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School Question - Long
Okay, I think we have talked about private vs public on here before, but I would like some input on our dilemma.
We live in an urban area, and the public schools in our county are not great. Our local elementary school is improving thanks to a changing neighborhood full of young families, but it is still rated only a 6 out of 10, it is in an old building, big class sizes, like 28 kids per class (with 2 teachers per class through 2nd grade, then 1 teacher) and minimal outdoor play time, 15 minutes. I should add I am a HUGE proponent of outdoor play time and think it is a incredibly important for kids, especially boys. Naturally the school is free, and we wouldn't start til fall of 2013, in kindergarten. There would be probably 10 kids from our neighborhood starting then.
We could go private, and there are 2 choices near us:
One is affiliated with a Church. Awesome school, goes through 8th grade, newer building, 2 teachers through 2nd grade, 24 kids in a class, then 1 teacher per 24 kids after that. Cost is, well, expensive. We can pay it, but it may mean we can't pay for college in full. I know that isn't important to everyone but it is to us.
Second school is non religious. New building. Awesome outdoor classrooms. 24 kids per class with 3 teachers per class, so basically 8 students per teacher, through 8th grade. Smaller school than other private school (one class per grade), less traditional. Same price.
Both private schools we would have to start in pre-k, this Fall, to get in. If we did public we would stay at his preschool now for another year. Both have lots of outside time.
What would you do? Do you think elementary school is as much about parental involvement as the school itself? Would you risk the public school?
Re: School Question - Long
Why don't you try the public school first? I would imagine that rankings take time to update, so perhaps the new families have had a bigger impact than the 6/10 implies... And the two teachers per class until third grade sounds like a good ratio.
Have you been to an open house to meet other parents? If it simply doesn't work out, can you pull DS out and put him in one of the privates in the future?
Would it be an option to start public and make a decision to go private if you are not happy?
I think that public schools (SOME!) are fine, but my biggest concerns would be location, safety record, ages that the school goes up to (I don't want big kids bullying my kids), how much outdoor time they have (and how well supervised), class sizes, teachers and curriculum, etc. I'd be questioning the same things for private schools as well however, I personally feel that the primary benefit of private education is academics - which aren't quite as important until you get to around grade 4 (just my opinion). So if the public school is fine, could it be fine until Academics become an issue? That would save on cost and you could try out both, really.
Chronically hilarious - you'll split your stitches!
I wrote a book! Bucket list CHECK!
http://notesfortheirtherapist.blogspot.co.uk
Oh, that's true actually, yeah.
I find that really frustrating in that you have to make such a key decision so early without getting to experience your options yet.
We've all seen The Inbetweeners. You can go public to private but going the other way is not quite so great!
Aren't the religious private schools a bit easier to get in to at a later stage, as long as your entire family professes their undying devotion to their related church? That could be a plan B...
Chronically hilarious - you'll split your stitches!
I wrote a book! Bucket list CHECK!
http://notesfortheirtherapist.blogspot.co.uk
But then they'll have to go to church and stuffs...
My first choice would be the local school, most especially if there were 10 other children from the same neighborhood attending. Although I don't really understand what a ranking of 6/10 means. Is it like an Ofsted report? Is it done yearly? What were the reasons it was marked down?
Chronically hilarious - you'll split your stitches!
I wrote a book! Bucket list CHECK!
http://notesfortheirtherapist.blogspot.co.uk
Chronically hilarious - you'll split your stitches!
I wrote a book! Bucket list CHECK!
http://notesfortheirtherapist.blogspot.co.uk
Studies have been done to show that if you are going to put a kid in private school a few years and public school a few years, it's the lower school years/primary that are most important. You get much more one-on-one time, you are more likely to be with kids of a similar bent/background, the private schools are more able to adjust to your level and if there are learning issues, it will be found out more quickly.
I do think that parental involvement is important regardless, but there are a lot of positives for younger kids in private schools. Once you hit middle school or high school, you should have the learning background so you could go to public school then and really continue to perform.
Excellent point. I'd want to know why it was marked down as well. If it's for documentation matters, or even based on unannounced teacher observations I'd probably be okay with that. Documentation isn't always flawless and teachers get nervy around ofsted, understandably. If it was marked down for excessive employment of ex-paedophiles and flashers hanging around in the grounds then I'd want to know before I signed up.
Chronically hilarious - you'll split your stitches!
I wrote a book! Bucket list CHECK!
http://notesfortheirtherapist.blogspot.co.uk
Interesting point.
Chronically hilarious - you'll split your stitches!
I wrote a book! Bucket list CHECK!
http://notesfortheirtherapist.blogspot.co.uk
I agree with this, and it's what I did. I attended a private Catholic school from K-8th grade and then a public high school. I will say, although the public high school was good, my freshman year was basically a repeat. And I was, I don't know, really, really naive and sheltered coming from a private school, and public school took some time to adjust to.
Also, although it's very generous to offer to fully pay for college, I think there is a lot to be said for your child having to work and fund a portion of it themselves. At the very least during the summer months.
They go out in the rain! I love this school, it is my favorite of the 2 private schools .
It is possible to do pubic til middle school then private, but I just worry that the early years are super important.
I agree and they will work in the summer but it is important to us to pay for it, it's just a choice we have made.
Scores are based a lot on test results which is another negative for me with public schools, I am not a big believer in the many, many standardized tests they have.
I would go and talk to the administration at the schools and see if it is alright for you to observe in the classrooms and talk to a few teachers. I would see what a school day looks like, what type of work they are doing in the class - mostly worksheets or is it other types of learning? What type of activities do they have throughout the day? Small group work? You could get a feel for the schools and see which one would fit your child best.
I was private schooled and then went to public school and didn't mind it at all
I think I fit in just fine at public school!
My vote is for the second private school, the one you really like. I did private school for 12 years, of which, I went to the same one from PreK - 9th. It is the best decision my parents ever made for me, in my opinion. The quality of the education was unrivaled and I'm so grateful they sent me there. Looking at what tuition costs there now, my jaw drops, and I'm even more grateful, lol.
My 10th grade year was in a private Catholic school and I was bored out of my mind because, as PPs mentioned, it was a repeat. 11th/12th grade were less challenging and I made the choice to not fully apply myself, but then my parents weren't big proponents of getting a job in school, etc. That's nothing to do with the quality of the schooling or anything though. That was just me being a brat.
Anyway, my vote is for your fave private school. Your children will thank you.
Ok my answer comes from being a teacher and from my own experience as a student. I can't speak to this issue as a parent. Also, are you in the US now? I forget and that applies to some of how I'm going to answer this question.
One of the first things I would want to know if what qualifications the teachers at the private and religious school have and I would compare this to what the state qualifications are for teachers in public schools. Some private schools don't require any background or education in teaching to be a teacher. Some states also have poor standards too though. (I also know that people can go to school for teaching and still be terrible.)
Next, I would look at the philosophies and curriculums of all the schools. What is a typical day like? How is discipline handled? How is learning differentiated for different levels and styles of learners (if it's simply a different worksheet this is not good)? What kind of learning support is available? How are parents expected and welcomed to be involved? I would look at the academic as well as the character education.
I would also look into whether the school is capable of supporting additional learning needs and how that occurs. Private and religious schools aren't necessarily required to provide these services if they are needed and/or don't have the resources to identify learning difficulties. Public schools tend to have a lot of paperwork around these issues. None of it is an easy street, but it's just good to know ahead of time.
I went to a good public school, except for in 6th grade where I went to Catholic school. 6th grade then became a complete waste for me as the school only had one class per grade level so everyone was taught exactly the same thing at the same pace/time, I had already learned everything (except the detail of religion) and was very bored all the time. I remember actually failing a quiz in science on purpose because everyone used to tease me for knowing everything and then the teacher kept me after class to explain that she knew I knew everything on the quiz and why I shouldn't purposely fail (only thing I ever failed in K-12). My point here is that sometimes less kids can mean less differentiation in learning, however sometimes it can mean more...depends on the school.
My one last thing about small grade sizes, is that they can be good and bad. You end up with slim pickings for friends. Again, pros and cons.
So after considering all of those points, I would then make my decision. It just really depends on the specifics of each school.
I second whereintheworld with private school. I went to both public and private school and had a much better experience in private school (more one on one time with teachers, etc).
I went to a Catholic high school, in high school the religious aspect isn't as much as it is in elementary school. I volunteered at a Catholic elementary school when I was a senior and was shocked by the amount of religious studies the kids had.
I think a private, non religious school would be the best choice.
I will preface this by saying I love our local (state) primary school. The teacher/staff: student ration is much better than I grew up with, they go out in all weathers, emphasize learning through play (all the way thru) nad the process rather than the results - but still get outstanding OFSTED results. And we bought hte house we did, tiny and 2 vs 3 beds, because it was in a good school catchment area. Also there is no way we could go private without me going back to work full-time, and that trade off isn't worth it to us. (I also agree that much of early education is down to parental involvement,but not entirely - but enough to not balance out losing a sah parent.)
In your circumstances I don't know what I'd do. I love the idea of continuity with friends (though F will soon make new ones) and walking to school (but not worth it if you really don't feel comfortable with it). If you really don't feel comfortable with the public school,and love the private, and can afford it comfortably, I have no ethical issues wtih going private and suspect that's what you want to do, and shoudl do it. I feel that the early years start is more important than a free ride at university.
I am in the US, to whoever asked. My state is one of the lowest ranked states for public education, like 48 I think. However I was educated here publicly and have done well, but I went to the top schools in the State.
We are not within walking distance to the public school, and when I said 10 kids his age I should have clarified, I don't know that they all will go there, but they all could. Our next door neighbor is the same age and he is going private, for instance. And the two public schools are still in our area, so you get the neighborhood feel.
My heart is completely leaning to private, but I hate the cost, even if we can afford it
I will preface this by saying I love our local (state) primary school. The teacher/staff: student ration is much better than I grew up with, they go out in all weathers, emphasize learning through play (all the way thru) nad the process rather than the results - but still get outstanding OFSTED results. And we bought hte house we did, tiny and 2 vs 3 beds, because it was in a good school catchment area. Also there is no way we could go private without me going back to work full-time, and that trade off isn't worth it to us. (I also agree that much of early education is down to parental involvement,but not entirely - but enough to not balance out losing a sah parent.)
In your circumstances I don't know what I'd do. I love the idea of continuity with friends (though F will soon make new ones) and walking to school (but not worth it if you really don't feel comfortable with it). If you really don't feel comfortable with the public school,and love the private, and can afford it comfortably, I have no ethical issues wtih going private and suspect that's what you want to do, and shoudl do it. I feel that the early years start is more important than a free ride at university.
Can you send your child to public school, but supplement with other things like afterschool t-ball or girl scouts or whatever?
Oh wait, nevermind. Thought you were in Ireland this whole time for some reason. Could be the gorgeous red hair on your little one.
In the States I'd go private if I could afford it for the kids. In Canada I'd go public and in the UK I'd go private (including religious) if I could. In China if we move back there we're planning to go public as well.
Chronically hilarious - you'll split your stitches!
I wrote a book! Bucket list CHECK!
http://notesfortheirtherapist.blogspot.co.uk
That is courtesy of her Ginger British father
My son is all blonde thanks to me!
Yes, we definitely could!
I would go w/ the one you like best - private school #2? You will feel at ease and as for the college $$$, you never know what will happen - there may be scholarships and other ways to finance it. If down the road the burden of not saving the $ for college is too much, you can put him in the public. Maybe by then it will have a better score or fit DS's needs better (more outdoor time, etc).
Does the school offer any financial aid?