Public schools are funded mainly by state revenue and local taxes, while private schools require their students to pay a tuition, which can be upwards of $10,000 per year to attend. State funding also allows public schools to include a number of benefits into their education system, such as required professional development days for teachers and resources for students with special needs. They are required to accommodate every child in its district, so they generally have more special education teachers and programs. In addition, they most often provide free transportation, the opportunity to apply for free or reduced lunch and some form of tutoring or academic assistance.

Professional development helps educators improve their knowledge and ensures that the curriculum stays updated. It is much more common for educators at a public school to have these days, as requirements and conditions are constantly changing and state laws require public schools to adapt to them. Unlike at private schools, teachers are also required to have a teaching certification before they are hired to ensure they are qualified according to nces.ed.gov. As a result, the public school curriculum is usually much more updated and inclusive to its ever- changing environment.

Most private schools are segregated by gender and require uniforms. This limits the freedom of expression of the students and leaves them unexposed to much of the reality of the real world. Public schools better emulate what life will be like after high school by exposing students to differences among their peers, which is necessary to build a strong sense of self-identity, but also an appreciation for others’ identities. The availability of public schools is the reason they are more ethnically and racially diverse, but it’s also the reason the population is so much larger. In addition, public schools often have more staff to accommodate the large student population, which leads to more opportunities for courses and extracurriculars that can prepare students for possible career paths.

Although private school students tend to outperform public school students on standardized tests, research has found that factors such as if a student’s parents went to college or their family’s income play a larger role in their scores than the school they go to according to usnews.com. Family background is more likely to vary in public schools, where there is more diversity.

All in all, it is up to the family to decide which is the best fit for them, however it is important to look past the glamor of private schools and really see the advantages of inclusivity and diversity in the school system.

As someone who has attended both private and public schools, it’s understandable why, for so long, parents have been struggling to decide which form of education is better for their children. Although each family may have various factors affecting their final choice, private school is ultimately the better choice to ensure a child can go about their day in a risk-free, heavily supervised environment.

A private school’s discipline system is often established over a system of beliefs and values. Each school’s core values are demonstrated to children from a young
age and ensure that they mature at an appropriate speed. According to ourkids.net, children who attend private schools are less likely to be bullied because of the moral principles taught in church and religion classes, as well as the elevated amount of teacher involvement.

Private schools also have smaller class sizes so teachers and aids can more easily give their undivided attention to each student. Whereas public schools need to teach certain topics in a given amount of time, private schools do not have a state-given curriculum, allowing them to spend more time on difficult subjects and important topics, as well as giving children the opportunity to incorporate new and effective methods of learning into their daily lives.

It is well known that the cost of private school tuition is much higher compared to the cost of public schools. Private schools make up for this through field trips, exchange programs, nutritious meals and a strong security department. With the recent scare of intruders and gun violence at school, it is becoming increasingly important for all schools to have a safe plan of action to prevent any sort of violence. Much of the money private schools earn through tuition is geared towards making the school a safer place. According to cato.org, many private schools implement heavy security systems and cameras and thus are far less likely to be targets of violence. Because of this, students are allowed much more liberty than they would have in public schools.

Most private high schools are separated by gender. This provides a more comfortable environment for teenage boys and girls, who often feel more at ease around their own gender. To prevent a future of social awkwardness around the opposite gender, private schools offer ‘mixers,’ parties where girls and boys from different schools in the area can congregate and make friends.

Religion is a big part of many private schools. This is very convenient for religious families who hope to make friends within their parish community. Church is usually offered at private schools as well as religion classes, which enforce basic human respect and ethics: something that many young children may struggle with. Being bonded under a single religion is helpful not only to children who are just beginning to get used to the concept of friendship, but also new parents in the community who are seeking advice and support.

In the end, families are entitled to their own decisions, and the resources necessary to send children to a private school are not available to everyone. However, if the choice is granted, the educational and security advantages of a private school will serve to give any child a bright future.

Families from private schools are often required to purchase uniforms for their children.