Private vs public education in the United States

Private school vs public school is an age-old debate for

parents who can afford to take their kids into the world of
private education. Many jump to the conclusion that private
schools are better because you have to pay for them, but that’s
not necessarily the case- it depends how good the particular
independent or state school is. And although some may say
that “school is school”, when they really start thinking about
the differences, they acknowledge how tough it is to make such
a decision.
To begin with, let’s discuss the money aspect, as this is
often the deciding factor when choosing an educational path.
Public school is paid through taxes, which are paid by everyone.
Therefore, a small part of a parent’s income goes into the
education of their child. Private schools do not receive any
government funding but are funded through tuition. In the
United States, school vouchers or tax breaks are often not
available when choosing private schooling. For parents, private
school tuition is an additional cost, but many parents look at
the cost as an investment in their child’s future. Depending on
the private school, tuition ranges from 6,000-30,000 dollars per
year, with a number of factors contributing to the cost, such as
location and the amount of programs.
Because they do not use public funds, private schools can
expand their programs and curriculum without public funding
regulations. This freedom allows private schools to adopt
standards that expand beyond the limitations placed upon
public schools. For example, if you have a child that wants to
study the arts, theater, music, or other such subjects a private
school will be a better fit. On the other hand, public schools use
a regulated curriculum for all students. They are governed by
their school district and follow policies and procedures
established by the district office.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two systems of
education is the way you can enter them. Private schools have
an application process that can include a tour, application,
academic assessment, and interview. Admissions can be
selective with certain criteria based on educational philosophy,
religious focus or student conduct. When parents choose a
private school, they often base this decision on such criteria.
Public schools provide education to all students regardless of
academic profile, religious creed, or developmental level.
Furthermore, numerous studies have shown that private
schools, on the whole, offer a more positive environment. Part
of the reason for this phenomenon is the fact that private
schools can screen who they allow in, and can tailor their
offerings to the type of child they want coming through their
doors. Plus, because parents are paying, students tend to come
from a higher socio-economic class. Public schools are not
allowed to pick and choose who attends. The difference
between class sizes is also a consideration for parents debating
between public and private schools. The average class size is 25
kids, compared to 19 kids per class in private schools.
In my opinion, it all comes down to the cost. Private
education is worth considering if your child wants to focus on a
subject that is not provided with a high priority in public schools
or maybe you have strong beliefs that would be covered in a
private school. Saying that, however, I generally don’t believe
that the expenses are worth it considering how expensive
higher education is in the United States, which I consider to
have a higher impact on someone’s development.