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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
Some possible reasons:

-Those publics are huge 
-Only super talented, experienced athletes can meaningfully participate in sports at those publics, versus kids getting to play, say, soccer or lacrosse for the very first time in 9th grade at a small private school
-Not every kid is a highly self-motivated, resourceful go getter who can succeed in a gigantic public school
-Mandatory 3 seasons of sports at private
-Privates are better at teaching writing
-At many privates, 99% (if not 100%!) of the class will go onto a 4-year college right after high school. At such privates, even all the kids in the lowest-levels of classes offered are college-bound
-Smaller class sizes in private
-Religious or ideological reasons
-Some privates focus on areas like typing, cursive, table manners, interacting with adults in the community [/quote]

This is an excellent list. Only thing I'd add is a community of like minded parents. Of course there are active, involve parents in public but there are tons that are not. In private the community is often tight, supportive, actively involved. Which makes the whole experience better. [/quote]

But a lot of privates have fewer electives and less robust course offerings.  I hated my private school growing up and envied the students at the good public school in my neighborhood with many more offerings and a less claustrophobic atmosphere.  My parents were clueless because they felt so much more comfortable and happy with the private because it was considered good and the school really catered to the parent community.  What they found "cozy," I found stifling. I did fine and had friends but just felt so constrained. My younger sister felt the same and convinced them to let her go to the public HS  and she loved it and thrived.   So I think it depends, but I think everyone should be aware that private schools tend to cater to parent opinion and to making parents feel good about the school (even if it's not fully the on-the-ground reality for the kids). It's easy for parents to have a bias that if they are paying for something it must be worth it and to not attend carefully to what their kids need and want.
Likewise, though based on my own experience I'm a bit biased against private schools, I need to be alert that if my kid was floundering in a large public class to realize that they are not me and might thrive in a smaller private school.[/quote]

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