How to Choose the Best School for Your Child

Choosing a school for your child is a daunting, even stress-inducing task. With so many
choices–small school or large school, school of the arts or a technology-focused school,
public school or private–it's easy to default to the most convenient (read: geographically
closest) choice.

Let us help you narrow down a very broad field by highlighting the benefits of the two
major educational paths: private schools and public schools.

Private School Benefits:

 Increased parental involvement in children's education, at home and within

school community
 Class sizes are usually smaller; one-on-one time with students has been proven to
improve academic achievement
 Private schools often have a good reputation in global higher education
institutions, with many schools boasting a 100 per cent rate of students attending
their first choice university
 The private school system provides various educational options, including
international exchange programs, advanced placement (AP) or international
baccalaureate (IB); faith-based schools– Christian, Jewish, Muslim; coed or
single gender schools; and special needs schools
 Excellent extracurricular activities or special programs–e.g., arts, sports, clubs,
music
 Dedicated and well-trained teachers, many with advanced degrees
 Not run by tax dollars, thus more freedom in curriculum design and general
governance
 Larger student populations in public schools may lead to decreased supervision
and more bullying issues
 Public schools may have more bureaucracy, leading to less innovation in program
offering, less positive change at the institutional level and decreased parental
influence on a child's educational progress and disciplinary measures
 Children who are less assertive or different may miss out on social and leadership
opportunities with larger school sizes in public schools
 Frequently overcrowded schools and classrooms in public schools may decrease a
student's chance of getting extra attention and academic support as needed
 Many private schools meet or exceed provincial education standards, according
to Michael Zwaagstra, co-author of the book What's Wrong with Our Schools
and How We Can Fix Them. Private schools that are included in the rankings
often score high in the Fraser Institute's report cards measuring academic
achievement among all school types that take standardized tests (click here for
news and analysis on the Fraser Institute rankings).
Watch this video for more about the benefits of private school. Browse different types of
private schools

Public School Benefits:

  Cost-effective; public school is free, paid for by Canadians' tax dollars
 Like private schools, some public schools offer specialized courses or programs–
e.g., math and science, special needs and the arts
 Public schools don't usually require prospective students to undergo entrance
interviews or tests in order to attend the school, so students may be exposed to a
wider range of people
 Students in public schools are typically grouped according to geographical area,
which can be an advantage in terms of out-of-school socializing
 Typically, teachers in North American public schools must have a bachelor's
degree as well as federal, state or provincial certification
 Public schools are overseen by provincial governments and local school boards
(many private schools that receive government funding or grant credits for the
provincial high school diploma are also required to abide by provincial standards,
but families must exercise due diligence and do research on each school)
 Top public schools may have a wide range of resources and cutting-edge
equipment
 Some private schools may be more selective than public schools and can be
stressful to get into
 Although there are more ways and financial aid to manage the costs of private
school, private schools may not be affordable for some families.

Final Verdict:

Whether you choose a public school or a private school, most critical is finding a school
that will provide your child a solid educational foundation for future academic, career
and personal success. Ensure that the school emphasizes the well-qualified teachers and
smaller class sizes that cater best to students' unique academic and personal strengths
and weaknesses.

Finally, realize that there are good public schools and good private schools. In the end
what matters is choosing a school that best suits your child, as well as the entire family.
Once you have done your research, relax! No decision is irreversible, and if the school
turns out to be the wrong fit– geographically, financially, academically or otherwise–
there are plenty more schools to choose from.