Tips, Differences Between Private & Public High Schools

You naturally want the best possible education for your kids. The question then becomes: which is best? Public school or private? The answer's going to be different for everyone because public and private schools both have advantages and disadvantages that must be weighed. Here are some of the major distinctions between them, keeping in mind that the particular characteristics of schools near you might vary.

Tuition or Taxes
Private school tuition can be a real budget-buster for most families, especially with more than one child in private school. In 2008, it cost an average of more than $10,000 per year at a non-religious private secondary school. Meanwhile, as a property owner, you could still be paying school taxes on top of those tuition bills. In highly taxed states such as New York, school taxes may be as much as 3 percent of a home's value. That can easily match the tuition figures of most private schools.

Student Performance
The Council for American Private Education says on average private school students outperform their public counterparts; but although that may confirm some stereotypes, other recent research says that's not really the case. According to the study by the Center on Education Policy, a student's prior success in school and socioeconomic status are more influential than type of school. So, a private school may not turn Bobby or Susie into a genius; likewise, Bobby or Susie won't lose brain cells just because they're in the same school as all the other kids in the neighborhood.

College Prospects
The same study from the Center on Education Policy does suggest, however, that private schools have a leg up when it comes to college preparation. Private schools seem to produce higher SAT scores because curriculum emphasizes critical thinking skills over memorization; private school kids aren't covered by state-mandated tests that rely on the "drill and kill" style of test prep.

Student Life
Ultimately, look beyond the wallet and the classroom for the biggest differences. Do you want your child to have a religious emphasis not available in the public setting? Does your public school offer a wider array of sports and activities? Does a private school offer unique activities? Are you looking for a more-intimate setting for your children or a larger one where they can meet a wide range of people? The answers to these questions may go a long way toward determining which type of school is a better fit for your kids.