Evaluating and Choosing a Private School

The question of how to educate a child is one of the most important a parent can ask. Many parents struggle with a basic choice of public vs. private school. Parents do not want to incur unnecessary expenses if they will not ultimately benefit their child. After all, many public schools do an excellent job of educating students. But while it is true that public schools do not have tuition costs (and a private school can run, on average, from $12,000 to $40,000 a year), the benefits of private education can still far outweigh the costs depending on the local options parents may face. Private schools can challenge their students academically, expose them to clearer value systems, give greater access to teachers, and allow them to feel safer than at a local public school. If you do decide to pursue private schooling for your child, start the research process early. Admission to private schools can be competitive, and finding a school that is a perfect fit for your child, where he or she will also be accepted, may take some time.

A Higher Bar

A major advantage to private education is that your child will likely be challenged to a higher academic standard. Private schools can be more academically rigorous than public schools, and private school students may have to meet more criteria to keep up their grade point averages. According to The Condition of Education 2018, from the National Center for Education Statistics, “Private high