddo later in school to be involved in sports.. then you'd want to look at a private school that will at least get them the exposure they may potentially want (FWC's football program is pretty much a joke) but I believe their girl's basketball program is good... (things like that).

Price -- you also gotta look at the price tags. :) I mean, if you live around Hidden Lakes you're paying some pretty hefty property taxes as it is... so do you really want to pay another $8-10K per year for an education? Or do you want to put them into a private school in their LATER years (middle school... jr and sr high) when they really need positive role models and to be surrounded by that kind of environment

Safety - unfortunately in this day and age, you can't guarantee safety anywhere. :) My MIL's great friend was just shot and killed point blank at her doorstep in North Richland Hills 2 days ago... so it's not like you're safe anywhere.