Public and Private Schools: Comparing

Private schools, public schools.

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. – Albert Einstein.

Are private schools more effective than public schools to educate children? The first couple of United States sent their children to the élites private school in Washington and so did the grandchildren of the present vice president of the United States. Study shows that all congressional representatives staying in Washington send their children to public schools and 25 percent of the public school teachers send their children to private schools 1 . Research has shown that the students of privately run schools perform better in standardized tests than students from public schools. Nevertheless, the question that arises is that how true is these findings? If at all there are differences between private and public schools, where are the differences? Are there no similarities between the two? If we take what Einstein said is true, should such a distinction be made?

Proponents of private schools argue that they provide higher quality of education as compared to public schools whereas on the other side of the debate, the argument is that public schools are better suited to meet the educational demand of the nations 2 . Clearly, there are inherent differences between the two types of schooling. However, the aim of the essay is not to take a side in the debate around public and private schools but to compare and contrast both system of schooling. In the following paragraphs, this essay will evaluate the differences and similarities between public and private schools.

Private schools are independently run schools, which cater to small number of students and are costlier. There are more than 28 thousand private schools in the US 3 and 25 thousand in the UK 4 . These schools run independent of local or central government. As they are not under any government regulations, they are not restricted under the state budget. They also get extra freedom in designing their education system and curriculum.

The annual cost of private schools in the United States in 2005-06 was $14000 for grades 1 to 3 and $15000 for grades 6 to 8, and $16000 for 9 to 12. The fees for the boarding schools are higher ranging from $29000 to $32000. In the UK, the average cost of private school per annum is £2400 to £5000 and in a boarding school, the cost ranges from £3100 to £5600.

As these schools are costlier, they cater to a limited number of students. Further, they are also not under compulsion to enrol all the students seeking admission. Therefore, these schools are in a position to design their curriculum in order to meet individual child’s needs. In a 1915 letter to the editor of New York Times 5 , has mentioned that private schools are more “democratic” in nature and have greater “personal influence” over pupil at an age when they most need it. As these schools have individualistic attention on students, co-curricular activities like arts, music, sports, etc. are also a part of the educational values. Therefore, along with the general curriculum (like maths, English, science, etc.) children are also introduced to other activities.

The class sizes in private schools are small. As students have to go through a selection process, they form an almost homogeneous crowd with similar goals. Not all students are accepted in such schools, thus limiting the access of students with special needs to such schools. The following paragraphs look at the nature of public schools their functioning.

In contrast to private run schools, public schools are state or government run schools. In the UK, such schools are called state schools. They follow local, state or central government laws. As they are state run, these schools receive funding from the government. Therefore, the budget of these schools is fixed by the government. Admissions to such schools are easy, as the schools have to accept all children who seek admission. There are no tuition fees and education is free. Still a test is set a selection process.

The teaching staffs in these schools are state certified. The certification is a surety that the teachers have the necessary educational background and experience to teach in schools. The public schools offer a general program in terms of curriculum. Here the curriculum is set by a mandate by the state and the school board has no influence over it.

In the public schools, children from all background can be found, thus boasting of diversity. They usually reflect the community. Further, due to the existence of special education laws, students with special needs can be taught in such schools. The teachers are trained to handle such requirements. Usually the schools are larger in public schools.

There are a lot of difference between public and private schools. Private schools are costlier and take in few students. Arguably, individual attention can be more in such a school. While public schools can boast of diversity and students, get to interact with children from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Private schools can decide their own curriculum and the management decision are not bounded by state governance. Public schools must accept all students who wish to enrol in the school, while private schools have the liberty to accept students who meet their standards. Public schools must adhere to state regulations and decisions. Private schools, even though they have to follow some state rules, their governance is privately run independent of government intervention. There is a difference in the graduation rate from private and public schools. 90-95 percent student from private schools enter college while 62 to 67 percent of the students from public schools enter college. The difference is attributable to the socioeconomic background of the student’s and the selective admission procedure of private schools.

There are certain similarities between private and public schools. All schools have to adhere to certain state laws. For instance, both the schools must follow the general curriculum form like teaching maths, science, and english. Regulations and disciplining of students are practiced in both forms of schools. Though private schools have an option of taking or not taking standardized tests, they usually take them and public schools usually take them mandatorily. In both form of schools student’s safety is a priority issue for the school management.

Even though there are more differences than similarities between private and public schools, it should be overlooked that both type of schools primarily are educational bodies. Their main aim is to educate students.

Suzanne Fields, “Public or private schools”, Washington Times, 2008, p21

Kevin C. Duncan and Jonathan Sandy, “Explaining The Performance Gap Between Public And Private School Students”, Eastern Economic Journal, Vol. 33, No. 2, 2007

Great Schools, “Private vs. Public Schools: What’s the Difference?” , 2009. 

Private Schools Directory & Guide 2009.

Letter to the Editor by William F. Slocum, President Colorado College, “Public and Private Schools”, The New York Times, 1915

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Private School vs. Public School

Private School

A private school is autonomous and generates its own funding through various sources like student tuition, private grants and endowments. A public school is government funded and all students attend free of cost.

Because of funding from several sources, private schools may teach above and beyond the standard curriculum, may cater to a specific kind of students (gifted, special needs, specific religion / language ) or have an alternative curriculum like art , drama, technology etc. Public schools have to adhere to the curriculum charted out by the district, and cannot deny admission to any child within the residential school zone.

There are several preconceived notions regarding private and public schools. Private schools are often assumed to be very expensive, elitist and a better bet for admission to good colleges. Public schools are often thought of as shoddy, less disciplined and low-grade curriculum. This comparison offers a fair insight into both schools for parents to make an informed decision.

Comparison chart

Private School versus Public School comparison chart
Private SchoolPublic School
3.69/5 (349 ratings) 3.77/5 (371 ratings)
Introduction An elementary or secondary school run and supported by private individuals or a corporation rather than by a government or public agency. An elementary or secondary school in the United States supported by public funds and providing free education to children of a community or district.
Education Decided by the school board Mandated by state curriculum. more often by the Common Core national standards.
Schedule Schedule is dictated by the school Schedule is often a mix of graduation requirements and electives
Teachers May or may not be certified but often hold a graduate degree or higher education. Teachers must meet all state-mandated requirements and be highly proficient in their subject area (i.e. have at least a BA with a major in their subject). Most teachers have Masters Degrees.
Technology Depends on the school. Private schools with higher tuition have more up-to-date technology. Depends on the school; can be very modern or relatively outdated.
Funding Tuition, gifts, endowments, private corporations, fundraising events. Federal government, State government, Local government (people's taxes), , awards, donations.
Accreditation Agency Private accreditation agencies like • National Association of Independent schools • National council for private school accreditation • Commission on Transregional and International accreditation. State Board of Education.
Admission Criteria Not determined by student address. School zoning determined by student address.
Purpose Build religious foundation for youth. Not much education about real-life situations, such as tax and funding. To teach children and spend money provided by the community through taxes and bond initiatives
Denial of admission School reserves the right to deny admission a student if s/he does not meet the eligibility criteria as decided by the school. School cannot deny admission to any student within the designated geographical area of the school.
Transportation Provided by school or to be arranged by student Provided by school within designated area
Class size Roughly 16 occupants or less. Very rarely more. About 20-25 per room.
Social life More secluded groups. Students get to know other students greatly. No preparation in elementary or junior high schools. High school shows a variety if in a co-ed school. Larger pool of people allows for more social interaction. Opportunities for sports, clubs, community service groups and other after-school activities help broaden students' boundaries. Very good preparation for social pressures of college.
School Calendar Set by school Decided by district for all schools in the district
Bullying Handled by the principal or dean of students. Usually punishments are suspension or In School Suspension. Teachers are trained to intervene, and most schools now have cameras to help deter bullying. However it is hard to manage classrooms with 25 students and in a litigious society some teachers avoid conflicts.
Religious Affiliations Can have religious affiliations None
Curriculum May create own Curriculum. Common Core standards; State standards

Admission Criteria

Anyone may apply to attend a private school, there is no zoning based on the students address. However, granting admission to a student is up to the school authorities and is based on tests and other criteria.

Admission to public school is determined by the address of the students. Every community has a zoned school and students attend their respective zoned school. Certain school districts may have variations to this rule. Public schools are required to accommodate all children within the zoning area.

private and public schools essay

Private schools have to raise their own funds and they get most of their funding through student tuition, fundraising events, gifts and endowments from donors.

Funding for public schools is a three tiered process. The federal government allocates certain amount of funds to each state for education. The state government contributes through income taxes, lotteries and property taxes. The local government may also contribute through taxation funds. Some public schools these days have resorted to a some amount of fundraising on account of budget cuts.

Private schools do not have to adhere to their respective state’s standards or the Common Core state standards and have the freedom to choose their own curriculum.

Public schools are moving towards adoption of the Common Core State Standards . As of today, 45states, the District of Columbia and 4 territories have adopted the Common Core State Standards.

The Common Core State Standards in a nutshell:

Private schools usually have smaller class sizes and could have as many as 10 to 15 students in an elementary classroom. A lower student ratio can mean a more personalized interaction for students and teachers.

Public schools have a larger student to teacher ratio and have larger class sizes. This is often due to budget cuts or inadequate funding. There can be as many as 30 students in an elementary classroom.

Private schools are subjective in their requirement for teachers to be certified, some do not require certification, and others may require certification but could be open to a certification from a different state.

Public schools required teachers to be certified in the state they teach. Certification requirements vary and are determined by each state.

Teacher Pay

Private school teachers get paid less than public school teachers and may or may not have health insurance . (In the UK private school teachers receive higher wages than their state school counterparts.)

Teachers in public schools get paid more than their private school counterparts. Public schools also offer health insurance and retirement benefits which may vary depending on the state.

Private schools are free to choose their own form of assessments and tests. They are not required to publish results of their tests.

Public schools are required to administer standardized tests to their students which are chosen by the state. The test scores are required to be published by the school.

Transportation

Private schools may or may not provide transportation to students; the provision differs from school to school.

It is mandatory for public schools to provide bus transportation to all students living in the school's designated residential area.

Additional Resources

Funds from various resources enable private schools to offer more to students in terms of science, technology , humanities, and the visual and performing arts.

Due to dependency on government funding, public schools may not have enough resources to offer technology tools, music , art and other activities to their students.

Test Scores

Comparison between public and private school test scores is a difficult if not virtually impossible task, because the type of tests may differ, and private schools have a choice to not publish their scores.

Are Private Schools Really Better?

It is very difficult to give a conclusive answer with an absolute "Yes" or "No." It depends on what parents want for their child, what and whether they're willing to pay to get it, and what the child is capable of. While curriculum is often considered to be more rigorous in private schools, private schools are not a guaranteed access to a better college or university. The following videos throw light on different perspectives of private vs public schools.

KCRA News discusses the results of studies conducted on the much debated topic:

An insight on whether private schools stand to have an advantage for admission to Standoford:

A word from the dean at USC on the topic:

How To Choose

Choosing between a private and public school goes beyond just affordability. Choosing the right school for your child is a process where there's no such thing as too much information. A good place to start would be to eliminate all preconceived notions about private and public schools and knowing that's it's more about the best fit for a child as opposed to "the best school in town." Of course, there's no substitute to visiting every short-listed school.

This video presents some facts about private schools, and might help bust some myths regarding affordability and elitism:

While test scores seem to be a natural go-to criterion to compare schools, they can often be misleading. Test scores cannot be the absolute criterion to assess a school, whether public or private; there is more to a school than just test scores, and it's possible that a school with a lower score may actually be more nurturing or a better fit for a child:

  • School Funding - teach-nology.com
  • Private Education - capenet.org
  • Is a Private School Worth It? - theweek.com
  • Core Standards - Official Site
  • Lake Washington School District
  • Public and Private School Teaching - teaching.monster.com

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Public School vs. Private School: Argumentative Comparison

Table of contents, public schools: accessibility and diversity, public schools: limited resources and class sizes, private schools: specialized curriculum and resources, private schools: affordability and socioeconomic disparities.

  • Baker, B. D., & Welner, K. G. (Eds.). (2017). School Choice: Policies and Outcomes. University of California Press.
  • Henig, J. R., Hula, R. C., & Orr, M. T. (Eds.). (2019). Educational Inequality and School Finance: Why Money Matters for America's Students. Harvard Education Press.
  • Kahlenberg, R. D. (Ed.). (2013). The Future of School Integration: Socioeconomic Diversity as an Education Reform Strategy. Century Foundation Press.
  • Ravitch, D. (2013). Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools. Knopf.
  • Van Dunk, D. D., & Taylor, S. S. (Eds.). (2020). Global Perspectives on School Choice and Privatization. Information Age Publishing.

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The Differences and Similarities Between Public School and Private School Essay Example

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📌Published: 21 September 2022

What is the definition of education? Well, based on Wordhippo.com, education is the process of giving knowledge, skill, and ideas to a being. Private schools and public schools both share education with students, they each take tests, have a small break in the middle of the day, and students are expected to be respectful to their teachers. However, there is a variation of changes, including dress code, schedule, and funding. 

Private schools and public schools both share many similarities. An example of these similarities is that each one provides education for students to expand their knowledge. Students go through classes of each subject, expected to listen and understand the current lesson. Pupils also get quizzes or tests to show their understanding of what they’re learning. Additionally, both schools provide lunch to refresh themselves after long hours of learning. During lunches students also get the opportunity to socialize with their peers, and make opportunities to make new friends. 

On the contrary, there is a variation of changes too. In private schools generally, students need to wear uniforms that have the school's colors, name, or a symbol related to the school. Although in public school, that is not typically the case. Public schools usually allow students to wear whatever they would like as long as they follow the basic dress code. Dress codes in public schools contain all the basic rules; shirts with no inappropriate language, clothes that contain any hate act against a specific group, and much more. In addition, private schools are not funded by the federal government, unlike public schools. Private schools get funded by student tuition, fundraisers, and gifts from donors. 

To conclude the definitions of education, both private schools, and public schools, include the necessary curriculum for real-life experiences and help set students into the mindset of the real world. They each have their own unique ways of providing education to students of all ages. Both private schools as well as public schools not only prioritize knowledge but standardize constant social interaction with peers and it allows convenience for students because it is necessary for humans to socialize. Both of the schools contribute to basic life skills and open up the pathway to student growth.

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53 Private School Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best private school topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 simple & easy private school essay titles, 👍 good essay topics on private school.

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  • Quality Education in Non-Funded Private Schools Therefore, the income and expenditure of the school depends on how much money the parents of the students are willing to spend which varies from school to school depending on the location of the school, […]
  • Comparison Between Public and Private Schools in the UAE This proves the words of the President of the UAE ‘education is like a lantern which lights your way in a dark alley’ and an increased attention of his wife to promoting this issue in […]
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5 Major Differences Between Public and Private Schools

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Education is an important part of raising children and preparing them to live successful lives. For many families, finding the right school environment isn't as easy as enrolling at the local public school. With the information available today about learning differences and 21st-century skills, not all schools can adequately meet the needs of every student. Determining if the local school is meeting your child's needs or if it's time to switch schools can be challenging.

As public schools face budget cuts that lead to larger class sizes and fewer resources, many private schools continue to flourish. However, a private school can be expensive. To decide if it's worth the investment, examine these major differences between public and private schools. 

Class size is one of the major differences between public schools and private schools. The class size in urban public schools can be as large as 25 to 30 students (or more), while most private schools keep their class sizes closer to an average of 10 to 15 students, depending on the school.

Some private schools publicize a student-to-teacher ratio, in addition to, or sometimes in place of, an average classroom size. The student-to-teacher ratio is not the same as the average classroom size, as the ratio often includes part-time teachers who may serve as tutors or substitutes, and sometimes the ratio even includes non-teaching faculty (administrators, coaches, and even dorm parents) who are part of students' daily lives outside the classroom.

Many private schools with small class sizes offer electives, meaning that your child will receive personalized attention and the ability to contribute to classroom discussions that foster learning. For example, some schools have a Harkness Table, an oval-shaped table that began at Philips Exeter Academy to allow all the people at the table to look at each other during discussions.

Smaller class sizes also mean that teachers can give students longer and more complicated assignments, as the teachers don’t have as many papers to grade. For example, students at many academically challenging college-preparatory private schools write 10- to 15-page papers as juniors and seniors.

Teacher Preparation

While public school teachers always need to be certified, private school teachers  often don’t need formal certification. Nevertheless, many are experts in their fields or have master’s or even doctoral degrees. While it is very difficult to remove public school teachers, private school teachers generally have contracts that are renewable each year.

Preparation for College or Post-High School Life

Many public schools do a good job of preparing students for college, but some do not. A recent study  found that even A-rated public schools in New York City have remediation rates of over 50 percent for their graduates who attend the City University of New York. Most college-preparatory private schools do a thorough job of preparing their graduates to succeed in college; however, this too varies based on the individual school.

Student Attitudes

Because private schools often have selective admissions processes, they are able to choose students who are highly motivated. Many private school students want to learn, and your child will be surrounded by classmates who regard academic achievement as desirable. For students who aren't challenged enough at their current schools, finding a school full of highly motivated students can be a major improvement in their learning experience.

Meaningful Academics and Activities

Because private schools don’t have to follow state laws about what to teach, they can offer unique and specialized programs. Parochial schools can offer religion classes, while special-education schools may provide remedial and counseling programs to help their students.

Privates schools also often offer highly advanced programs in the sciences or arts. Milken Community Schools in Los Angeles invested more than $6 million in developing one of the top private school advanced science programs.

The immersive environment also means that many private school students attend school for more hours in the day than do public school students, because private schools offer afterschool programs and a longer schedule. This means less time to get in trouble and more time to get involved in activities.

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U.s. department of education report:, differences and similarities between public and private schools.

In an attempt to separate the facts from the myths, the essay Public and Private Schools: How Do They Differ? delineates differences and similarities between public and private schools. The findings are based on statistics from a report titled The Condition of Education 1997, published by the National Center for Education Statistics.

The following areas of comparison are explored in the essay:

  • Sources of support
  • School choice
  • School Organization and Management
  • School size
  • Decision Making for the School and Classroom
  • School climate
  • Academic programs
  • Elementary schools
  • High school academic programs
  • Support services

SOURCES OF SUPPORT

One defining distinction between public and private schools is their different sources of support. Public schools depend mainly on local, state, and federal funds, and private schools usually gain support mainly from tuition, with some funds coming from other nonpublic sources such as religious organizations, endowments, grants, and charitable donations.

In 1993-94 the average tuition paid by private school students was about $3,100, ranging from a low of about $1,600 in Catholic elementary schools to a high of about $9,500 in nonsectarian secondary schools. Total public school expenditures were about $6,500 per pupil in 1993-94. Comparing private and public school spending, however, is difficult because tuition often covers only part of the total spent in private schools.

SCHOOL CHOICE

School choice, now a hot issue, has traditionally been linked with private schools, but choice is not limited to the private sector. In the private sector, of course, parents have the greatest choices as long as they can afford the tuition or receive financial aid. But in public schools, parents retain some power of choice if, for example, they can afford to select their place of residence to place their children in a particular school district.

In 1993, 11 percent of students in grades 3-12 attended a public school directly chosen by their parents. That year, 9 percent of all students in grades 3-12 attended a private school. Parents of 39 percent of students in grades 3-12 said their child attended an assigned school but that their choice of residence was influenced by where their children would go to school. Thus, fewer than half (41 percent) of the students in these grades went to assigned public schools over which their parents had no direct or indirect choice.

Families with incomes greater than $50,000 have the most choice in schooling for their children. Higher family income leads to greater choice in both public and private schools.

"Many of the ways in which public and private schools differ reflect differences in their student population," says the essay. Students bring to school different characteristics, such as racial/ethnic and linguistic backgrounds or possibly personal problems, that affect their ability to learn.

The following are differences between public and private school students:

  • Public schools tend to have more racially and ethnically diverse student populations.
  • More children with limited English proficiency attend public schools.
  • Teachers report personal problems that obstruct learning more frequently among public school students.

Overall, public and private school teachers tend to come from different racial/ethnic backgrounds, have different qualifications, and be compensated differently.

Here are some contrasts between public and private school teachers:

  • Private schools have fewer minority teachers and principals.
  • According to certain measures, public school teachers appear to be more qualified than private school teachers. In the 1993-94 school year, for example, 42 percent of public school teachers earned a master's degree in contrast with 30 percent of private school teachers.
  • On average, public school teachers receive higher salaries and more benefits than private school teachers.
  • Private school teachers express more satisfaction with their working conditions, although teacher attrition is higher in private schools.

SCHOOL ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

School reform often focuses on the organization and management of schools in an effort to maximize school effectiveness. Overall, public and private schools are organized differently in areas such as school and class size. In addition, public and private schools place responsibility for decision making in different areas.

SCHOOL SIZE

Researchers have searched extensively for the ideal school size. In general, smaller schools are thought to be easier to manage and to carry a greater sense of community among students and teachers. Larger schools, within limits, often have a wider array of academic programs and support services.

Public schools tend to have larger enrollments than private schools. In the 1993-94 school year public schools were, on average, at least twice the size of private schools. This finding applied across schools in different types of communities at the elementary and secondary levels.

The average class size is larger in public schools. Smaller classes are generally considered more desirable because they enable teachers to give more individual attention by lightening the teacher's overall workload.

DECISION MAKING FOR THE SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM

Private school principals report more influence over curriculum than their public school counterparts report. Public school principals cited the State Department of Education, school district staff, and even teachers as having more influence over curriculum than they have.

In several school policy areas, private school teachers and principals are more likely than their public school counterparts to believe that they have a great deal of influence. Especially in the areas of setting discipline policy and establishing curriculum, private school teachers in 1993-94 were more likely than public school teachers to report that they had a great deal of influence.

In both public and private schools, the vast majority of teachers thought that they had a good deal of control over some classroom practices, for example, evaluating and grading students, determining the amount of homework, and selecting teaching techniques.

SCHOOL CLIMATE

In the area of school climate, the following findings highlight the contrast between public and private schools:

  • Crime and threats are far more common in public schools.
  • Public school teachers are far more likely to think that "certain negative student attitudes and behaviors are serious problems in their schools."
  • Lack of parental involvement is more likely to be seen as a serious problem by public school teachers.
  • "Private school teachers share a greater sense of community within their schools." A strong sense of community among teachers leads to more effective instruction and greater satisfaction with working conditions.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Establishing more stringent academic standards has been a key part of school reform efforts that began in the 1980s. One of the National Education Goals for the year 2000 is that all students be able to show in grades 4, 8, and 12 "competency over challenging subject matter" in a range of subjects.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Public and private schools demonstrated similarities and differences in the following areas:

  • Elementary public school teachers spend more time than private school teachers on core subjects.
  • Elementary teachers in public and private schools use similar teaching methods.
  • Private elementary school teachers handle homework differently than public elementary teachers. Some educators argue that homework is most beneficial to students if teachers collect, correct, and return their assignments. More private elementary school teachers (82 percent) do this than public school teachers (72 percent).

HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

At the secondary level, these differences were found between the private and public sectors:

  • "Private high schools appear to have more rigorous academic programs."
  • "Graduates of private high schools are much more likely to have taken advanced mathematics and science courses."

SUPPORT SERVICES

Federal and state laws mandate that public schools provide some services that aren't required of private schools.

  • Public schools provide a wide array of academic support and health-related services.
  • More schools in both sectors are providing extended-day programs, but public schools are behind private schools in this area.

"Although there is much variation in each sector," summarizes the report, "public school students present their schools with greater challenges than do their private school counterparts." Public school students are more likely to come from diverse racial/ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, and public school teachers are more likely than private school teachers to report students and families with problems that somehow obstruct learning.

In general, teachers in public schools more often have certain attributes that are thought to play a key part in effective teaching than do private school teachers. Yet overall private schools are reported by teachers to embody a greater feeling of community, offer more teacher autonomy, and more teacher influence over curriculum.

Finally, an individual student's academic success depends not so much on whether he or she attends a private or public school but rather on a complex interaction of abilities, attitudes, and strengths or problems brought to school; the skills and knowledge of teachers; and the quality of the learning environment.

  • Public and Private Schools: How Do They Differ? A copy of the essay that the overview above summarizes is available online, at the Web site of the National Center for Education Statistics.
  • Why Public Schools? A Primer on Democracy, Community, and Opportunity The National Education Association of Alaska published an essay challenging the assumptions often made about public and private schools and reaffirming the value of public schools in our society.
  • Many Floridians Prefer Public to Private Schools, Says UF Study A University of Florida survey reported many parents said they would not send their children to private schools even if the tuition were paid for.

Article by Sharon Cromwell Education World® Copyright © 2006 Education World

 

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Private Schools and Public Schools

Updated 21 April 2023

Subject Experience ,  Learning

Downloads 55

Category Education ,  Family ,  Life

Topic Children ,  Importance of Education ,  Success

Education is still a crucial part of raising children worldwide and preparing them for successful adulthood. Finding the best school can be more difficult for some parents than choosing between private and public education. Not every school can fully meet the needs of the pupils given the information accessibility provided by the internet. The contrast between public and private schools is a frequent one. Many public schools are dealing with budget cuts that result in fewer resources and larger class sizes while many private schools continue to thrive. The private schools do not receive the governmental funding meaning they depend on the tuition fees they receive from students. Social Differences Academic instructions are not the only thing that kids receive from learning institutions. Kids also learn how to get along with or live with others. The kind of students a child interact with ultimately affect their chance to develop. Peer pressure is one of the factors that can cause students to perform a particular act they would otherwise have not performed. If the kids are surrounded bad people who make them take bad decisions, that will ultimately have a negate impact in their lives. The private and public schools provide a different social environment to the learner. The private schools tend to be smaller, and the students enrolled there feel more comfortable in a tighter community. Private schools also tend to have a selective admission process implying that they can only admit those students who are highly motivated; this means that students are surrounded by people whom they share many aspects of life. For many parents finding a school that has highly motivated students can be a greater improvement in the students learning experience ("The public school advantage: why public schools outperform private schools," 2014). Safety and social behavior Safety of learners is always a top priority for both the learners. Violence in the private and public schools is a top priority for the teachers and administrators. Different variables are surrounding these characteristics in both the private and public schools. A private school is a safe place. The access to building and campuses is carefully controlled and monitored; this schools also enroll fewer students. It becomes much easier to administer the school students (WHITE, 2016). The most private school will not just spend an extra time dealing with unruly behavior; they have less money and fewer resources. The budget is only limited to taking care of the needs of all students for this reason students must behave well. Therefore, administrators and teachers will always take action if there are an indication of wrongdoings. The administration, in this case, creates rules that must be followed. Because the consequences are implemented immediately after a wrongdoing cases of indiscipline are always minimal. Friends often influence a substantial amount of behavior. Most of the students in the private schools are highly motivated and display positive behavior. The private schools hardly get students who were just released prison after being convicted as minors. Other factors that affect student’s behavior include class participation and attendance. Substantial cases of students dropping out, student’s pregnancy, and students cutting class and students tardiness are witnessed in public schools. The behavior of students goes hand in hand with their safety. The highly publicized shooting in the public schools has resulted in the use of some of the strict security measures and rules to help maintain a safe learning environment for learners. Sense of Belonging The student’s interaction when around a school environment can aid in the development of the learner's identity. The development of character can be even more critical when the learner feel accepted in a particular learning environment. When the kids feel they belong to a specific institution, they will enjoy attending school (SCHOOLS, 2016). Some of the things associated with an individual’s sense of belonging at the school include extra-curricular activities and school uniform. One of the standard features that are associated with the private school is the presence of a uniform policy. It is easier for private schools to enact such a policy because of the smaller population with more parental support. Some of the people view that ability of the students to wear school uniforms is one of the reasons for improved school performance. Perhaps wearing a school uniform enables students to focus more focus more instead of spending a lot of time on deciding on what to wear. When the learners put on one uniform, it is an Indicator that they are seeking one main objective. Because the private schools do not have to follow the laws set by the state they can offer specialized and unique classes, for instance, the special-education schools can offer counseling and remedial programs to help their students. However, the situation is entirely different in the public schools where the government sets the curriculum. Class Size The class size is one of the most considerable differences between a private e and public schools. The private school tends to keep the size of the classes smaller; it is estimated that a private school has an average of 10 to 15 years, depending on the smaller while the urban schools can be large as 25 to 30 years (Dahler-Larsen & Foged, 2017). A smaller size means that teacher can give students better attention since they do not have many papers to grade. One of the most significant criticisms of public schools is lack of being surrounded by so many individuals and lack of individualism. The public schools also have additional problems to handle and extra requirements that is hard to create a community that is tight. As earlier indicated, private school tend to have a smaller student to classroom ratio. A smaller number of students that are gathered under the same faith and mission are likely to feel included. It is quite challenging to create a tight community in public schools because all of them are subjected to governmental regulations that keep on changing. Wealth The type of family that a student comes has a direct impact on the student’s social characteristics. Those students who attend the private schools come from wealthier backgrounds because they must have enough money to cater for tuition. It is unlawful to charge fees in public school because they receive funding from both the local and the national government. The private schools charge on each program they offer, and in many cases, the fees will be determined by the market forces. According to the individual school review, the tuition fees cost $9,582 for each student (Cheng, Trivitt & Wolf, 2015). Public funding never runs the private schools means that they must operate within a balanced budget. When it comes to compliance the all public schools must conform to the local, government, and federal regulations. Furthermore, the public schools should follow the local and state building, safety, and fire codes. The situation is not different from the private schools which must also observe the local, state and federal such as the safety requirement. There is plenty of reviews, inspection, and regulation of both the public and private schools (Dahler-Larsen & Foged, 2017). The public schools must also comply state regulations regarding what is being taught. Subjects such as sexual practices and religion are taboo. Some of the rulings in some of the court cases have stipulated what is supposed to be taught. By contrast, the private schools teach children what they feel is relevant; this is one of the reasons why parents will choose to take their children to that school with educational philosophy and programs they feel comfortable with. However, the private school undergoes accreditation processes on a regular basis to ensure they provide the best educational experiences to the learner. Both the private and public schools require a particular number of credits in core subjects such as science, mathematics, and English to a student to graduate. Conclusion There is always competition between the private and the public schools. It will remain to be a choice that many kids and parents will encounter. The fact remains that it is not wrong or right regarding which school parents chose for their kids. There is no answer as which is the best school for the learners. Each parent will have different beliefs and opinion about the available school's system. In the end, it is essential to note that each school has one major goal: to give the learners better education to make them responsible citizens. References Cheng, A., Trivitt, J., & Wolf, P. (2015). School Choice and the Branding of Milwaukee Private Schools*. Social Science Quarterly, 97(2), 362-375. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.12222 Dahler-Larsen, P., & Foged, S. (2017). Job Satisfaction in Public and Private Schools: Competition is Key. Social Policy & Administration. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/spol.12324 SCHOOLS, W. (2016). ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE CITY OF WILMINGTON, 1900-1901 (CLASSIC REPRINT). [S.l.]: FORGOTTEN BOOKS. The public school advantage: why public schools outperform private schools. (2014). Choice Reviews Online, 52(05), 52-2683-52-2683. http://dx.doi.org/10.5860/choice.186694 WHITE, J. (2016). Justifying Private Schools. Journal Of Philosophy Of Education, 50(4), 496-510. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-9752.12179

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Federal pandemic aid helped keep school districts afloat, but that money is coming to an end.

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By Sarah Mervosh and Madeleine Ngo

After several cash-flush pandemic years, school districts across the country are facing budget shortfalls, with pressure closing in on multiple fronts.

A flow of federal dollars — $122 billion meant to help schools recover from the pandemic — is running dry in September, leaving schools with less money for tutors, summer school and other supports that have funded pandemic recovery efforts over the last three years.

At the same time, declining student enrollment — a consequence of lower birthrates and a growing school choice movement — is catching up to some districts.

The result: Districts across the country must make tough decisions about cuts that will affect millions of families as soon as the next school year. The cuts, which many districts put off during the pandemic, could interrupt the recovery of U.S. students, who by and large have not made up their pandemic losses .

“I’m concerned that too many state and district leaders had their heads in the sand about the coming fiscal cliff, and now they are being confronted with really painful decisions,” said Thomas S. Dee, a Stanford University professor who has studied student enrollment trends.

The cutbacks span districts rich and poor. In the Edmonds, Wash., school district, an upper-middle income area north of Seattle, music classes were a target of district slashes , mobilizing a local foundation to raise more than $200,000 to try to save them. In Montgomery County, Md., an upscale suburb, the district is slightly increasing class sizes to save money.

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Alaska court weighing arguments in case challenging the use of public money for private schools

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Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference on topics including education, Feb. 7, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska Supreme Court is weighing a case that challenges as unconstitutional laws that have allowed families with children in home-study programs to use public money for education-related expenses at private schools. The court heard arguments Thursday, June 27 in Anchorage — more than two months after a lower court judge sided with a group of parents and teachers who brought the challenge. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, file)

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JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Supreme Court is weighing a case that challenges as unconstitutional laws that have allowed families with children in home-study programs to use public money for education-related expenses at private schools.

The court heard arguments Thursday in Anchorage, more than two months after Superior Court Judge Adolf Zeman sided with a group of parents and teachers who brought the challenge.

The case centers on provisions of state law passed a decade ago that have allowed families with kids in correspondence school programs to receive thousands of dollars a year in reimbursements for instruction-related costs.

The allotments drew scrutiny after Jodi Taylor, the wife of Attorney General Treg Taylor, wrote an opinion piece in 2022 about “an opportunity — which has been hiding from public view – for families to use their children’s education allotment” for classes at private schools and other educational options.

Zeman ruled in April that the provisions “were drafted with the express purpose of allowing purchases of private educational services with the public correspondence student allotments.” He said that conflicts with the Alaska Constitution, which says public funds cannot be paid “for the direct benefit of any religious or other private educational institution.”

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Attorneys for the state asked the state Supreme Court to reverse Zeman’s ruling , arguing in part that the ruling was overly broad. Attorneys for parents who have used their allotments to pay their children’s private school tuition and intervened in the case said the allotments are a direct benefit to families, not private schools. They say parents have a federal right to choose private schooling.

The Legislature wasn’t obligated to create a correspondence study option, Kirby Thomas West, an attorney with the Institute for Justice representing the intervening parents, told the court Thursday. “But once it did, once it has said, We are going to allow you to use this allotment benefit ... to do a wide array of things, including home schooling, tutoring, books, curriculum, all kinds of things, the state can’t — as the Superior Court’s interpretation would do — then say, except for one, except for send your kids to private school.”

The Supreme Court did not indicate Thursday when it would rule.

More than 22,000 students are enrolled in correspondence schools, a type of homeschooling supported by local school districts. It can be an option for families living in remote reaches of Alaska, but some families in more urban areas also choose correspondence programs as an alternative to traditional neighborhood schools. Allotments can be used for such things as physical or speech therapy for students with special needs or for help paying for some college courses, according to court filings.

At issue in the case are provisions of a 2014 law that says districts with correspondence programs are to provide individual learning plans for correspondence students. Parents can use allotments to buy “nonsectarian services and materials from a public, private, or religious organization” if those services or materials are required for the child’s learning plan and meet other standards, such as approval by the school district and support “a public purpose.”

Those provisions, which Zeman ruled unconstitutional, originated in a bill proposed by then-Sen. Mike Dunleavy, who is now governor. The Republican — a former teacher and school administrator who has advocated for greater school choice and parental involvement in education — also had proposed a companion constitutional amendment that would have allowed public money to go to private or religious schools. That amendment proposal stalled for lack of support.

Jodi Taylor, in her 2022 opinion piece, said two of her children at the time attended full-time a private school in Anchorage and also were enrolled in an Anchorage School District correspondence program. She said she planned to request that allotment funds for the children be used to help pay tuition costs at the private school, which she said was an approved vendor for the correspondence program. It was not clear, though, if that happened.

Two months after the piece was published, the Department of Law, headed by Treg Taylor, released a legal opinion on allotments penned by Deputy Attorney General Cori Mills. It said use of allotments to pay most or all of the tuition at a private school was “almost certainly unconstitutional,” but said they could be used in some circumstances to pay for certain classes at a private school that supported a child’s home-based education. Treg Taylor had recused himself from the matter.

But the attorney general said after the lawsuit was filed in 2023 that he sought ethics advice that ultimately determined he could participate in the case. He said by email this week that the ethics advice was confidential, and he did not respond to questions about his children’s schooling.

The state has gotten outside help in the case. It signed a contract worth up to $100,000 with attorney Elbert Lin, a former solicitor general for the state of West Virginia who argued the state’s case Thursday. The Texas-based First Liberty Institute, a self-described religious liberty legal organization, is providing pro bono legal advice on the case “and any subsequent appeals,” according to contracts released by the Alaska Department of Law.

State lawmakers in response to Zeman’s decision earlier this year passed a bill with provisions aimed at providing stability for correspondence students while the litigation plays out. The move came near the end of a contentious legislative session in which they clashed with Dunleavy on public school funding .

private and public schools essay

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Oklahoma supreme court rules charter school is public school, can’t skirt religion rules.

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A school, not a church

It has been a little more than a year since Oklahoma approved the nation’s first religious charter school. Tuesday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that charter violates the state constitution , and its approval must be rescinded.

St. Isidore was intended to be the nation’s first Catholic charter school, and approval by the state virtual charter school board sparked a wave of objections.

Nina Rees, at the time the President and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, disagreed with the decision. Arguing that charter schools are meant to be public schools and therefor “must be non-sectarian.” Rees says, “The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is trying to make charter schools into something they are not.”

Also vocal in opposition was GOP Attorney General Gentner Drummond . The decision to approve the religious charter was okayed by his predecessor, John O’Connor. Drummond a rgued that the O’Connor opinion “misuses the concept of religious liberty by employing it as a means to justify state-funded religion. If allowed to remain in force, I fear the opinion will be used as a basis for taxpayer-funded religious schools.” Oklahomans, he argued, would soon find themselves forced to fund charters that promoted religions to which they objected. Drummond was the petitioner before the state supreme court.

The crux of the court’s decision is the ruling that charter schools are, in fact, public schools. Charter schools are publicly funded and privately owned and operated, and for most of their history they have existed in a sort of grey area, sometimes arguing they are public, and sometimes arguing that they are not state actors and therefor not subject to state laws.

Peltier v. Charter Day School , a previous case involving a North Carolina charter school dress code hinged on the same issue, with the Supreme Court ultimately deciding to let stand a lower court’s ruling that the charter was a public school and therefor subject to anti-discrimination laws.

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The Oklahoma court agreed that charter schools are public schools.

St. Isidore supporters may be banking that the Supreme Court has shown a willingness to chip away at the wall between church and state when it comes to schools, as shown in cases like Carson v. Makin (ruling that Maine’s school vouchers can support religious schools) and Kennedy v. Bremerton (the case of the praying football coach).

But the Oklahoma Supreme Court found that, as a public school, St. Isidore was fully bound by the state constitution.

The school was open and clear about its intentions to “creates, establish and operate” the school as a Catholic school” that would derive “its original characteristics and its structure as a genuine instrument of the church” including “the evangelizing mission of the church.”

The court also found Oklahoma’s constitution clear. Article 2, Section 5 prohibits the State from using any public money for the benefit or support of any religious institution. The Constitution also mandates that “provisions shall be made for the establishment and maintenance of a system of public schools.”

The Oklahoma Charter Schools Act declares that charter schools are public schools, and that they must be nonsectarian.

From there, the court makes a short trip to its conclusion. St. Isidore is a charter school, therefor it is a public school and a state actor ( Peltier makes an appearance in the court decision). Therefor the Establishment Clause and the Oklahoma Constitution apply, and the Free Exercise does not (because, says the court, St. Isidore is not a private entity). Writes the court :

The State’s establishment of a religious charter school violates Oklahoma statutes Oklahoma Constitution, and the Establishment Clause. St. Isidore cannot justify existence by invoking Free Exercise rights as religious entity. St. Isidore came into existence through its charter with the State and will function as a component of the state’s public school system. The case turns on the State’s contracted-for religious teachings and activities through a new public charter school, not the State’s exclusion of a religious entity.

In other words, charters can’t invoke the rights of a private organization to Free Exercise, because they are not private organizations, but part of the state.

The decision seriously challenges the ability of charter schools to operate outside the laws that govern traditional public schools. That limitation would give charter schools considerably less freedom than private schools that accept taxpayer-funded vouchers.

Of the nine judges, one recuses, one dissents, one concurs in part, and six concur.

There is another lawsuit out there, brought by an assortment of parents and organizations challenging the granting of a charter to St. Isidore. This decision may yet be appealed ( the dissent argues that Free Exercise will win the day). We’ll see what the future holds next for religious charter schools.

Peter Greene

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