Do you what it means when people say that it takes a village to raise a child? Do you agree? For many parents, this famous and wise saying holds special meaning and can e interpreted to mean that extended family such as grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and more play an integral role in a child’s development and personal growth. On top of this, many parents parents also believe that school and educators such as teachers also play a significant role in the development of a child. These beliefs are true, which is why so many parents place such a great emphasis on choosing the best school and education for their children in order to set them up for a lifetime of success.
Whether it’s choosing an elementary school, a middle school, or high school, are private schools really better? That depends on what a parent’s idea of “better” is, but generally speaking, yes. That’s not to say that if a child goes to public, they will not be able to succeed in life. In fact, some of society’s and the world’s greatest minds attended public schools! However private schools, especially private high schools, provide many benefits that parents find are necessary in the healthy development of their children.
Are you a parent on the fence over whether private schools are really better than public schools? If so, take a look at these three reasons why private schools might be a better choice for your child.
Smaller, more controlled class sizes
Small class sizes are important because they mean that children get more individualized attention, which in turn means better information retention and better overall grades. According to a report from the U.S. Department of Education, private schools have an average of 13 students for each full time teacher whereas public schools have about 16 students per full time teacher. The study went on to show that 36% of private schools have an average of a 10:1 ratio or lower, compared to 10% for public schools.
Discipline is front and center
Generally speaking, private schools provide a more consistent and cohesive approach when it comes to student discipline as opposed to public schools. This is important for many parents, especially those who place great emphasis on discipline and creating a structured environment for their school aged children. In fact, many privatized schools require that incoming students read, understand, and sign the code of conduct as part of the enrollment process. Though the preferred methods of discipline will vary from school to school, privatized schools typically impose an absolute zero-tolerance policy when it comes to severe offenses such as drug or substance abuse, stealing, or cheating. These typically result in total and complete expulsion immediately whereas they might result in lighter disciplinary action at a public school.
Better grades
As a whole, privatized schools are valued for their great emphasis on academic excellence. In many cases, privatized schools often higher graduation and college admission rates compared to their public counterparts. Similarly, student grades tend to be higher due to smaller class senses are more one on one attention. It’s easy to see why parents would want to send their children to private school for this reason alone! Similarly, facilities such as the school library tend to be better, which in turn helps to facilitate learning.
