Private vs. Public School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to all for your input. Our DC is a model student according to several teachers so I am not as concerned with finding a good fit. I think he would thrive in any environment. That said, since I attended only public schools I have no experience as to what "extras" privates have to offer. According to this thread, it seems not much. Previous posters touched upon some of the concerns I have with private schools (grade inflation, insular environment) and public schools (test focused, underfunded). I hope we make the right decision for our DC!

My DD is in high school at a Top 3 NW private school. I have another child in public school (her choice not to switch). Grade inflation happens at public school not private. There is a reason there are swarms of public school kids graduating with well above 4.0 each year. This doesn't happen in private school. Private school has been a good fit for my DD because it has offered her small classes, opportunities to play on sports teams and theater, student government, no focus on standardized testing, opportunities for class trips around the world etc etc. All things she would not get at our (overcrowded) local public HS. It has been worth the money to see her thrive. I'm not saying public school is a bad choice, it is a good fit for my other DD, it's just not the best choice for all kids.

I am so sick of hearing that public schools "focus on standardized testing" my children have been in a number of public and charter elementary and MS and I can tell you there has been no focus on standardized testing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to all for your input. Our DC is a model student according to several teachers so I am not as concerned with finding a good fit. I think he would thrive in any environment. That said, since I attended only public schools I have no experience as to what "extras" privates have to offer. According to this thread, it seems not much. Previous posters touched upon some of the concerns I have with private schools (grade inflation, insular environment) and public schools (test focused, underfunded). I hope we make the right decision for our DC!

My DD is in high school at a Top 3 NW private school. I have another child in public school (her choice not to switch). Grade inflation happens at public school not private. There is a reason there are swarms of public school kids graduating with well above 4.0 each year. This doesn't happen in private school. Private school has been a good fit for my DD because it has offered her small classes, opportunities to play on sports teams and theater, student government, no focus on standardized testing, opportunities for class trips around the world etc etc. All things she would not get at our (overcrowded) local public HS. It has been worth the money to see her thrive. I'm not saying public school is a bad choice, it is a good fit for my other DD, it's just not the best choice for all kids.

I am so sick of hearing that public schools "focus on standardized testing" my children have been in a number of public and charter elementary and MS and I can tell you there has been no focus on standardized testing.

It seems they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to all for your input. Our DC is a model student according to several teachers so I am not as concerned with finding a good fit. I think he would thrive in any environment. That said, since I attended only public schools I have no experience as to what "extras" privates have to offer. According to this thread, it seems not much. Previous posters touched upon some of the concerns I have with private schools (grade inflation, insular environment) and public schools (test focused, underfunded). I hope we make the right decision for our DC!

My DD is in high school at a Top 3 NW private school. I have another child in public school (her choice not to switch). Grade inflation happens at public school not private. There is a reason there are swarms of public school kids graduating with well above 4.0 each year. This doesn't happen in private school. Private school has been a good fit for my DD because it has offered her small classes, opportunities to play on sports teams and theater, student government, no focus on standardized testing, opportunities for class trips around the world etc etc. All things she would not get at our (overcrowded) local public HS. It has been worth the money to see her thrive. I'm not saying public school is a bad choice, it is a good fit for my other DD, it's just not the best choice for all kids.

I am so sick of hearing that public schools "focus on standardized testing" my children have been in a number of public and charter elementary and MS and I can tell you there has been no focus on standardized testing.

It seems they do.

Saying it doesn't make it true. But go ahead and whip yourself into a frenzy over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to all for your input. Our DC is a model student according to several teachers so I am not as concerned with finding a good fit. I think he would thrive in any environment. That said, since I attended only public schools I have no experience as to what "extras" privates have to offer. According to this thread, it seems not much. Previous posters touched upon some of the concerns I have with private schools (grade inflation, insular environment) and public schools (test focused, underfunded). I hope we make the right decision for our DC!

I'm one of the private school grads with kids in public. Assuming you are comparing a great public with a top private, i'd say the benefits a private school offers:
1) Less homework and less busy work- at least in the early years
2) Far better facilities
3) Smaller classes, lower student:teacher ratio
4) Less days of instruction
5) An administration that is highly responsive to parents
6) A high-achieving cohort with fewer kids with special needs
7) Possibly better writing instruction in HS classes(don't know first hand because my kids are still young)
8) Fewer ineffective (burnt out) teachers- though there are still some crappy teachers in every school
9) Much better college counseling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am so sick of hearing that public schools "focus on standardized testing" my children have been in a number of public and charter elementary and MS and I can tell you there has been no focus on standardized testing.

Yes, I'm pretty tired of hearing "public schools teach to the test!" too. As though the children do nothing all day long, all year long, but sit at their desk and drill bubble sheets. Maybe there are schools where this happens, but it's certainly not true for my two children's experience in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to private school. Hoping to keep my kids in public school all the way.

Same.

Me, too.

But now he's in a big overcrowded high school and I would do anything to put him somewhere smaller (but he won't go).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to all for your input. Our DC is a model student according to several teachers so I am not as concerned with finding a good fit. I think he would thrive in any environment. That said, since I attended only public schools I have no experience as to what "extras" privates have to offer. According to this thread, it seems not much. Previous posters touched upon some of the concerns I have with private schools (grade inflation, insular environment) and public schools (test focused, underfunded). I hope we make the right decision for our DC!

I'm one of the private school grads with kids in public. Assuming you are comparing a great public with a top private, i'd say the benefits a private school offers:
1) Less homework and less busy work- at least in the early years
2) Far better facilities
3) Smaller classes, lower student:teacher ratio
4) Less days of instruction
5) An administration that is highly responsive to parents
6) A high-achieving cohort with fewer kids with special needs
7) Possibly better writing instruction in HS classes(don't know first hand because my kids are still young)
8) Fewer ineffective (burnt out) teachers- though there are still some crappy teachers in every school
9) Much better college counseling

That's a good list. I will say that another side to #6 (special needs bit) is less tolerance for quirky kids that don't fit the "ideal" of that particular school. That can be rough.

[Anonymous]

Fewer days of instruction are a benefit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to private school. Hoping to keep my kids in public school all the way.

same here.
I find it fascinating that so many of us feel this way.

Me too.

My theory - private school is probably a 10% better experience than the public path we are on. That 10% is simply not worth the financial and lifestyle price we would pay through the tuition costs.

Another poster in this situation and I agree. The elitist nature of the best privates simply isn't backed up by the kids' experiences. Did an alumni interview for my ivy today and the girl said she left a big 3 for a W public because the private felt stifling and insular. Similar reason to why we are going public. Someone in another thread called going private a "new money" thing to do - more about the look than the substance. I tend to agree.

So, you seriously believe that most people who use private schools are "new money" who do it just for appearances? If so, I agree that your parents did not get their money's worth in your education.

For what it is worth, the vast majority of parents at the two privates schools our kids are want to private schools themselves. We tried public and gave up after a few years. The teachers have no freedom to be creative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to all for your input. Our DC is a model student according to several teachers so I am not as concerned with finding a good fit. I think he would thrive in any environment. That said, since I attended only public schools I have no experience as to what "extras" privates have to offer. According to this thread, it seems not much. Previous posters touched upon some of the concerns I have with private schools (grade inflation, insular environment) and public schools (test focused, underfunded). I hope we make the right decision for our DC!

My DD is in high school at a Top 3 NW private school. I have another child in public school (her choice not to switch). Grade inflation happens at public school not private. There is a reason there are swarms of public school kids graduating with well above 4.0 each year. This doesn't happen in private school. Private school has been a good fit for my DD because it has offered her small classes, opportunities to play on sports teams and theater, student government, no focus on standardized testing, opportunities for class trips around the world etc etc. All things she would not get at our (overcrowded) local public HS. It has been worth the money to see her thrive. I'm not saying public school is a bad choice, it is a good fit for my other DD, it's just not the best choice for all kids.

I am so sick of hearing that public schools "focus on standardized testing" my children have been in a number of public and charter elementary and MS and I can tell you there has been no focus on standardized testing.

That was our experience in a 10 rated school. Your experience may be different but both our opinions can be valid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to all for your input. Our DC is a model student according to several teachers so I am not as concerned with finding a good fit. I think he would thrive in any environment. That said, since I attended only public schools I have no experience as to what "extras" privates have to offer. According to this thread, it seems not much. Previous posters touched upon some of the concerns I have with private schools (grade inflation, insular environment) and public schools (test focused, underfunded). I hope we make the right decision for our DC!

I'm one of the private school grads with kids in public. Assuming you are comparing a great public with a top private, i'd say the benefits a private school offers:
1) Less homework and less busy work- at least in the early years
2) Far better facilities
3) Smaller classes, lower student:teacher ratio
4) Less days of instruction
5) An administration that is highly responsive to parents
6) A high-achieving cohort with fewer kids with special needs
7) Possibly better writing instruction in HS classes(don't know first hand because my kids are still young)
8) Fewer ineffective (burnt out) teachers- though there are still some crappy teachers in every school
9) Much better college counseling

That's a good list. I will say that another side to #6 (special needs bit) is less tolerance for quirky kids that don't fit the "ideal" of that particular school. That can be rough.

I'd add

10) longer school day so more recess and more frequent specials
11). Consistency in curriculum, our public school was a mess for the first two years of common core and their philosophy on what would be offered for accelerated kids changed every year;
12) greater emphasis on character education and community service
13) significantly better science and tech facilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to all for your input. Our DC is a model student according to several teachers so I am not as concerned with finding a good fit. I think he would thrive in any environment. That said, since I attended only public schools I have no experience as to what "extras" privates have to offer. According to this thread, it seems not much. Previous posters touched upon some of the concerns I have with private schools (grade inflation, insular environment) and public schools (test focused, underfunded). I hope we make the right decision for our DC!

My DD is in high school at a Top 3 NW private school. I have another child in public school (her choice not to switch). Grade inflation happens at public school not private. There is a reason there are swarms of public school kids graduating with well above 4.0 each year. This doesn't happen in private school. Private school has been a good fit for my DD because it has offered her small classes, opportunities to play on sports teams and theater, student government, no focus on standardized testing, opportunities for class trips around the world etc etc. All things she would not get at our (overcrowded) local public HS. It has been worth the money to see her thrive. I'm not saying public school is a bad choice, it is a good fit for my other DD, it's just not the best choice for all kids.

I am so sick of hearing that public schools "focus on standardized testing" my children have been in a number of public and charter elementary and MS and I can tell you there has been no focus on standardized testing.

It seems they do.

Saying it doesn't make it true. But go ahead and whip yourself into a frenzy over it.

NP. My children have been in a number of public elementary, middle, and high schools (no charters, admittedly), and I can tell you there HAS been a focus on standardized testing.

Just goes to show you that your experience is not universal, nor is mine.

[Anonymous]

[quote=

I am so sick of hearing that public schools "focus on standardized testing" my children have been in a number of public and charter elementary and MS and I can tell you there has been no focus on standardized testing.

It seems they do.

Saying it doesn't make it true. But go ahead and whip yourself into a frenzy over it.
NP. My children have been in a number of public elementary, middle, and high schools (no charters, admittedly), and I can tell you there HAS been a focus on standardized testing.

Just goes to show you that your experience is not universal, nor is mine.

Actually I think it depends on where you live. We were on the West coast and teaching to test was rife and obvious. Here in the MD / DC area we don't find this is a problem, in fact we're astonished at how whole and far reaching the public school teaching really is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm one of the private school grads with kids in public. Assuming you are comparing a great public with a top private, i'd say the benefits a private school offers:
1) Less homework and less busy work- at least in the early years
2) Far better facilities
3) Smaller classes, lower student:teacher ratio
4) Less days of instruction
5) An administration that is highly responsive to parents
6) A high-achieving cohort with fewer kids with special needs
7) Possibly better writing instruction in HS classes(don't know first hand because my kids are still young)
8) Fewer ineffective (burnt out) teachers- though there are still some crappy teachers in every school
9) Much better college counseling

This list is good but does not take in to account more EC opportunities for sports, theatre, whatever. In my area those things are very competitive at the public schools and if kids aren't doing travel soccer or travel baseball by third/fourth grade, forget about it. It is also very hard to get to participate in school theatre productions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to all for your input. Our DC is a model student according to several teachers so I am not as concerned with finding a good fit. I think he would thrive in any environment. That said, since I attended only public schools I have no experience as to what "extras" privates have to offer. According to this thread, it seems not much. Previous posters touched upon some of the concerns I have with private schools (grade inflation, insular environment) and public schools (test focused, underfunded). I hope we make the right decision for our DC!

I'm one of the private school grads with kids in public. Assuming you are comparing a great public with a top private, i'd say the benefits a private school offers:
1) Less homework and less busy work- at least in the early years
2) Far better facilities
3) Smaller classes, lower student:teacher ratio
4) Less days of instruction
5) An administration that is highly responsive to parents
6) A high-achieving cohort with fewer kids with special needs
7) Possibly better writing instruction in HS classes(don't know first hand because my kids are still young)
8) Fewer ineffective (burnt out) teachers- though there are still some crappy teachers in every school
9) Much better college counseling

That's a good list. I will say that another side to #6 (special needs bit) is less tolerance for quirky kids that don't fit the "ideal" of that particular school. That can be rough.

I'd add

10) longer school day so more recess and more frequent specials
11). Consistency in curriculum, our public school was a mess for the first two years of common core and their philosophy on what would be offered for accelerated kids changed every year;
12) greater emphasis on character education and community service
13) significantly better science and tech facilities.

I often read on dcum that the top public high schools in the area are a better choice than most privates for STEM-focused kids, especially very advanced ones.