What are the biggest differences between public school and private school, other than religion education?

Answer 1

Private schools don't have to follow the same guidelines that public schools have to follow in order to get state funding.

Answer 2

There are already many good answers shown.

The principal and most important difference is that public schools don't have any choice in the kinds of students that they accept.

Private schools may be highly selective, thus assuring that they will have students that are more likely to succeed. Parents of these children, even though paying taxes that are used to finance public schools are willing to pay high tuition fees to insure that their children gain the advantage provided by schools who can develop their own criteria and curriculum, who are not hampered by Union or State rules.

Some of the best private schools in the USA are not bound to any religious order and do not require uniforms although will generally have dress standards.

A student educated at a private school will often have a better chance of getting into the best colleges.

Teachers at private schools are not generally paid any more than public schools and are quite happy not to have to belong to Unions.

Answer 3

Not all private schools are religious, so I wouldn't state that as the biggest difference.

I would say, though, that private schools have the ability to be firmer than the public schools. Since public schools usually have to accept everybody who wants in, it often leads, here anyhow, to kids being kept in the school despite atrocious behaviour. If the parents want the government to provide the education, the government has to insist that a public school be willing to take the child.

I've seen too many public schools here cater to parent desires, too afraid to put their foot down on some issues simply because they don't want the family to pick a different school. Since private schools tend to have waiting lists (another big difference), it's not a big deal for them to put their foot down. If the parents don't like it, there are plenty of others waiting to take their place.

Private schools also tend to require uniforms; public schools don't.

Private schools tend to have their own sort of philosophy; while public schools here claim to, I have yet to see a public school go all out for their students' academics the way the private schools do.

Private schools do not usually require certified teachers; for public schools, it's usually mandatory (and yet private schools tend to have a better academic success rate...).

What I've seen of private schools here is that the teachers and administration function much more closely together than my experience teaching in public schools. Sure, we'd get together for staff meetings, but there was nothing unifying the different classes. Each teacher was sort of on their own. From what I've seen of a couple of private schools here is that they strive for more consistency among the classes.

Answer 4

Private schools can choose curriculum without dealing with all of the local district mandates.

Many private school teachers are not there for the money (I get paid a third what I would at a public school), so the teachers generally really WANT to be there and care about the students - a huge bonus in learning!

Private schools usually have more of a parent-as-a-co-teacher view. Parents are welcome in our classrooms and we impress upon parents the idea that they are their child's primary teacher, too.

Answer 5

Well I go to private school now, and I spent a few years in public school, and some differences are private schools wear uniforms, and the schools tend to be smaller with less students. Public schools seem to have a bit more of a chaotic environment, and there seems to be more action and such as in fights there.

Answer 6

I went to a private school from 7th grade on. The biggest class I had was twelve kids. My teachers got paid about three times what public school teachers got paid. Nobody ever brought a knife to school, much less a gun. We all listened and paid attention in class, even when we were bored silly. If you misbehaved, you got kicked out.

Answer 7

In terms of adult schooling, they generally get you through progams faster and cost you a whole lot more money.

Ex. lets say you wanted to become a vocational nurse it would take more time to do it through a public school but if you went to a private school and paid more money you could be done with it sooner.

Answer 8

A public school has a mandated curriculum that the government makes then use. A private school has more freedom to teach things that you can really use.

Answer 9

Religious schools can kick out problem students.