02/13/2025
This is very well written, I thought it was worth the share!
Private vs Public schools
Copied from Jlll Halligan’s post
Now that school vouchers are likely going to be a reality in Texas. As someone who has experience teaching and being an administrator in both public and private schools, as well as a parent in both,
I want to share some insights for parents with K-12 students in hopes to help you navigate what is best for your child.
1. Private schools are not better and Public schools are not bad- fights, drugs and bullying all happen at even the most prestigious private schools- the main difference for you as a parent-
They don’t have to disclose it to you- for any reason, ever. So if you are looking at private schools for those reasons…. you will be sorely disappointed. “Society” is in all of our schools- not just the public ones.
2. Private schools are very, very likely to raise their current tuition by the amount of your state voucher. So if a private school currently costs $10,000 a year and you are thinking that will equate to “free” for you…. think again my friend.
3. Private Schools have a crazy amount of “additional fees” through the year for all sorts of activities, books, curriculum, extra curricular, and social events… WAY more than I ever experienced in public school. (for example, paying an additional $500 a year for each sport a child plays each year- billed to your monthly tuition bill) school lunches are typically not covered so you are brown bagging it or paying prices more like fast food prices than your current public school lunch fees.
4. Unless you choose a specialized private school, most will not accommodate, outside of SAT’s or ACT’s for any reason. If they do accomodate for dyslexia etc, it will not be anywhere near what you are expecting. This is because they do not take federal funding and therefore, they don’t have to “play.” They can “take their ball and go home” on any of those federal mandates.
5. If your child has behavior issues or concerns- whatever the specific situation- most private schools are zero tolerance- that means no second chances, no “behavior plan” that you develop together. It means you own your behavior and can be removed from the school. They can choose to work through it or put you on probation- but they don’t have to… same goes for academic concerns.
6. If you are a parent who is “aggressively helpful” in public school and demand things, send mean emails, talk bad about school admin in the neighborhood- that won’t play, not in private school my friend- they can give your kid walking papers based on their level of tolerance for YOUR behavior.
7. When looking for a private school- find out if they are Accredited and if so- by which organization…it matters… I will leave it at that.
8. Many private schools give access to SOME components of the curriculum but not all, and they don’t have to give you any. (In private schools, this is the difference between them and their competitors- they aren’t disclosing the secret sauce)
9.In Private schools it is expected that you participate in all components of your child’s education- it is expected and will be demanded….
So if you’re the parent who just wants to send them off to school as “their work” so you can go to “your work”- you may need to reconsider.
10. Public schools provide an amazing- very impressive list of services your child may need for FREE. This includes speech, special education, even gifted and talented programs- these will not be available in private schools and if offered, not nearly at the same level of excellence as public schools offer.
11. Public schools offer built in systems for tutorials and additional help… for FREE. Private schools do not and many have an approved list of tutors you can choose from, in my experience those tutors start around $80-$100 an hour.
12. Public schools also provide FREE transportation to and from school and in many cases a free lunch. Very few private schools provide transportation and if they do, even fewer do it for free.
13. There is no one to sit with your child after school in case of an emergency or whatever is holding you up (traffic, work demands etc) at dismissal- you’ll need a plan unless you want your child roaming around or sitting on the curb waiting for you. Most private schools have a “after school” program that will hold students for parent for 30 minutes or until 5ish, but you guessed it- you’re gonna pay for that.
That’s all I can think of for now, I am sure there is more and I am happy to share those later.
To close, Public schools and private schools exist (and have for centuries) because they serve different needs and different students… NOT because one is better or worse.
* and for my public school or private school “super passionate” people, that do believe one is better than the other- just know that I love them both, and have experienced both from 3 different perspectives-
