Are you looking for the right school fit for your child? Not sure if public school or private school might be the best choice?
Family circumstances and the individual needs of your child are likely some of the biggest factors impacting your decision. For one family, a location on the route from home to work might be important; for another, a strong music or athletics program might be a high priority; for yet another, being able to pay the tuition in installments might be a key consideration.
Before you even start browsing through glossy brochures and surfing school websites, take the time to define your child's and your family's needs, wants, and circumstances. A compatible fit is important!
When it comes down to choosing a school for your child, it can be quite a daunting and even stress-inducing task. With so many choices—small school or large school, school of the arts or a technology-focused school, public school or private—it’s easy to default to the most convenient (read: geographically closest) choice.
Let us help you narrow down a very broad field, by first highlighting the two major educational paths: private schools and public schools.
On the public side, parents worry about an education system facing cutbacks and criticism. On the private side, there's the cost and the question of what parents are really getting for their money.
So, let’s take a look at the benefits of both.
Private School Benefits:
- Increased parental involvement in children’s education—at home and within school community.
- Class sizes are usually smaller. One-on-one time with students has been proven to improve academic achievement.
- Private schools often have a good reputation in global higher education institutions, with many schools boasting a one-hundred percent rate of students attending their first choice university.
- The private school system provides various educational options, including international exchange programs, advanced placement (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB); faith-based schools—Christian, Jewish, Muslim; coed or single gender schools; and special needs schools.
- Excellent extracurricular activities or special programs—e.g., arts, sports, clubs, music.
- Dedicated and well-trained teachers, many with advanced degrees.
- Not run by tax dollars, thus more freedom in curriculum design and general governance.
- Larger student populations in public schools may lead to decreased supervision and more bullying issues.
- Public schools may have more bureaucracy, leading to less innovation in program offering, less positive change at the institutional level, and decreased parental influence on a child’s educational progress and disciplinary measures.
- Children who are less assertive or different may miss out on social and leadership opportunities with larger school sizes in public schools.
- Frequently overcrowded schools and classrooms in public schools may decrease a student’s chance of getting extra attention and academic support as needed.
- Many private schools meet or exceed provincial education standards, according to Michael Zwaagstra, co-author of the book What’s Wrong with Our Schools: and How We Can Fix Them. Private schools that are included in the rankings often score high in the Fraser Institute’s report cards, measuring academic achievement among all school types that take standardized tests (click here for news and analysis on the Fraser Institute rankings).
Public School Benefits:
- Cost-effective—public school is free, paid for by Canadians’ tax dollars.
- Like private schools, some public schools offer specialized courses or programs—e.g., math and science, special needs, and the arts.
- Public schools don’t usually require prospective students to undergo entrance interviews or tests in order to attend the school, so students may be exposed to a wider range of people.
- Students in public schools are typically grouped according to geographical area, which can be an advantage in terms of out-of-school socializing.
- Typically, teachers in North American public schools must have a bachelor’s degree, as well as federal, state, or provincial certification.
- Public schools are overseen by provincial governments and local school boards (many private schools that receive government funding or grant credits for the provincial high school diploma are also required to abide by provincial standards, but families must exercise due diligence and do research on each school).
- Top public schools may have a wide range of resources and cutting-edge equipment.
- Some private schools may be more selective than public schools, and can be stressful to get in to.
- Although there are more ways and financial aid to manage the costs of private school, private schools may not be affordable for some families.
Final Verdict:
Whether you choose a public school or a private school, most critical is finding a school that will provide your child a solid educational foundation for future academic, career, and personal success. Ensure that the school emphasizes the well-qualified teachers and smaller class sizes that cater best to students’ unique academic and personal strengths and weaknesses.
Finally, realize that there are good public schools and good private schools. In the end, what matters is choosing a school that best suits your child, as well as the entire family. Once you have done your research, relax! No decision is irreversible, and if the school turns out to be the wrong fit—geographically, financially, academically, or otherwise—there are plenty more schools to choose from.
Give your kids the best school experience this year. Meet with top schools across the country this fall at the Our Kids Private School Expos.
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