Comparing Public and Private Schools

Updated: 2/4/2022

When you are interested in a private school for your child, you need to know what is available in your area. Going to the business listings for private schools will give you a list of local private schools and where they are in relation to you. This will also show you the websites for each school. The best private school websites will tell you a lot about what it’s like to attend school. They will also have the tuition amounts available for you to check out.

Whether you want your child in an international middle school or in a religious school, there are private schools to meet your needs. Many parents wonder- are private schools part of a school district? No, they are not a part of the public school system and exist independently. If you are not interested in a religious school, are there any private schools that are not religious? Yes, there are many non-religious private schools that are available to choose from. Call each school you’re interested in and arrange to take a tour of them. You can use the tour to see the students and how they interact as well as visit the school’s classrooms.

There are many reasons to compare public and private schools. It is good to know the benefits of a private school education versus a public school education. Parents can learn for themselves these difference so they can choose the best private education for their children. In fall 2015, there were about 34,600 private schools offering kindergarten or higher grades. In fact, 25% of all U.S. schools are private schools.

In 2015, 87% of five year olds in the U.S. were enrolled in preprimary programs. Among three to five year olds who were enrolled in preschool programs in 2015, some 51% attended full day programs. Approximately 2.63 million students were enrolled in private elementary schools in the U.S. the following year. In fall of 2015, there were about 34,600 private schools offering kindergarten or higher grades.

Unfortunately, 21% of public school teachers report that student apathy is a problem in their school. Only 4% of private school teachers report this as a problem. Also, 24% of public school teachers report that lack of parental involvement is a problem in their school. Only 3% of private school teachers report this as a problem. Counselors at private schools say they spend about 55% of their time on college related counseling. Public high school counselors, on the other hand, say they spend only 22% on college-related counseling.

Obviously, parents are seeking the best private education for their children. There are some obvious advantages of attending private schools. Studies show that roughly 95% of non-parochial private high school grads go on to four year postsecondary institutions compared with only 49% of public school grads. Also, the national average private school SAT score is approximately 1235. This is higher than the national average (across all schools), which is 1060.

Other reasons for seeking a private school for your child include technology integration in schools, personal tablets, the inclusion of fine arts, digital textbooks, computer labs, and catering to students with special talents like art and music.

Preparatory schools are also a consideration that helps students who have already chosen to go on to university. They prepare them for the exams and vigorous schedules of a university life. It is recommended that parents spend the time to look at a variety of schools to decide on the best private education to help their children succeed.