Private School or Public School

^^^and you don't want to end up like Summit:fm:

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Originally Posted by Crass3000

If you have enough money to do it, private school is probably better. Just saying that looking at the small amount of people I knew that went to the local private school and their general success in life. My sample is small. But around it's hard to afford on even a decent family income -- cause the more you make the more you spend.

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My experience has been just the opposite. Private school kids I grew up with were failures, while the public school kids went on to be something.

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Originally Posted by wooley12

More important question. What kind of parent are you?

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This

What is most important is how involved are you as parents? If you are involvedmit really doesn't matter. Might as well go publicans let the kid learn how diverse the world really is, because if you are involved they will learn either way.

If you live somewhere with good public schools those can be fine (especially if they're competitive admission schools), but the fact is that places with good public schools generally have private school options that can be even better.

What you'll get at a good private school, to a degree probably impossible at a public school, is a more responsive and attentive environment. There's no way around it as a private school should have 15-18 kids in a class (and really never more than 20), while even good public schools can have significantly more (I know that there are studies that show class size isn't so important, but as a former teacher I can tell you that class size is quite important). The fact that private school teachers are usually not certified is pretty irrelevant, but what is important is the control that administrators have over teacher hiring and firing. A good private school will probably not have a single teacher who isn't highly skilled, dynamic, and passionate about teaching. (Some teachers will still suck for certain students, but that's life and actually something kids need to learn to deal with.)

There are some social arguments to be made in favor of public schools, but even with the option to send our kids to a truly excellent public school we went private. When they hit 8th grade I'd be fine if they applied to a local competitive admission public school (which may well be the top public school in the country), but I still believe that their current school (which is just unbelievably good in all honesty) would probably be better.

Of course the above is said without considering financial issues and a lot of other things.

Taught in independent schools for about ten years and did a little work (as a test prep teacher) in a few public schools. Am generally horrified by what I see/hear of public schools, in general (lot of shitty private schools out there too, though). PM me if you like.

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Originally Posted by jSki

Private school if at all possible. Public schools are prisons. Armed cops walking the halls, metal detectors, cameras everywhere and no constitutional rights at school.

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Originally Posted by Tippster

Show me one Private School where the students have more rights than at a Public School. Just one.

Hey - where's your tie?

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Most Tipp, maybe not full on Urban schools, but liability and rules at public schools is becoming nuts. Also, public Colleges things are changing, getting more locked down every year. Private colleges are way more accessible too.

I'm just a parent that wants the best start for my kids. I'm also a person who floated through public school, never really being challenged. I'm in my mid 30s, and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

No ties or religion. It's a small school, probably most easily comparable to Montessori as far as mindset, though without any of that particular education theory. It's very personal (students call the principal by first name) and social. It's on a nice piece of land, so they've got a great 'campus', with lots of trails, gardens, and room to run around.

The biggest issue, aside from the financials, is that it's out in the sticks, so we'd be adding a good bit of driving to our morning commute. We checked with the public school she'd be going to, and her bus ride would be about the same as the car ride to the private school. So, the drive wouldn't be too bad for her, but it would add a lot of driving to our day. Complicating things further is the fact that we currently live about 20 minutes outside of town, and in the next 5 years, would like move back to town. I'd rather she not have to switch schools, so private school would prevent that. The drive to the private school would be the about same from either place.

If it was just my daughter we had to worry about, it would probably be a no brainer. But, if she goes, my son will go as well, and that's a somewhat scary thought for the future, financially.

I appreciate the opposing view points. Some really insightful posts so far, thanks.

We went with a small private k-8 parochial school for our girls. They are in 2nd grade now and we couldn't be happier.

We interact with a lot of public school kids/parents through town sports and the neighborhood. Based on our girls development and social skills compared to most of the kids we see I feel we made the right choice. A lot of the public school parents vent about their opinions not being heard, while ours are heard load and clear. We are highly involved in our kids school from a parents association and volunteering/fundraising point of view, I don't see a lot of this with the public school parents we interact with as they seem to view the schools as a machine rather than a community that is helping to develop the kids.

For the record I was public k-8, private HS, State College. Wife was public k-12, and fancy pants private college.

I really like the curriculum at my daughter's private kindergarten. They are outside a good part of the day. She's learning to sew small stuffed animals and small objects, which helps hand-eye coordination and is just a lot of fun. Made a stuffed dog for mother's day with her last night:biggrin:

It's a pretty small school though. We're considering continuing until high school, then possibly transferring to public, where there will be more opportunities for team athletics and band etc. Depending on where here interests are. I was never a big team sports player, more into bmx racing and non-team sports. But my wife was a 4 year varsity athlete, so she has a different opinion on team sports. Not that we are trying to push sports at all, but I think some level of physical activity is key to growing children. I think cutting gym and recess time to focus on academics does not prepare kids well, as many need some physical activity to be able to sit for the rest of the day.

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Originally Posted by mobygrape

They are outside a good part of the day.

I think cutting gym and recess time to focus on academics does not prepare kids well, as many need some physical activity to be able to sit for the rest of the day.

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I really think it is undervalued. The schools cut play time so that they can focus on curriculum. They're 5 year-olds, for crying out loud. It's their job to play and have fun.

We looked at a Waldof school early on. We passed for several reasons, but one thing I really liked about it was that the kids needed to be prepared for any type of weather. They'd have them out playing in rain and snow.

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Originally Posted by bagtagley

I really think it is undervalued. The schools cut play time so that they can focus on curriculum. They're 5 year-olds, for crying out loud. It's their job to play and have fun.

We looked at a Waldof school early on. We passed for several reasons, but one thing I really liked about it was that the kids needed to be prepared for any type of weather. They'd have them out playing in rain and snow.

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Yeah all the play time and cultural stuff is great, but the academic competition kids have to face today and going forward is much more rigorous than anything most of us had to deal with. Once they hit second grade they're gonna be tested into or out of academic groups that will factor heavily (and potentially limit) their school choices as they approach HS and beyond. Colleges look at high schools they select from and some schools do a much better job of getting kids into the schools like UVA, the Ivys, military service academies and sci/eng. technical schools.

I'd say kids are forced to grow up too soon, but if you don't stay with the pack you risk getting left behind. One of the very few times I think keeping up with the Joneses is warranted (even if begrudgingly so).

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Originally Posted by OSECS

Yeah all the play time and cultural stuff is great, but the academic competition kids have to face today and going forward is much more rigorous than anything most of us had to deal with. Once they hit second grade they're gonna be tested into or out of academic groups that will factor heavily (and potentially limit) their school choices as they approach HS and beyond.

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Not true in many (most?) good private schools. Our kids are in a great school (in the HYP index it was always in the top 10 nationally) and I don't think our third grader has taken a single standardized test or test for group placement. Not how private schools usually operate, thank god. Except for language, possibly, I don't think the high schools where I taught ever gave tests for group placement.

Of course, they rely (in large part) on standardized tests for admission, which is slightly ironic for the point I was making...

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Originally Posted by Dexter Rutecki

Not true in many (most?) good private schools. Our kids are in a great school (in the HYP index it was always in the top 10 nationally) and I don't think our third grader has taken a single standardized test or test for group placement. Not how private schools usually operate, thank god. Except for language, possibly, I don't think the high schools where I taught ever gave tests for group placement.

Of course, they rely (in large part) on standardized tests for admission, which is slightly ironic for the point I was making...

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We opted out of the private school route after 2nd grade (excellent public schools) so it very well may be different. But just as you said, getting into a good private school is usually by admission thru a standardized test, so it gets you in both types of schools eventually.

Private schools are only going to take those kids that fit the academic model they're looking for so they are the same with regard to how they manage the kids they teach. Public schools get everyone regardless of academic proficiency, so standardized tests are the way they move kids to the correct level of difficulty within a public school system.

And that academic competition is there regardless of private or public school route, cause in the end both are competing against each other for the same schools in many cases.

The future?:)

http://www.npr.org/2012/04/01/149804...-for-admission

Boarding school.

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Originally Posted by wooley12

The future?:)

http://www.npr.org/2012/04/01/149804...-for-admission

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April Fools? Guess the winky is there for a reason.

I guess I'll give my opinion on this. I graduated from boarding school in 08. (Tabor Academy, Mass).
Boarding schools are an amazing place to spend 4 years but they are what you make of it. There are more than a few rich shitheads who can be tough to stand but there is some awesome kids there too.
Academically, it more than prepares you for college and independence. Happily I made most of my stupid decisions and skipping hw in high school which made my first year in college way more productive than most.
If your kid likes to play sports and wants to play in college, the connections made at a boarding school are a huge help in recruiting as well as many colleges love to recruit prep school kids.
The tuition is a bitch but getting financial aid is not impossible at all.
In all, i totally recommend it!

Any more detailed questions or New England schools questions, fire me a pm.

Since UT is so well known for the school system here, we looked into these options too. One thing I don't see here is looking at testing the kids into gifted programs, like we did for my daughter. She is in a different school district than out here in West Jordan, and she is getting a great education.

She is in first grade, but in the program there are no "grades" per say, more like levels. She is learning advanced 3rd grade level material right now. And about to start her multiplication tables. I know I did not get to those till 4th grade, and I was in a private school at the time till 6 grade.

Another option to look into???

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Originally Posted by Bobby Stainless

Boarding school.

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Waterboarding School.

Do I let the first pick private school know?

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Originally Posted by Mazderati

Do I let the first pick private school know?

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depends... did you learn to spell like that in a public or private school?

Interesting bump. My boys were public. Then they transferred to a super shitty 4th grade. Went Catholic since 5th grade. (No budget for non parochial)
Tried to get them back in public for HS but they didn’t win the choice lottery for charter school. Oh well. They are both well educated compared to most.
Know a few boarding school parents. Sorry but I like my kids too much to ship them away. They’ll be gone soon and I’ll miss them.

It does piss me off. Decades of real estate taxes and it is nice to get some return on that “investment”
If public is “ok” save the money.

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Originally Posted by m2711c

depends... did you learn to spell like that in a public or private school?

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Lol

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Originally Posted by Core Shot

Interesting bump. My boys were public. Then they transferred to a super shitty 4th grade. Went Catholic since 5th grade. (No budget for non parochial)
Tried to get them back in public for HS but they didn’t win the choice lottery for charter school. Oh well. They are both well educated compared to most.
Know a few boarding school parents. Sorry but I like my kids too much to ship them away. They’ll be gone soon and I’ll miss them.

It does piss me off. Decades of real estate taxes and it is nice to get some return on that “investment”
If public is “ok” save the money.

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I’m sure your kids are special, just like you


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Maz, how would you let them know? Seems like an awkward phone call.

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Originally Posted by Mazderati

Do I let the first pick private school know?

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Of course, but be sure to wear your monocle when you Step out of your suv.

All kidding aside, if I had to do it again, the kids would have been in private school by 6th grade for sure. I just would of had to find the money. My wife was a high school teacher and my opinion of public schools annoys her, but education geared towards the weakest students is BS, not to mention the anarchy they call discipline.

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Originally Posted by ötzi

Maz, how would you let them know? Seems like an awkward phone call.

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The thought is to send a short email to declare first choice when the application is submitted. The head of admissions mentioned something about it during our interview. Something along the lines of expediting a decision or granting some level of preference but I don't recall specifics and the better three-quarters doesn't recall it at all.

I don't think that would hurt anything, seems like you might as well do it. Is it that competitive? How old is the kid?

Depends where you live.

NJ has, IME, very competitive public schools. Idaho outside of Boise, not so much.


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Pre-K. It seems competitive? It's walking distance, organized, and they communicate well so those are big for us.

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Originally Posted by Mazderati

The thought is to send a short email to declare first choice when the application is submitted. The head of admissions mentioned something about it during our interview. Something along the lines of expediting a decision or granting some level of preference but I don't recall specifics and the better three-quarters doesn't recall it at all.

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sounds more a quiet call for a cheque with a note to the Head in the Memo line

if I’m reading the sub-text

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Originally Posted by Mazderati

Do I let the first pick private school know?

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know what?

I'm glad my kids went to public school, we've been lucky to have good ones.

I do think there is public value in it, e.g. that the mixing of cultures and classes is healthy for society. They were very competitive environments too. Result is son is absolutely slaying physics at a very tough college.

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Originally Posted by liv2ski

All kidding aside, if I had to do it again, the kids would have been in private school by 6th grade for sure. I just would of had to find the money. My wife was a high school teacher and my opinion of public schools annoys her, but education geared towards the weakest students is BS, not to mention the anarchy they call discipline.

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Your kids didn't turn out to be as successful as you hoped?

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Originally Posted by yeahman

Your kids didn't turn out to be as successful as you hoped?

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That is not my complaint. Rather I disagree with what is allowed in public schools and the weak curriculum. No thanks to public schools, our kids are doing well in life.

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Originally Posted by liv2ski

That is not my complaint. Rather I disagree with what is allowed in public schools and the weak curriculum. No thanks to public schools, our kids are doing well in life.

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You don't know that. There's a lot more to education than the curriculum. Even if they were in a bad school, being forced to deal with it and succeed regardless may have been the most valuable experience they could possibly have had.

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Originally Posted by liv2ski

That is not my complaint. Rather I disagree with what is allowed in public schools and the weak curriculum. No thanks to public schools, our kids are doing well in life.

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IDK, I have a very close friend who's two kids were private school kids k-12 and he always laments they would have had more options in the public system. It's all what you make of the opportunity.

It's a choice that needs to be made by comparing specific options. There's no set answer to this. If you live in a shitty school district then private may be a better option, but it's gotta actually be better than the public option.

If your district is decent to good, and your kid doesn't need special ed, your kids success comes down to parental involvement. Period. Every decent middle school offers advanced math lanes, every decent HS offers tons of AP classes, and college classes at the JC are easy to get into.

Fwiw, my public alma mater stopped releasing scores to US news after we ranked very high nationally a few years in a row and the pressure it created led, in part, to a rash of suicides.

This subject is, imo, a perfect study in diminishing returns. If your public schools are good, then do that and spoil your kids with trips/travel/tutors/extracaricculars with half the money you save... Put the other half in a college fund so they graduate debt free.

Seattle public is cutting advanced learning every chance they get because they don’t like the racial balance in the classes. My son is currently 2nd grade and can do 5th gradeish math own his own but the school won’t let him accelerate. We will be evaluating options that let him achieve his potential including private school or moving to the burbs. To be determined what makes the most sense.

You definitely want a high school with a good selection of AP classes.

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Originally Posted by carlh

Seattle public is cutting advanced learning every chance they get because they don’t like the racial balance in the classes. My son is currently 2nd grade and can do 5th gradeish math own his own but the school won’t let him accelerate. We will be evaluating options that let him achieve his potential including private school or moving to the burbs. To be determined what makes the most sense.

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Eastlake