Private vs Public

Private.

We have more say in a private school - the private schools tend to be more open to parent involvement not just volunteering, but in listening to the needd and wants of the parents. Private schools tend to be a bit more "customer" focused.

My son went to private school for 2.5 years and then transferred to a public school in Carmel Valley. He was at least 6 months ahead with reading and math. The science program here is average and the fine arts program is non-existent. I'm having to supplement with other programs because the enrichment programs are disappointing, too.

It bothers me, however, that only motivates me to provide additional learning experiences for my son outside of school.

Hi M.

If money weren't an option I would still send my child to public school. The reasons are because I feel that private schools there would be a lot of stuck up and mean kids. While at public school there is more variety of kids to play with.

Private school teachers are not required to be licensed to teach, they often do not have the background in how to use instructional best strategies to help kids. Private schools are able to boast high achievement scores because they get to choose who they will educate, not because of the quality of their teachers.

If money is not an object, then it really depends upon the school. Public does not automatically mean bad and private does not automatically mean good. Did you know that teachers in private schools do not have to have a teaching credential or any formal training to teach there? Private schools may have an abundance of financing or they may be just as strapped as the public schools in California. You may also find with a private school that there are expenses that go far beyond tuition. Public schools have credentialed teachers, but may have low morale, bad leadership, low parental involvement, or community challenges. To answer the question you posed,you really need to look at the specific schools you are considering. Talk with parents, teachers, and administrators, visit the classrooms and playground, and talk with students (you can get some great insight from them). Be sure to look at the textbooks they are using for their core curriculum. I'm an elementary school teacher in a public school. Our school is a good one, but not all are. I've had parents tell me they had their child in a private school and they felt their child was getting a better education at our school. I also have friends that pulled their kids out of public to go private or homeschool with excellent results. Again, it all depends upon the schools you are comparing, there isn't any blanket rule of thumb. One final note, I can't stress enough the critical role that parents play in the success or failure of a child's education, regardless of the school they are attending. When the values, work ethic, and involvement are not consistent at home to support a child's education then there will be challenges at school no matter where your child attends. A parent is a child's best and most important teacher. Good luck, I hope you find the right school for your child.

We live in Laguna Niguel. Money is not an issue for us and we send our kids to public school (they just finished kindergarden). Here is why:
1) They see a broader group of socio-econ. people--not just white and wealthy
2) I have yet to encounter a private elementary school that has all the stuff I would want for the price tag they are setting
3) I have twins and any school I send them to has to have at least 2 classes per grade--many smaller ones do not
4) I think middle and high school is where the public schools begin to break down, mostly because they are just too darned big to give each child the attention he or she may need. I will save our education dollars for those years rather than spend them now when the schools seem to be good.
5) people in OC send their kids to private schools for MANY reasons including religion, white flight, and because their children are not succeeding in public schools. This means my kids are still going to be in a class of multiple abilities and needs--not a class of high achievers necessarily

I think too many parents these days are looking for the BEST thing out there and are put off by anything that may not seem the BEST. People leave our elementary school because there are kids there who live in apartments. Or because there are hispanic children. I have seen great teaching at my kids' school. Between that and all the experiences we give our kids (travel, reading, talking to them, other great enrichment classes) I think public is the best choice for us. You may feel differently but I encourage you not to think that private is necessarily better than public.

Hi there!

I've taught in both public and private schools (jr. high/high school) and both can be excellent sources of education. Here are a few of the highlights that I've seen...

If your student has special needs (e.g. learning disabilities), public schools have a lot more resources to offer. That doesn't mean private schools are bad, but you may not get the same level of support.

Many private schools are small and may only have one teacher for a subject. For example, I was the only US History teacher at the private school I worked at. If your student has a "personality conflict" with a teacher or has trouble learning in a particular teacher's class, you're stuck. In many public schools, you have multiple teachers teaching the same subject and, thus, may have more options.

Public schools often offer more electives than private schools.

While I worked at a very liberal, open-minded religious priavte school, I've also worked at priavte schools that were so closed-minded and intolerant it boggled the imagination. The brochures, tours, etc., private schools offer are designed to "sell" the school, period. I applied to teach at one private school that flat out told me that they would accept my son, and our tuition dollars, even though we are a different religion, but I wasn't good enough to teach there because of our religion. Their brochure clearly stated that they didn't discriminate against those of different backgrounds. Let the buyer beware...

Bad teachers exist at both public and private schools. Peer pressure exists at both. Unacceptable behaviors (drinking, drugs, sex...remember, I was a high school teacher) exist at both. Some schools just hide it better than others.

Bottom line, research both and see what works best for your student. Sit in classes, talk to the teachers, talk to families who are "veterans" of the school, talk to the students. The key question to ask: would you send your child to this school? Note the length of hesitation before they respond...that's where your answer is.

Hope this helps a bit. Good luck.

We sent our sons to a private Christian school because we wanted them to receive the Christian world view perspective of life. I think if we had had to send them to public because of money issues, it would be in grade school, not middle or high school.

Private:
Cons are that many are "rich" and sometimes with girls (and even my sons) the other children tease about not having brand name clothing, older bikes, and when in HS not having cars.
Another is that friends aren't necessarily in the neighborhood, so you do have to drive them to friends homes.
Could be a con...or a pro...more homework...need to help child become organized and set times for doing it...but it does pay off and all my sons became very independent and organized in their studies and did extremely well in private colleges getting great grades (They also went to the public schools in the summer and found that the academic requirements were not as great as the private colleges either).
Con if your child has special needs because many small private schools can't afford the specialists for learning disabilities and physical handicaps.

Pros are that most parents are concerned about their children's education and do support the teachers in discipline and making sure homework is done. Classes are usually smaller and not as hard to discipline because the students know that the parents will find out if they don't behave (which is what is was like in "the old days" anyway and gives more connection between home and school.
You still do have problems with drugs in high school. My sons laughed at me one time and told me if they wanted drugs they could have gotten them...but they knew it would mess them up physically and mentally.
Schools and classes are smaller so the teachers have a closer relationship with the children, even those who are not in their classes. Very supportive teachers who are concerned about the child if he is having difficulty with other children. It more of a small community and parents participate in yard duty, field trips, and support in classes as well as fund raising activity so you get to know parents.

Public:
Cons: Larger class sizes, some children who don't speak English so teacher has to contend with more than one language and often results in slower learning for the whole class. Many parents don't value education and don't support children in homework or can't because don't know or read English so most work has to be done in class which slows learning (and bores intelligent children). (The extent of this will depend on where you live..since we are in Southern California, it is a large impact).
Some have lack in the arts and music because of cuts.

Pros: Closer and can walk to friends in the neighborhood. Not as demanding if you child is not good in reading and math or has special educational needs (such as learning disabilities, or physical handicaps) because it is federally funded for these programs. I had a friend that switched her youngest child to the public school for this reason.

I hope this helps a little. It is an important decision.
H.

If money were no issue, my kids would go to the best school possible, which would most likely be a private school. Our public school is horrendous (and we live in a very nice area), so my husband and I make huge sacrifices to send both our girls to a fabulous local private school. In my experience, here are the pros and cons:

Private School:
PROS - expanded curriculum, smaller class sizes, engaged teachers, extra support staff, quality students, positive discipline tactics
CONS - expensive, elitest

Public School:
PROS - free, includes kids from all walks of life
CONS - large class size, few support staff, disgruntled/underpaid teachers, overabundance of behavior issues, substandard facilities, outdated teaching materials

Of course this cannot be said of EVERY private or public school - there are always exceptions, but this has been my experience.

Pros of public... Well qualified and highly trained teachers. A lot of excellent curriculum and well stocked libraries. Small class sizes until third grade in most districts. A lot of access to technology. Cons of public... Standardized testing, standardized testing, standardized testing. Some schools lose the arts because of mandated curriculum (schools in the Reading First program). Big class sizes in 4th and 5th. Middle school.

Pros of private... Less mandated testing. Even smaller class sizes. Flexibility with curriculum. You can choose your school. Smaller middle schools. Cons of private... some private schools do not require highly trained teachers... some don't even require teachers to have a Bachelor's degree (research this and ask questions). Most private schools do not have a well-stocked school library or much as far as technology goes. Some private schools do not have a set curriculum... so what are they teaching?

Hope this helps. This advice comes from a public school teacher (8 years experience) and a mommy. Best of luck with your choice! I agree with the many people who say you have to look at each school individually. Go to www.greatschools.com to research test results, stats, and even read parent opinions.

This is a great question! My question to all parents of kids in elementary private schools are, "What is your child getting at the private school, that they wouldn't get in public school?" For some, it's the religion classes which is a very justified reason.

Here's something to think about... teachers are no more qualified in private schools than public schools. In fact, teachers in private schools are not mandated by the state to be credentialed. Most hire credentialed teachers, but you would need to follow up on that personally. Teachers in private school do not get to particpate in state funded programs like the Teachers Retirement System. Teachers in private schools do not get to join a union and salaries and benefits are not as high as public schools. So generally, the teachers' first choice is not to work in a private school. These teachers end up being younger, right out of school, rather than older and more experienced. The turn over rate can be higher for teachers for this very reason because they will leave as soon as they find something that pays more(Unless its a religious private school and the teacher participates in that particular religion).

Next, are your reasons for choosing private school stereotypical and are they justified? Some think that prestige leads to better education. Some think that filtering in their private money to teachers and schools ensures better education. Is that a sterotype or fact?

Some parents choose private schools to avoid discipline problems from other students in public schools or are even hiding their own child's discipline problems by attending a private school. Public schools have funded programs for students with learning disabilities and behavior problems. Private schools do not. Would you rather have your child in a classroom with a child who is accepting responsibility for their difficulties and getting help, or a child that is pretending it doesn't exist? Is your child going to be the one to struggle with an issue and will the private school have the appropriate resources and staff to address it?

There is no question that public schools are over crowded and underfunded. But in terms of elementary school, sometimes the benefits of choosing from multiple classrooms with different teachers every year out weighs the limited choices in private. Smaller schools have less choice of classrooms per year and teachers. Sometimes getting that "great teacher" makes all the difference in a child's schooling, rather than the extra supplies that money could buy in a private school. In fact, many adults still remember that "great teacher" rather than the fact that they could have had more field trips or more art projects by going to a private school.

Lastly, what happens in middle school, high school, and college? Will they remain in private schools the entire time, or will they be integrating into public schools at some point? Are you doing a disservice by delaying the inevitable transition into a public school system, or are you committing to private schools all the way through? Students that get integrated into public high schools after being in private grade schools sometimes lack the coping mechanisms to deal with a public school population and struggle to make and keep friends.

This is one of my favorite debates to have with parents because there are so many good reasons on each side of the argument. I'd love to hear what you decide and why!

The pros and cons of each are too numerous to list.

You are comparing Wal*Mart and Nordstrom's, not the product, but the clientele. [A creative instructor can take any product (curriculum) and adapt it to the consumer (student).]

What you should consider is: Which school's atmosphere is congruent with my family's values and education goals?

You can supplement/enrich your child's education with on-line and extra curricular activities. If you choose a public school, and they are not meeting your child's needs, there are legal avenues you can travel.

LAM:teacher for 18 years, mother of 3, grandmother of 2.

I would send my child to a place that knew how to mentor and I would make certain mentoring was the teaching style I use with them at home since it is such a rare teaching quality to find.

The following article is great food for thought:

http://www.arbinger.com/downloads/parenting_pyramid.pdf

It brings up a good point, regardless of where we send our children, how they are taught at home makes all the difference, really.

In my opinion.....neither. Homeschooling is, by far, the best way to go. There are so many resources now and free for the taking that anyone can do it if you're committed and focused. Your kids will thrive! Who knows your child's weaknesses and strengths better than you? You can strengthen both! So much tine is lost in the classroom, whether it be private or public. I've worked in both as a teachers aid and I've witnessed it myself.

Think about it. It's a sacrifice, but isn't that what parenting should be anyway?

If money wasn't an issue I'd either send my kids to private school or home school them. I am a teacher for a public elementary school and have seen way too much nonsense to send my kids to a public school if I could afford other options. Your children will probably get more one-on-one teaching and personalized instruction at a private school. Most Public schools can only hope to drop their teacher-student ratios.

I do not ave children yet (we're trying) but from teacher to mom I say Go For The Private School:)

If I was living in the States, I would not send my son to public school. I would either send him to a private school or homeschool. US school systems spend too much time on prepping for standardized tests and self-esteem training. Only 20% of US public schools have regular PE and many schools don't have a recess break. The arts have also been cut. I am a product of the LA Unified School District (graduated high school in the late '70s). Back when I went to school, I had a varied curriculum with all of the academic subjects plus art, music, and PE. In English classes, the teachers were sticklers for spelling and grammar. That is missing in the public school curriculum (just look at how many people put an apostrophe on a non-possessive noun). Now it seems like everyone gets an A just for showing up to class. Public schools don't teach grammar or a lot of things which require rote memorization (e.g. making kids learn their multiplication tables).

I don't think you can just sit there and say public or private. I think you have to look at the individual school. Yes, many private schools do offer a lot more by way of extras, superior teaching, better class size, etc. But some don't. I feel my children got a way better education at our local public school than at the local parochial schools, but maybe not as much as some of the local, expensive private schools. On the other hand, I've talked to parents who have sent their kids to some of these same schools, and definitely gotten a mixed reaction from them. Some were happy, some not, for a variety of reasons. I think you have to look at what's important to you, and find the school that offers it. Our public elementary did offer art, music, computers and PE, but some public schools may not. It also did have really great teachers who were concerned about our individual children, and knew when to push and when to treat them gently. However, we're not sending our older son to the public high school because it was way too big, and don't think served his needs despite the fact that he has a learning disability and as a rule, public is better equipped at handling these issues. My husband and I promised ourselves that we would look at our children and their schools individually as the time came, and not say they are only going to certain schools. We were very concerned with finding the school that best fit our children, regardless of whether they were public or private.

For us, there are two issues:
1). Distance of the private school is to our home in comparison to the local public school. We are interested in having our daughter go to a local school so that the children that live near us will know her and play with her...and if she goes to the private school, she'll be an outsider here in the neighborhood. I know this from experience...
2). Public schools are feeling the financial pinch from the government, and due to this class sizes are large, there is little personalized attention given to individual kids, and the focus is on main courseware not on a holistic approach to education incorporating the arts and community.

I have a real issue at how we don't put an emphasis on education in this country and are forced to have to make decision like this. In other countries, this is not an issue. Only here to do we have to make a decision on public vs private based upon how much we can afford, and then how much extra effort we as parents can put in after working all day to ensure our child(ren) have a full educational upbringing.

We are torn and our daughter starts school next year. We are nervous about making the "right" decision as we only have one child and we want to do right by her. The public elementary school that we live by is a great school, and so is the middle school, but the high school is terrible. So moving is an option before high school. But we're also nervous about the tight budgets on schools and the layoffs in these schools, and what plans our new superintendent, Dr. Terry Grier, has planned for our public school system here in San Diego. We will be watching carefully over the year to see what happens and will make our decision then.

Both my husband and I are a final product of the public school system, though I had an experience where I was bussed into my middle school when living in another country an hour away and didn't have any school friends locally. We support the local public school system, but have reservations about it the more the government damages it with their budget cuts.

Do any others have the same concerns?

Cheers, C.

There are pros and cons for each. For me, the difference is that private schools teach character whereas public schools do not. Bullying is not allowed in private schools. On the other hand, I went to private schools and found them too regimented for my personality and I flourished when I transfered to public school.
It is a personal decision for sure.

I would look for the best private (and Christian) school that was in my vicinity. All private schools aren't wonderful or even good, but I'd do my homework and put my kids into the best Christian school around. Generally, class sizes are smaller, children have more respect for the teachers, and the schools have stricter rules as far as peer respect, tolerance, bullying, etc.

Hello,
I can see that you have been given so many different opinions and suggestions. I agree with many of them but what it comes down to is that you need to research the schools. You need to talk to the parents of the children that have attended or are attending the schools. Look at the classrooms and talk to the teachers. You may live in a great school district but your local school may not be up to the standards that you would like. Also, make sure the private schools you are looking at are teaching to the standards of the public schools. I know many children that have attended a private elementary school and struggled when they went to a public junior high due to the level of education. However, some private schools base their program on the California State Standards. Talk to parents, children and teachers and due what you feel is best. I am sure you will make the best decision for your family.
K.

Many people have asked me the same question. I live in an area where the schools are very high ranked. Our neighborhood school scores 9 or 10 out of possible 10. We will be sending our kids to this school. It has a great reputation and much parent support. If I lived in an area where the schools scored low, I would either homeschool or send them to a private school.

Check out the ranking and scores of your neighborhood school. What is their reputation? If it is a really good school, why spend the extra money. Use the money to invest in your children's future education or give it to charities that help fund education for other kids who may not have a good public school nearby.

WOW! What a thought! Hello M. S! Great question. Personally, if money were no option, I'd sent my children to private school. I went to a private (Catholic) school from 1st to 11th grade, and I can tell you, it's so much better. You may wonder how I know that based on the fact that I never attended a public school, but I have a couple of friends who transferred to public schools in high school, and all of them told me the same thing: the public schools were behind in their teaching's. I feel that my parent's definitely got their money's worth by sending me to the two schools they did. I wish I could turn back the hands of time and send my kids to private school, but I can't. The curriculum is so much better, as is the discipline. I think there is also a sense of values taught, that I don't see being taught at the public schools. I believe my kids would have been much better off had they gone to private schools, but unfortunately, I couldn't afford it when they were younger. I also believe the earlier you can get kids in to the private schools the better - they are more apt to get used to it earlier on. That's just my opinion. My daughter, who read before she started kindergarten, now has trouble reading. I didn't realize this for a while, because we always had reading time in our house, but I would ask her to read something and tell me about it, which she did, to an extent, not to mention her spelling and grammar are horrible, and once I realized she had difficulty reading, I tried to help her. I noticed when reading to me, she would completely skip over words that she didn't know. I can't believe any school has even passed her onto the next grade level, when she obviously has a problem. When she does her homework, she often asks my son (who is 4 1/2 years younger than her) for help, especially when she needs to know how to spell things. After I found out that had been going on for a while, I told him not to help her anymore, because by giving her the answer, she is not learning. That's a whole different story, but... I am very displeased with my children's academic environment (being in public school), but feel that if I put them into a private school now, it would be too much of a shock. Anyway, that's my answer, sorry it's so long! LOL
One of the other mom's made a great point, and that is about medication. My son, while excellent academically, was having behavior issues. The principal, who because of all the time we spent in her office is very close to us, suggested numerous times that I put him on medication and even suggested he had ADD, ADHD or ODD, as her son has. I knew he didn't have that, and mandatory testing by the school district (because of her suggestion) supported my belief. It turned out that he was so far ahead of his class academically, that he often was bored and that's when he started causing trouble. He would finish in-class assignments way before any of the other kids, and got tired of waiting around for everyone else to finish, so he started entertaining himself (as well as his classmates, but not his teacher!) in class. I firmly believe that people in general (not just teachers and schools) are too quick to suggest medication, and that a child has ADD. I know there is a lot of controversy revolving around that issue, and I believe it's because it wasn't diagnosed properly many years ago, but I now feel that it is OVER diagnosed, as a means to an end. I never felt comfortable putting my child on medication, even when the principal basically insisted that I do it, and I'm so glad I never did. I also wanted to mention that my father is an atheist, so while in school, I was often singled out (as well as three other kids in my class who were not Catholic) when the class had first Communion, Confirmation, etc.. classes to take, but it wasn't that bad. He also had to pay extra in tuition because I was not Catholic. (The reason I went is because my mom - who is not my biological mother but the one who raised me)went to the school I was attending, as did all of her 7 siblings, and my grandmother worked in the convent doing "church stuff". LOL) I also wanted to address one other thing that I read after I posted this, and that is at my high school, we had plenty of extra curricular activities, and our sports teams all played against other schools. I don't know if that has changed recently or not but I thought I would mention it. Also, when I was going, there were no requirements of the parents, except payment!, that I see these days. A friend of mine has her son in a private school, and in order to keep her tuition rates down, her and her boyfriend HAVE to attend mass, with their son, every Sunday. So, there are pros and cons, but ultimately, you have to decide what's worth it and what isn't. :) Also wanted to mention the uniform thing - I think it's great also, because I never had to worry about what I was going to wear, which is a big issue for my kids. In elementary (1st - 8th) we had free dress one Friday a month, but even those days we had a dress code to adhere to, so it wasn't like we could wear just anything. My father struggled to put me through the schools he did, and I will always thank him for it, but it also meant there wasn't a lot left over for "extra's". I remember an incident where a girl came up to me on the playground (I was in fifth grade at the time), and she said (in front of a lot of other girls) "Isn't that the same jacket you have been wearing since last year?" and laughed. I'll never forget it because it really hurt my feelings, but I gave her a piece of my mind, and it never happened again. The kids I went to school with all came from wealthy or very comfortable families, where I did not, and they were used to having new "things" all the time. So, that is also something to consider - kids can be soooo cruel. Also wanted to mention the smaller class sizes - they are great. Where my son was going to school, there were three different 6th grade classes. In my school, there was only one. Sorry again for writing so much, I just want to give my full prospective!

Hi M.:
Well, what the heck...May as well jump on the bandwagon tooo. lol. I see alot of pros to (Private school) Especially in the early years.If every parent could afford to put their children in a Private school, if just for the first few years, I believe this would give children a (Big Advantage)Everyone knows, that basics in vocabulary are vidal for a child to grasp early on. If they fall behind learning these in their first years,they will always be one step behind everyone else.I'd love to see the tax payers pass A bill one of these days,that would allow parents to regester their kids in private school for their first 2 years.What an unbelievable difference it would make for all our childrens futures. I wish you and yours the best. J.

Well, that's definitly a tough question. I'm currently studying to become an Elementary School Teacher and I am all for public schools as long as the area is great, the teachers are great, the administration is great, and you as a parent feel comfortable with your child going to that school and that parent is comfortable dropping him/her off everyday there and leaving. I feel that it's the individuals job and "right" to do their own research on each school that you might be interested in and make the right choice on what is good for your child. As a soon to be teacher, I am still going to be sending my child to a Montisorri school for k-8 and public for high school. I want my child to experience high school for all it has to offer, dances, clubs, sports, PROM, and all the counseling on college and extra curricular activities a public high school offers that not all private ones have. Not to say that private schools don't have those activities, but many of them aren't allowed to play against other schools and where is the learning of " how to play the game" or "winning or loosing" I feel that those life long lessons are learned through trial and error and public high schools I feel let children learn that over time. As long as "your" child is willing to participate.

Good luck on the decision, it's a toughy!!

In my opinion it depends on the child. Personally my belief is that the only reason to send a child to a private school is for religious reasons. Then your child is surrounded by other families who have the same beliefs and morals as you do. I have found that any other private school is full of spoiled, undisciplined brats. Also, if your children have any outside interests, (sports, theater, fine arts) private schools don't seem to have the best programs. If I could afford it, my children would go to a Christian school until Jr. High. That gives them a pretty well balanced background to help them (and you) survive jr. high and high school.

It all comes down to location, and how well supported the schools are by the community. One thing to be wary of with public schools is the district's size: I am a high school teacher and there is a HUGE difference in the quality of public education that often correlates with the size of the district. Smaller = MUCH better for kids, parents, and teachers. Larger districts, like LA or San Diego Unified, have to take a one-size fits-all approach to curriculum and reform, and are under much more pressure to succeed on state tests. Smaller districts have more freedom to implement new ideas and are much more likely to be able to involve teachers and individual school sites in decision-making. If we stay in Los Angeles permanently, I will, without hesitation, send my son to public schools, but I will keep in constant contact with his teachers to make sure that he gets the attention, support, and top-notch education that ALL of our kids deserve. I firmly believe that it all comes down to the individual teacher in the classroom, and public and private schools alike have both incredibly talented teachers and people who do not take their jobs seriously. I think it's less about the school as a whole (although obviously the school site should be safe, clean, and adequately funded in terms of textbooks, etc.), and more about the individual men and women who instruct our children for six to eight hours a day. If the teacher is knowledgeable, friendly, professional, and cares about both the subject matter and the young people entrusted to him/her, all will be well. (Of course, determining that is easier said than done.) Good luck!

Public, most private schools don't have credentialed teachers. If you're a good parent the social issues of public schools aren't an issue. Good luck

I have done them both with my oldest )two younger ones are not ready for school yet LOL) Any way my daughter went to private for K-2, then I switched her after three weeks into third grade from a private school to a FANTASTIC public school! The private school that she was in was BEHIND in all their academics, and I mean WAY behind. When I started my daughter at the public school she was below the average, and the teachers worked with her all year and she ended the third grade ABOVE average and at the top of her class. There are things that I miss about the private school, like more parental involvement and smaller classes, but as it turned out the important part of K-8 - her education- was greatly lacking!! I would suggest a complete investigation of ALL the schools in your area and the private schoosls, talk to as many parents as you can and demand to see the test scores of the private schoools. Public schools are required to show them to you, private schools are not! With the students being so far behind in the private school here then even if money was not an issue I would still have my kids in public school. Also check the enrollment in the private to see if there has been a drop in head count recently. As for another plus to the public school - I have enjoyed everything about it; the education, the access to more activiteis, and the extra curicular programs! I am a new advocate for public school systems :)

I think that decision really depends on where you live and what school district you are in. Smaller districts such as Burbank, Glendale and Santa Clarita allow parents to be actively involved in their child's education. They can communicate closely with members of the Board of Education and their own school sites to help shape and reflect the needs and community desires. Whereas, districts like LA Unified are so large and with so much bureaucracy that you, as a parent, have little or no input. That being the case, private school is the option. You also need to remember that teachers in a public school are certified with a teaching credential while not all Private schools require that or sometimes, not even a college degree, which is often more common in a parochial school. Personally, I believe Burbank and Santa Clarita to be the best in the area.
Ultimately, parents are responsible for their child's education through support and advocacy.

I know you have recieved a lot of feed back, but we just recently went through this and I thought I'd give my 2 cents. Depending where you live, ask yourself and look into your school system, how big are the classes, how are their test scores etc.
Unfortuantely we live in Escondido (San Diego County) and they just recently did budget cuts so a lot of the classrooms will have 30 plus to one teacher, which I think is terrible. Plus the school that is in our district that my son would have to go too has had below average test scores the past 3 years.
So in saying all that, we chose to research private schools and found one that we were extremely happy with, so in the end our son will be going to private with all races and with 26 kids to 1 teacher still a good balance.
Good Luck

Hi. I am the product of private schools my entire life. My husband also went to private schools. I always knew and believed that I would send my children to private schools as well. But, in the area I live in, Reno, NV. There aren't a lot of private schools to choose from. I currently have my pre-k child in a Montessori school and it is good for her right now. I don't know that we will keep her there though. But let me say the things I know from my experience in private schools. I love the uniforms. All the kids dressed the same so there wasn't that pressure to have all the best clothes and keep up with the joneses so to speak. I went to an all girls High School in Pomona, CA. and I like that too. In high school there is way to much socializing and I didn't have the worry about what boy liked me or any of that boy/girl stuff. You could just go to school and learn. Those pressures were off of me. Not to say I didn't have boyfriends. I had one for 3 years in high school, but he wasn't in class or at school with me so the learning environment was just that-a learning environment. I beleive the education I recieved was much better than I would have gotten in the public schools in my area. The teachers aren't part of the disctrict and so they don't get paid as much as a public school teacher. And we all know public school teachers don't make near enough. So, my teachers were all there because they wanted to be. SO, they were great teachers. Anyway, I hope this helps you out a little. Just a little bit from someone who has been there.

I would definitely send them to private school. We just moved here from another state this past year and have a child in public high school. I find that the public school focuses less on teaching needed skills than teaching about cultural diversity and acceptance. While those might be needed also, a child won't do well in college if they can't read, write, or do math skills. I find that the school system is focusing too much on standardized testing and teaching to the test. The schools should leave the teaching of cultural diversity to the parents instead. Good luck in your decision. I have a toddler who will be enrolling in private school when the time comes, as we don't care for how the public schools are here.

My hubby and I have talked at length this. We plan to send our child to a private school at least k-6, maybe all the way through 12th. However, should we have a child with special needs (Autism, severe dyslexia, CP, MS...) then I will send that child to public. The reason is simple: public schools get special funding specifically for these types of needs and can offer my child resources that would not be available in a private school environment.

For the average child, I think most private schools offer a more challenging curriculum. For me, Public school bored me before I finished the 1st grade, so I had no motivation to really try. Private schools are more geared to compensate for a student like I was.

My sister on the other hand struggled due to dyslexia, and private school would have add more stress to her. She needed the resources available through public education.

In the end, I think parents need to choose what is best or their life style and the needs of their child. If they start any school and are having trouble staying motivated, it is time to figure out why. Be an advocate for your child's education, and your child will reap the benefits!

If money was not an issue I would send my kid's to Frances Parker, in a heartbeat. I grew up in San Diego and I remember noticing at that time that what they were learning was sooo much more advanced then what we were learning. (Not that I cared at that time!!!!)

I can't afford private schools now but I do send my children to a Charter school. There are great Charter and Magnet programs around. Plus you can try to Choice into public schools that are better schools.

Hi M.~
Hubby and I both grew up in Pasadena area in similar small towns. My town had it's own tiny school district with excellent schools, and I attended public schools K-12. His town was part of Pasadena Unified where schools are not known to be so awesome. So his parents sent him to Private Christian schools k-12. As far as bullies/drugs/sex, we had an equal opportunity for corruption there. Mean kids, spoiled kids lacking discipline, and experimental types are everywhere. Even the religious schools. As far as religion goes, he is not religious at all, nor are any of his H.S. friends, so the Christian schooling didn't seem to have any effect on them. His family (and many of his friends' families) were not active in a church growing up. I am far more religious because my family was raised Catholic and we were active in a church community. Both of us have similar values though in general (and stable successful families families).
I have always felt that his parents wasted their money though, because hubby and all his friends ended up at community or state colleges. What good is paying all that tuition throughout k-12 if it doesn't make you competitive for the good colleges in the end? Me and my public school friends all went to UC's or better, our public High School was pretty intense with the college prep. My MIL always says she spent more $$$ on the four years of my husband's (and his brother's) HS tuition than she did on their (6 each) years at SDSU. Thats right, it took them and most of their pals more than 4 years to get through college. I just don't think the private school prepared them properly (but that's just the school they went to, there are definitely more college-prep oriented privates ut there).
In the end, I guess it depends what kinda public school you live near. If it's good, don't spend the money on private schools, use that $$$ to to travel to incredible places with your kids and give them real world-view life-changing experiences.
But if I lived in Pas or LAUSD, I would consider private for my kids. But maybe only for the High School portion of their education.

Another thing not many people mentioned, private schools are smaller classes but that means your kid is stuck with the same 100 (or 60 or even as low as 30 kids) in their grade for the duration. Makes for a tightknit group but also can be very stifling. Not many options for branching out and making connections with many different types of people. Also makes the leap to a large university with a million students very daunting.

Dear M.,
The advice postings to you were varied and numerous...but if you get around to reading this, consider a factor about schools (public or private) that I don't think has been addressed but can be very indicative of the effective-ness of a school.
That is:
teacher retention or turn-around rate

I know you've gotten a lot of opinions on both sides already so I will try to keep this short! My kids are in our local public elementary school in LA now, and I've been very happy with it. We could probably have stretched to put them into private if we had felt very unhappy with our school, but I'm glad we don't have to. Our children have met a far wider variety of children from all different backgrounds than they would have in a private school, and our school has a great core of committed parents who volunteer tirelessly. We may have to put them into private school later on, but I am glad they have gotten their start in the "real world" of public school. Our school also has a character education program that begins in kindergarten, and my kids are excelling academically. No school is perfect and you have to decide what factors matter most to you and which environment will best suit your children and your family. Frankly, no matter what you choose, what makes a real difference is you. The kids with involved parents will always do better, regardless of whether they are in public or private. Good luck!

My children went to public school in K-6, but when my daughter was ready for junior high school I did not think she was prepard to face that environment. Sending her to a catholic school was the best choice I ever made. I am an atheist, so I wasn't sending her for religious reasons. My daughter bloomed there. The environment was so supportive and tight knit. She was always passed over and pretty much ignored before. She was given a lead in the school play and generally given lots more opportunities to participate and not get lost in the shuffel. The most important difference was the comunity focus of this school. Participation in projects helping others was manditory, indeed every child and parent particpated. It was what they did for fun! My daughter helped feed the poor, baby sit parishioners children, and was active in fund raisers for the school. Junior High can be a very self-centered time for kids, it was for me. I went to public school only. The chatholic school's emphsis on community really made a difference in her life. She is 15 and back in a public High School. She is flourishing there. She's was president of her class, school maskot, she volunteered over 400 hours of community service with children and over 150 hours with the local spca helping animals. Her grades are better than they have ever been, something she really started to change in junior high because of their strong focus on study. All of the above, were things she had no real interest in untill she went to catholic school. It was the right thing at the right time. That's whats most improtant, finding the right environment for your child. Many public schools are good, the great thing for you is that you have a choice. Look for an environment that helps your child thrive.

I think its a personal choice. There are going to be pros and cons to both. I personally have my children in a private school and we would not of done it any other way. I think one really big con out here in vegas is the constant zone changes or the year round schooling. I have a lot of close friends that are teachers and they are mixed on the issue but all agree on one thing and that is that when a parent has to pay for their childs schooling that they are going to be more involed. Now we did a lot of research on all private schools in Vgeas and choose the best one that matched our expectations. Hope i was helpful.

If money wasn't an issue I would send my child to private but when he reaches middle school. I would like my child to go to public to start off with because that way he would be able to make a lot friends and gain social skills that he will need later on in life. Now when he starts middle school I do want to send him to a private school because when I was in school I felt like all the school wanted to do was just pass the students. They could of cared less if the student's knew what they had just learned. For my son I want a good education so that when he gets out of school he is ready for the "real world" instead of not being ready.

Dear M.:

If money were no object? I'd quit my job and teach them myself!

My mother, my sister and I were both public and private school educated although we only taught in public schools. Between us, we taught at five different school districts in two states. As a result of what we saw at work, all the grandchildren are being educated at home.

Did you know you can enroll your child in a public charter school? It is still public school but you educate at home. This means you have access to specialists and sports just like kids who attend public school BUT they can study at their own pace. It's an exciting concept and I've seen it work for many people.

We didn't take that route but chose to homeschool independently which allows us to customize everything for each child. Our children learn the core subjects as well as all the "extras" we can fit into the day. They've been studying sign language, Greek, Latin, French, and Spanish. For physical education they swim, dive, rock climb, roller and ice skate, and bowl. They've visited all the California Missions (or what's left of them!), dozens of National Parks, ridden trains between cities, gone on mission trips overseas, and this year, they'll do New England. All this during the "off" seasons when everything is cheaper and the crowds are gone.

We belong to a homeschool support group which organizes field trips, events, parties, and the ever popular "Mom's Night Out". This group offers small, cooperative classes in specialized subjects: A kickboxing competitor teaches the children mixed martial arts, a former architect teaches them art, a private chef teaches them cake decorating, a retired astronomer takes us stargazing (we can stay up as late as we want!)...just to name a few.

With all these "built-in" incentives, homeschool kids learn to love learning and produce great results. Not only that, but the best part is that their parents and grandparents can enjoy every step of the way with them.

This option may not be for you but I wanted to offer you another possiblity to consider.

Best wishes,

M.

Because my parents couldn't afford private school for me when I was a kid, I was determined to send my very bright child to one. Had I realized the quality of the ellimentary school in my neighborhood, (not the case in the city where I grew up) I think that public school would have been better. Going to private school involved driving - so making NEIGHBORHOOD friends was not an option. So play-dates also involved driving....all making for some social isolation. I think that if you have a good public school in your area, utilize it! My daughter, now 21, says she wishes she had been exposed to more diversity. Save your funds for college or even private high school where it makes a difference.

I think it depends on your children, and their needs. All I can say is that I went to a private school from the age of 2 through 8th grade, and I loved it. I was given the opportunity to get extremely far ahead, when I switched to public high school- I enjoyed being at the top of the class, and having a relatively easy time. I decided after 4 yrs of public high school that I wanted to go back to the private school setting, and attended a private university. I enjoyed the small school settings that occur in private school. I have now decided to send my daughter to private school- at least for now she is in a private preschool and we love it. We will decided whether we do private or public as she gets older, but speaking for myself I loved being blessed enough to attend a private school for the majority of my life.

If money were absolutely no object, we would send our children to the same private school my husband went to when he was a child (John Thomas Dye in Bel Air) Although, $10k + a year tuition and a waiting list a mile long is a problem. So after doing much research and being blessed enough to get our child into a 10 star public school, we feel very comfortable about the education he's receiving. I've always believed my husband received a superior education being in private school, than I did in public school, but now I truly believe it has just as much to do with the school itself and the effort of the parents to engrain positive work ethics on their children. But that's just my opinion and others (even my husband) might feel differently. Good luck to you in your decision making. I'm sure you'll get many positive diverse responses.

I live in La Crescenta, so I would have to go with the public school system as the schools here are Blue Ribbon schools and all have a high API score. I am also pro public because I am an elementary school teacher(currently stay at home mom) in the public school system.

However, if I lived in an area where the local schools had a low API, I would consider private school. My brother lives in Altadena, so he is in this situation and sends his kids to Mayfield in Pasadena.

I would do PRIVATE school! We live in Irvine. I am NOT impressed with the few schools we've dealt with. I have kids all different ages. I do like the Year round schools that some public offer. Must of the private offer smaller classes. My kids are in sports so they really dont tend to play with the kids in the area. Her bff is 1 street over but they are always in activities.

I teach in a public school and I am always surprised to see how far behind are the kids that I get in my class from a private school. I think that if you are on top of your child, he/she will succeed despite the oversize classes issue. I personally plan to send my child, if money allows, to a private school for first grade and then transfer him to a public. I plan to do that, because I know the first grade curriculum very well and I know I can make sure that he is at grade level. Second, because I think it is important for him to be in a small class his first year of school.
From a teacher stand point, students whose parents are on top of their behavior and education generally do well.
Good luck to you!!!

We would definitely send our kids to private school. I went to one and appreciate the education every day. They also had a lot more opportunity for extra curriculars then I am able to find for my kids. My husband went to public school and he is even more pro- private school then I am. He feels his education was hurt in the public school he went to. I suppose it depends on the school though.

If money was not an issue, the best option would be to enroll your child/ren in a faith based private school.

anyone with money can attend a private school, but having a faith based religion school there would be more families with the same goals.

mom of 2 girls going to catholic school in woodland hills.

You need to know what your choices are. and What you kid needs. I went to both. I grew up in the 70's (and i was Hyper-they didn't call it ADD back then) so I went to a couple groovy schools. And then I went to public magnet schools for Jr high and high schools.

I moved to a house with good public schools. And now I have 3 kids, one is in 2nd grade and I have been very pleased with his education. He is deaf and that could never be accomodated in private school. I dont know yet if my next 2 will do as well, we'll have to see. But, I do know So Cal does seem to have more problems in high school. But, you know-life isn't fair or easy-so, right now, I think it will be good for my kids to learn that earlir rather than later.

Hello! Tough question .... but I think it depends entirely on where you live. I live in the Pasadena area, so for me, it is clear cut. I intend to send my daughter to Sierra Madre Elementary, which is a great elementary school and goes k-8. The community is small and friendly, which is the environment I want. As for high school, she will go to a private school. I currently teach at an all-boys private school and previously taught in a Pasadena high school. From my experience, she will struggle to get what she needs at public high schools in that area because there are so many other issues to deal with that often times the good kids rarely get attention due to discipline difficulites in the school.

Do some research in your neighborhood and see what the campuses are like - graduation rates, etc. For elementary schools, check what age the average kindergartener is - 5 is the norm, so I would question it if a majority of them were 6. Also, consider your obligations ... I intend to be involved in my child's education, but ... as a working parent, I cannot volunteer often to fill parent hours, nor can I pay for them, so that is something else I have to consider.

Good luck with your choice.

I am a public school elementary teacher. Public is absolutely acceptable for elementary school. If you live in an area where parents speak highly of the public school, send your kids to the neighborhood school. It gives you a sense of community. Middle and high schools are different. I live on the westside and while there are some acceptable options we decided to send our children to private middle and high school. If you are interested, let me know what your public school is and I can tell you what I know about it. By the way, highly qualified teachers teach at both public and private schools. I choose to teach at a low income public school because I have that "I can make a difference mentality."

If we had the money, I would definitely do private schooling. Our son has developmental (social & speech) delays so we have had him enrolled in public school for early childhood development for a year now. We also have an IEP which is supposed to get the school to offer more assistance in his education and it's absolute hell to get the school to do anything to help him succeed. We are going to have to hire an advocate who knows all the laws to get him a proper education because they always lie to us about our rights. There just isn't enough money going to public education for them to abide by the laws and when they are dealing with parents who don't know the laws they sidestep them. My thoughts are...if they can't provide a proper education to a child who has a "golden ticket" to get any service he needs in order to succeed (IEP); what about the rest of the kids who don't have or need IEP's? Often times, parents who have children that could "POSSIBLY" have undiagnosed ADD/ADHD will be asked by the school to medicate their children and the school will never even mention that they could request and IEP because it would force the school to teach the child without having them medicated...schools, teachers and even some parents would rather medicate their children instead of dealing with them in a productive manner. I could go on because most of the school shootings were committed by medicated children but that's not your question. I wish we could afford private schooling.

After just reading most of the responses, I decided to also put "my two cents worth in" as well. When my husband and I got married we lived in a city where the public schools were supposed to be one of the top four in So. Cal. My husband went to most of these schools growing up so I thought "no problem."..Well, after visiting them we both decided on Private schools for a "good start" on their education. We found that the public schools were too crowded and the teachers had no control over their classes. Our daughters (now 15 and 13) spent their first four years going to Private schools. NO REGRETS!! Great start as far as learning, study skills, and smaller classes. Though we did have some issues with the private thing...one was the the amount of $ the parents had... showing up to pick up their kids in Ferrari's or Limo's...(Hello...NOT the REAL world!!)...also , "who could out-do each other" with the most lavish birthday parties...(INSANE!! These are 6 year-olds!!)...don't get me wrong, my husband and I do EXTREMELY well finacially, but we really felt that this was not a good example of the REAL WORLD for our girls...we also had the issue of the $...we definately want our girls to go to college so we decided to save for that cost. My husband and I moved to a smaller community and put the girls in public schools. BEST decision we ever made!!! The schools are awesome and our daughters have florished!! Interesting though was the fact that our girls were BEHIND in Math and Computer Skills when they started the new schools. We actually had to get extra help for them to "catch up." Since then it has been great. Our one daughter is a "4.0" student and the other is between a "3.5 and 3.8 student." I feel that it probably depends on both schools and also where the schools are located. Also, something to think about is that some Private Schools don't have the resources for "higher Level" classes...with our oldest, we thought about going back to Private for High School but found out that they were limited on what "higher level" classes they offered, the public schools had more to offer. I am glad that we gave them a "good start" in Private Schools that I think has definately helped them be better students, but I am happier knowing we can afford college for them as well. They are also more "well rounded" as far as going to school with all types of kids with all types of backgrounds and I feel this will serve them well in their adult lives! Good luck with your decision!!

C. C.

My two cents for what they are worth....Depends on the area of country you live in. Research and such truely know course studies, class sizes, school resources, teacher credentials (sp?) etc. Check charter schools too. The few I have looked into have had great sucess and really are good schools.

Public schools are good for diversification. Our children are in an inviroment where they learn about different cultures make friends from everywalk of life and learn some real world experiences. Some public schools have great course studies and truely educate our young.

cons-funding is getting cut more and more. Many schools in many areas are looking at shortning their school weeks. Class sizes are growing some children get lost in the shuffel if they have any special educational needs or just need a little extra help in areas. Also children who are ahead in their grade dont always get challenged in a manner needed. Children are being taught to tests not a wide range of learning. programs are getting cut on a regular basis. Violance is becoming an issue at young younger ages.

Private schools, good ones, have a diverse course study, smaller classes. More one on one for our kids. Kids are challenged in different manners and given more the attention they need. School books are more up date. (our public school books here say pluto is still a planet).

cons. - Some schools dont have programs for advanced students or challenged students. Libraries are smaller but hey we do have communitte ones. Some teachers may have poor credentials. Some private schools are pretty upper class as a previous post pointed out. There are fewer standards as they dont answer to other agencies, just parents.

There are pros and cons to each, the key is picking what works best for you and your family

I am the grandmother who as a single mother raised one daughter. I enrolled my child in private school for four years and then enrolled her in public school. I still regret putting her in public school. There is a bias by public school teachers against private schools and this played out in my daughter's case.

I would send them to private school, public schools have 35 to 40 students the higher the grade is, the more the students the less time you kid has one on one with the teacher, it just seems better paying teachers better teaching. This is a no brainer.

M.,
I think we all go thru this question at some point in our children's lives. I did a lot of research on both (my husband was a private schooler and I was a public schooler.) I have found that as long as the parent stays involved, both can be a healthy environment. Our first son is starting kindergarten this year and we have enrolled him in public school. I am excited - as I have already met some of the students and their parents. I even got to meet some of the teachers. My reasoning for public school - I beleive that we need to learn to live our faith in a non-faithful world. Our children are already around our church family so much, I'd like them to be exposed to people outside of our church.
I hope that answered what you were wondering.
P.

I would look into your area's charter schools and see what they have to offer. I work for one that has a wide variety of options, from homneschooling to complete academy site based classes to somewhere in between, depending on where you live.

In our academy claseees, there are not more than 25 students to a class so the students get more attention. Also there is a high degree of parent participation, because the parents chose this for their child's schooling. Our charter is accredited, so it makes getting into college easier. We even have an Aviation High School where the students can learn all about flight and mechanics and their core subjects, as well as how to fly a plane if they are interested. It is possible for the students to get their pilot's licenses when they finish high school. That, of course, would take parent's spending money for flight lessons, but the school is situated at an airport so there is plenty of opportunity to get to know the pilots be around airplanes. At the moment there are only 60 high school students there and they love it. Another of the sites is geared to the arts and there students can learn to be more creative, as well as the core classes.

It is k-12 and I think it is the best of both worlds.

I'd do private - usually the student to teacher ratio is much lower. Also, the students and their families are usually much more like minded in private school. And when money is no issue, then extra cirricular outtings and supplies are not a hardship.

Even if money was an issue, I would do everything I could to make sure my child went to a private school. But it would also depend on where I live. Some of the best schools are public. La Canada, San Marino and South Pas. have great public schools. I have friends who move to those areas just to send their kids to their public schools. I just prefer private because of a smaller environment, therefore less room for negative influences.

I have kids at both. My 7 and 10 year old go to a private school and my 13 year old is in the top rated charter school in LAUSD.

Assuming you've chosen the correct school the upside of private is that you are able to match the schools teaching technique and philosophy to your childs needs. You can expect an easy communication avenue with the teacher and administration. Perhaps most important, your child is choosing friends from a pool of kids whose families share your value and world view. I've also found that private schools act as a community, you know the parents, siblings etc. Since I've met these people at school functions I've never had an ish with my kids going to their homes to play etc.

The upside can also be a downside. Since the school you've chosen is populated with people with your values, belief structure etc, at school your child does not meet kid that are "different" than them. To me, most unsettling, is that private schools typically are comprised of wealthier families, and that can make kids expectation's of the world unrealistic. As a parent I've had to work extra hard to expose my kids to reality!

The upside of public is the flipside of private. Kids must learn to watch out for their own self interest, know how to ask for help and push until the get it. They develop friends of all belief's etc. To me, the major upside is that the child must know who they are and make choices accordingly. Sounds like real life, huh?

The downside is in every paper. Typically large classes, overextended teachers and diminishing resources. Since they're public they must take whomever is breathing and once the kid is accepted, legal threats, paralization by the administration etc make it almost impossible for the school to get rid of them. Also, now that most of the privates are using open court, unless you're in a charter, the public schools have become almost like learning on a tape. 3 of my friends are experienced educators who have left public school teaching because this program hamstrings their ability to teach.

If money were no issue I'd keep kids in private. Having said that my child in public is doing super well. It's all about the kid, and how well they know themselves.

Just wondering, why do you ask? Are you working on some sort of project, or is it for your kids? Good luck either way.

Before we moved, my kids were in the best public school in the county. Then we were looking to move and I was afraid of sending my kids to a school where they were just a number. I looked it up on the internet to view the SAT scores. Then, I found the school with the higher score was in the area we were looking to move into. That is what I did to help me decide where to send the kids. I can't afford private schools, but this high SAT score public school is the closest I could get to private.

Good luck
D.

As a daughter of public school teachers and a product of public schools I definately advocate public for k-8. For high school, depends on the area I am living in when that time comes. If we are in an area where the high school is not so great and we cant get a transfer to a better school then I would go private. I don't think there is much difference personally in k-8, to me it matters more in high school. Plus I would rather spend money on a good college than k-8, but that is just me.

my husband & i just had this conversation last night. our oldest (10 y.o.) has been going to a private catholic school since she was 4. but because it's a big chunk of change i'm considering putting her in public school. she has received an excellent education. also, most of the kids are her school are polite and have a strong sense of right & wrong. we've heard from some of the parents of kids that have gone on to public schools that the kids at public schools are not so well-behaved and polite, as well as being a little behind academically. i know that there are school districts that are much better than others and private schools that are not up to par. i guess in the end you have to do homework & find out about your school district and the private schools that you're considering. good luck!

Public, My kids are all grown, went to public schools, as I did, one of my friends though who having problems ditching and other things, was put in a private school, and she got worse there, As a mother of 24 years I beleve public schools better prepare our kids for real like, in my area this is how I feel, I think for some people where they live may be a factor, I'm in the Chula Vista area, and all 3 of my kids graduated from the same Elementy, Junior High, and High School that my brothers and sisters, and myself graduated from. J.

Being an elementary school teacher myself, I would recommend public school. I really don't think private school has many advantages when it comes to a better education. I know that a lot of the private school teachers in our area teach at those schools, because they couldn't get a job in the public schools. I have had students end up in my school because their parents were tired of paying for private school without seeing a difference. I have heard that the student/teacher ratios aren't as good at certain private schools as well. My oldest daughter starts school in a few weeks. I am sending her to our zoned public school (not where I teach), and I have no worries about her level of education that she will be receiving. I don't teach at an affluent school, but I would still trust most of the teachers there to teach my own children. They work hard and care deeply for all of their students. This is,of course, all personal experience and opinion... I hope it helps some.
T.

I agree with many of the other posts: it depends on where you live. I grew up in New Orleans where no one goes to public school. I spent K-8 in a private Catholic school and 9-12 in a charter school. My husband, who grew up in Northern CA, went to public school K-12. We feel we had similar experiences and both got great educations.

I'm an elementary school teacher and love the idea of public school, but know all to well it matters which school is your neighborhood school. Schools differ by districts, but schools within the same districts can also vary greatly. In our area, my husband and I feel like the Elementary School is good and we'll send our daughter there, we're less certain about the middle school, and know for certain she will NOT go to our area public high school.

More important than public vs. private is what kind of learner is your child and what kind of environment will he/she thrive in. You really have to visit, make observations of teachers in the classroom interacting with students and ask questions of parent with children already at the school. Then, try to picture your child in that environment. That might be public and it might be private.

For me personally, I would send them to private, and I really hope money isn't an issue when it is time to send my kids to school. Some public schools do have good curriculum, and of course no matter what school your child goes to, if the teacher is good, your child will learn, if not... For us it comes down to other issues. Since we live in Southern California many classrooms are half full of students who do not speak english as their primary language. This does slow down the entire class. Even if you have a school where this is not a problem, we find moral issues with public schools. I personally do not want my second grader to hear the story of "My Two Mommies" during story time. This is an issue I would rather broach in my own way, in my own time. I also do not agree with the stance that has been imposed upon the public schools that they must teach tolerance about homosexuality, however if any student does not beleive the same way, they are not allowed to voice their opinion. Where is the tolerance for those who do not beleive it is right? I did grow up in the public schools up in Oregon, and I received a good education. When I entered high school we moved to California and I was ranked above the normal curriculum. I find this interesting seeing as how I was always the average student, never in any advanced classes. I since became a teacher, and have seen the struggles the public school teachers face, and the subjects that I would not feel comfortable teaching. Is private perfect? No. I used to teach there, and sometimes there is problems there too, but if you get a good teacher, your child will get a good education. Many private schools also have programs that have been cut from public schools.
When it comes down to it, you need to research the schools in your area. Find out what is most important to you, and ask questions regaurding those topics. Interview both public and private schools, and then talk about it with your spouce. In the end it is your decision, and you need to feel comfortable with the choices you make for your family.