Private School?

Question

I'm interested in sending my children to private school and/or a Montessori school. I just want to guarantee they are getting the best education possible. I have yet to rule out home schooling but education is such a concern of mine I hope they can be in a classroom setting.

What are your views on private school?

Is it affordable or would I break the bank?

Have you sent your children to private school? If so, what was your impression?

Did you or do you attend public school? If so, what was your impression.

Thank you!

I attended a public school here in the US for a year and I'm so disappointed with the education (or lack there of) they provide.

Answer 1

i went to private school for a few years and it was horrible. Yes the education was better and when i went back to public school i was like a year ahead of everyone but i hated it. Everyone came from rich families but me. My parents worked hard and sacrificed to send me there unlike my classmates. I was not in there click because my mother did not drive luxury car or we did not have a big car. One kid even had a B/Day party on a yatch and the hole class but me was invited. I did not fit in and it was horrible. When i went back to public school my parents just enriched my education. The tutored me during the summer made me read certain novels and books that my school did not require. So they filled in the gaps where public school let us down.

Answer 2

I think this depends on how financially stable you are. If you can afford it, and you can find a private school that you feel would offer your children a better education, then go for it. Since I have no clue of where you live and what the capabilities of your public school is, it is hard to say. I went to a public school,and so did my kids, and they and I did just fine. I feel that with the average public school, your children can be very successful, but it requires parents that want to be involved. I do not feel that you should strap your family budget to send your kids to a school that you can not afford, so my advise is to research not only the public school that your children would be attending, as well as the private schools available and then crunch numbers...logic will help you make the correct decision. I personally am not a big fan of home schooling, as I feel that a large part of education is learning how to succeed, and socialize with your peers, from all walks of life. Good luck!

Answer 3

If you are going to send your children to a private school, the first thing to do is see how they pan out in comparison to public schools. Many private schools have smaller classrooms and a teaching curriculum that is not infested with the whims off politicians trying to get re-elected.

On the other hand, many of the private charter schools have been found to have lower testing scores than public schools. I have no problem with public schools and learned a lot of things that my private schooled friends did not. I advanced farther in math and English.

Also, when choosing a school you need to make sure that they follow your beliefs. You might find that a religious schools won't teach things, such as evolution, that they don't believe in.

I do have a friend whose siblings were home schooled. They are smart, but do lack some social skills that most children there age seem to have naturally. If you go the home school route I would recommend doing some home school and some classroom school, otherwise children usually wont learn to function in society as well.

Answer 4

I went to all girls Catholic Schools all from K-12. I got an excellent education. The academics were much better and it was stricter. I also liked the same sex education--it was particularily good when we got older. Not having boys around and not having to deal with all of that really did let us concentrate on acaedmics. It was also empowering. And I made lifelong friends forever--a kind of sisterhood.

I am a teacher. I have taught in both private and public schools. I send my kids to a private school (Catholic).

I am a big proponent of Catholic Schools. Not because of the religion. But because there is consistently high quality, structured education and better discipline than in public schools. It is also quite reasonable in tuition. In the school I teach at there are actually quite a few poor kids. We have a sliding scale on tuition, along with scholarships. And sometimes the administration gives them an informal break.

Public schools vary widely. There are schools I wouldn't send my kids to on a bet. But on the other hand there are very good schools. Having experience with both however, I have to come down on the side of Catholic education. They really do care about the kids. More individual attention. And there is a lot better structure and discipline.

Of course, you can spend a lot of money on private schools. And a lot of these are top notch. I don't have any personal experience with these types of schools. But I know people that are products of these and they seem goodl

Montessori schools are fine if that is the educational philospophy you like. I am not entriely sold on it. So I would not send my kids there.

In sum, though I am obviously prejudiced, I am a proponent of Catholic education. But, I would not be if it had not done so much for me and if I had not seen such good results in it as a teacher.

Answer 5

I like the option of part-time school. Not sure if those exist in your area but there is one here called Benjamin Franklin Academy. It's four hours three times a week and the rest of the time you homeschool.

I attended public school and I didn't think it was good for me. I did very well in school, but it didn't do well for me. I do not intend to send my kids to public school, so it will be either private school or homeschool for us. We haven't decided which yet.

From what I've heard expect to spend about $6000 a year on private school. Some cost much more, though. Whether that's affordable or would break the bank depends on your financial situation.

I wouldn't say all private schools are better than public schools or even that they usually are. Some are, in my opinion, worse than public school (Challenger comes to mind- they push kids way too early) But if you find a good one it would be better than public school. It's not hard to be better than public school.

What is it about the classroom setting you like for your kids? I have never understood the appeal of it other than if it's what you grew up with so it just seems natural. It's totally unnatural- being grouped with a whole bunch of kids exactly your age, sitting at desks all day (which is very hard and unnatural for little kids at least), and learning what the teacher tells you to learn just don't seem very natural, and that's what you'll get at most public and private schools.

Answer 6

I think that private schools has many advantages as public schools. However, private schools are more stricter. School uniforms are required as well as the policy and teaching curriculums. Personally I have only attended public schools my whole life, but if you feel that public schools are the best for your child, you can go check out the school and see it yourself. At public schools there are more things going on like drugs, and people get pregnant early. However, different schools have different people, as well as offering different things. Do what you feel is best. Good luck and I hope you choose the right path for your kid. Private schools would be affordable, but I think it is more costly. Why not have your child attend a public school for a year or so and see if it works out for your child. If your child is encountering some kind of problem, you may think about putting him/her into a private school. Public school is free education. Public schools has children in all walks of life. Therefore, your child can be acquainted to different kinds of people and have an open mind in different ethnicities and backgrounds. If you have the money, go for private schools.

Answer 7

Our 2 older daughters go to private school and we love it. Yes it is much pricier than sending your child to public school, especially when you factor in everything else aside from tuition (activities, uniforms, donations, fundraisers, etc.) but I don't think I would go back to public schools. They have great classroom sizes, the turnover rate for the students is low and most kids at the school have been with the same group of kids since kindergarten.

If it is affordable for your family it wouldn't hurt to tour some schools in your area, see if you can have coffee with some of the moms or just sit and talk with them. Find out why the picked that school, why they decided for a private school over public and see if you can get a feel for the place.

Answer 8

I personally am pro public education. If the area you are in has a good school system. I realize that all areas are not known for good public education, and in that case would definatly look at a private school. I am not a fan of home schooling, too many social disadvantages and also kids need to learn how to cope in a classroom setting taught by someone other than a parent to help them when they go to college.

Answer 9

My daughter is at a rec center preschool right now, because there isn't another option besides a private school for a three-year-old in my area.

I definitely DON'T want her at a private school.

We live in Saint Paul, which has a good system of magnet schools, but I think I'm going to skip all that and send her to our neighborhood one.

I really feel like, as we get older, we get locked in with people who are just like us in many respects. Public elementary schools are one of the few places left where kids meet other kids of all different abilities, ethnic backgrounds, socio-economic classes, etc. And that's important to me.

My three year old is learning to read and write already. She can do basic math. I'm confident that any school will be able to teach her the rest of the elementary basics. And I'm also confident that her family will be able to nurture her love of learning, no matter what other environments she finds herself in.

For us, private school is neither desirable nor affordable. It would certainly break the bank. (We had to look long and hard to find affordable child care, and school tuition is MORE.)

Myself, I attended public schools in Washington DC from ages 3 to 18. People say, "I believe in public education," but then they say, "But not for MY kid." I think that's nuts. You either believe in it, or you don't. And I do.

Answer 10

I plan on sending my children to private school. I think the public school system spends too much time and effort into being "politically correct" to suit those few people who want to make everything difficult that they are truly starting to slack on whats important - the childs education. My last boss sent her son to private school and it was $1000.00/semester which seems high but its not as high as I thought it would be. They require uniforms which I love because it slightly hinders cliques.
I went to public school and while I felt I learned a lot, I think I would have done better in a more private and disciplined enviroment.