private or public high school

[Anonymous]

DS is in private (catholic) middle school, we have great option for public high school. I am so torn because I just want what is best for him. any opinions? LOL

[Anonymous]

Yep. My opinion is that you would need to tell us what the schools are— or at least what the public school is, and something about your kid. Their strengths, weaknesses, extracurricular. Whether he knows kids in the public. Where he wants to go for Hs.

In general a strong DMV public will be academically stronger than a Catholic school. But not always. And academically stronger doesn’t mean best for the kid.

[Anonymous]

What does your son want? To me, that is the most important thing. Everyone brags how great our elementary school was so we transferred and its terrible. I don't get it. I wish we transferred to another private but child doesn't want to transfer again.

[Anonymous]

What does DS want, OP?

[Anonymous]

DP, how would the kid know?

[Anonymous]

I think going from catholic k-8 to a public has would be a huge culture shock. I thought that I wanted to go to public from catholic. When I did a shadow day, I could not believe how the Teachers had much less control and how big the school was.

[Anonymous]

My DC went from a k-8 (non religious) to a big public school and it was a great fit. He liked the much bigger school, the academic challenge, the competitive sports and big group of driven kids. No problem at all transitioning to bigger classes. But this may be kid and school specific. Your DC should shadow at the school, that’s what convinced my kid.

[Anonymous]

Does he know anyone at the public?
If finances aren’t a concern, I would keep him on the private path, as long as he’s happy.

If he is unhappy or money is a concern, changing to pubic could be a good move.

[Anonymous]

Private

[Anonymous]

In the same situation with my DS in 8th grade and he decided to stay in the private - it was his preference

But he knows the public high school and has friends there so he has something to compare it to, at least slightly and we told him the differences and he has been to the school many times so he has a sense of the options.

I know many kids who are leaving for the big public and I can see why some kids would want that - we basically let our DS pick since we could afford to keep him at the private and think he is doing well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep. My opinion is that you would need to tell us what the schools are— or at least what the public school is, and something about your kid. Their strengths, weaknesses, extracurricular. Whether he knows kids in the public. Where he wants to go for Hs.

In general a strong DMV public will be academically stronger than a Catholic school. But not always. And academically stronger doesn’t mean best for the kid.

+1
I also had my daughter shadow at the public school. Before she shadowed at any school we discussed what she was looking for in a high school. Ended up at a Catholic high school and it was the right choice for her.