Private vs. Public Schools: What's the Difference?
Parents are often in a position where they are stretched to find a school that will meet their children's needs. How do they choose between a public, private or independent school?

By law, public schools are obligated to educate all children, including students with special needs. It is easy to enrol in a public school; you simply register your child by filling out the necessary paperwork and your child is allowed to attend school. Private schools are more selective as they are not obligated to accept every child, and in many private and independent schools admission is very competitive with entrance tests being one method of selection.

Is Public or Private School right for your Child? Private school students typically score higher than public school students on standardized tests, but a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, released in 2006 determined that Public school students in fourth and eighth grade scored almost as well or better in reading and math as Private School students, except that private school students excelled in eighth-grade reading. (Downloading the PDF file of the study requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download for free if you click here.)

A Harvard University study challenged the results, using the same data but different methods. Researchers found that came out ahead in 11 of 12 comparisons of students.

Earlier in 2006, an analysis of math scores by two University of Illinois researchers found similar results to the NCES study. The authors of Charter, Private, Public Schools and Academic Achievement found that "after accounting for the fact that serve more advantaged populations, public schools perform remarkably well, often outscoring private and charter schools."

But as this dissenting view from the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation's Education Gadfly newsletter shows, the debate over which schools do a better job is far from settled.

Public Schools Public schools by law must follow all federal, state and local laws in educating children. Such laws usually include specifics about funding, program and curriculum development.

All teachers in a public school are usually state certified. Certification ensures that a teacher has gone through the training required by the state, which includes student teaching and coursework

Public schools offer a general program, designed for all children, which usually includes math, English, reading, writing, science, history and physical education. In addition to these key subjects, many public schools offer programs in music and art. In a public school, the substance of what children learn is mandated by the state and, in most states, learning is measured through standardized tests

The children at most public schools usually reflect the neighbouring community. Students may be split up based on ability or interests, but in most public schools, there is a diversity of student backgrounds.

Due to special education laws, public schools must educate all children, and provide the necessary programs to meet their special needs. This means that most public schools have special education programs and teachers who are trained to work with students who have particular needs.

Private schools:

Private schools are not subject to as many state and federal regulations as public schools. Since are funded independently, they are not subject to the limitations of state education budgets and have more freedom in designing curriculum and instruction.

Teachers in may not be required to have certification, and instead often have subject area expertise and an undergraduate or graduate degree in the subject they teach.

The student population at a private school is determined through a selection process; all students must apply and be accepted in order to attend. Although students may be from different neighbourhoods or countries, they will probably have similar goals and interests. This tends to create a fairly homogenous student body.

Private schools have the flexibility to create a specialized program for students. For example, may use art or science in all classes, or take children on extended outdoor trips that blend lessons across the curriculum. Private schools can create their own curriculum and assessment systems, although many also choose to use standardized tests.

Private schools do not have to accept children with special needs, and many choose not to (although there are a small number of specifically designed for special needs children). As a result, most do not have special education programs or teachers trained to work with students with severe special needs. Private schools will try to help all the students they admit, but extra resources may also come at an additional cost. Private schools are generally committed to providing small classes and individual attention to students. Many parents choose for this reason.

The Bottom Line

There are important differences between public and and there is no cookie cutter answer. The issue is finding the school that best fits your child's needs and your financial position. There are very good private and independent schools, and there are great public schools. It is a good idea to research the schools that interest you. To have an accurate picture of the school, it is usually a good idea visit the school in person and do a tour of the facilities, talk to the teachers and generally get a feel to see if your child will be happy there.






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