A question I get asked quite often is, “Is tuition at a private school worth it for my child?” I have attended both public and private schools as a child, and I have also worked with numerous students from both public and private. Additionally, as a counselor at a private school in Austin I know firsthand the benefits a private school can provide, particularly for students with diagnosed learning differences or ADHD.
For the purpose of this post, I’m going to define “private school” as any non-charter or non-public school and assume that they charge some type of tuition. Below are some of the top benefits to attending a private school.
1. Flexibility in Curriculum and Accommodations
Unlike public schools, private schools are not mandated by the State. That means private schools have the flexibility in their curriculum to make decisions based on what is best for the school and its students, regardless of what lawmakers think. This is a huge bonus for students with learning differences as private schools can offer whatever services they see fit.
For instance, Rawson-Saunders here in Austin specializes in working with students with dyslexia. That means they can tailor their curriculum to focus on skills for dyslexia and prepare their students accordingly. Furthermore they can offer their students whatever accommodations they decide are necessary and are not limited to a particular menu of choices. It’s not uncommon for a private school to create their own set of accommodations to cater to their student population. For many students with learning differences, this benefit alone makes private school worth attending.
2. Admission Standards
Just about every private school has an admissions process that involves a director of admissions and an admissions committee. While it can be intimidating for children to go through the admissions process, it does ensure a certain standard of student body. Depending on the mission of the school this could mean high academics, a focus on student-athletes, devotion to fine arts, a Christian environment, etc. Private schools have the ability to admit students based on their strengths, personalities, and backgrounds and thus cultivate a specific culture within the school.
The Bolles School in Florida is a popular choice for athletes as they consistently churn out students who either go on to play sports in college or, in some cases, graduate straight into a professional career. They made a decision long ago to cater to athletics, and their school’s culture reflects this. Not all private schools choose to focus on one or two key areas, but most private schools do have an area of strength.
3. Class Size
The term “class size” refers to both the size of each grade and the number of students in each classroom. Most private schools have small grade sizes with about 50-100 students in middle school and 100-150 students in high school. Due to these smaller grade sizes, students pretty much know every other student in their grade. Additionally faculty and staff, particularly the counselors, get to know each student by name. With smaller grade levels it’s hard for a student to “slip through the cracks” as each individual is almost always accounted for by someone.
At the high school I work we try to limit actual class sizes to 18 students. Often times we have core classes with 10 students, sometimes even fewer. This allows teachers to get to know their students very well and spend more time on content than on classroom management. For students who require accommodations, it’s much easier to administer these with smaller class sizes as resources can be spread among fewer students. Students who receive accommodations also typically receive more attention from teachers and thus better individualized instruction.
4. Faculty Accessibility
As someone who has worked with students from both private and public schools, this is the area I notice the biggest difference. Most private schools make their teachers accessible not just to students but also to parents on a regular basis. It’s not uncommon for teachers to meet with students before school, after school, or during lunch for extra tutoring or just to go over a quick question. I do not get the same sense from public school students that their teachers are as willing to give up their own time to help a student.
Also, from a parent’s perspective, it is refreshing to know that emails will be returned and parent/teacher conferences are the norm, as they are in private school. Most private school parents I work with report that their schools are very accommodating in setting up meetings and working with families to resolve issues. Having a relationship with teachers and administrators goes a long way to avoiding unnecessary problems and really helps out when problems do arise.
5. More Extracurricular Participation
Because private schools tend to have fewer students (see above), there are fewer students competing for all the available extracurricular activities. Students who attend private schools are usually involved in several activities in many different domains. I vividly remember several of students this fall who would have play rehearsal at 6:00 a.m., school all day, and then volleyball or football practice after school. Other students are involved in school clubs, yearbook, choir, mission trips, community service, and numerous other activities, many at the same time. There simply are more opportunities for students, and they tend to take advantage of them.
6. College Advising
While it doesn’t pertain to elementary- and middle-school students nearly as much as high-school students, college advising is a big reason why many families choose to attend private school. The really good private schools all have college counselors on staff who specialize in college admissions. These counselors have great relationships with the college reps in the area and often attend counselor updates for all the major universities. In the private sector these college advisers charge thousands of dollars for the same service that private schools include as part of tuition.
Additionally, really good college counselors help families secure scholarship money for college. In fact I know personally of several students who received college scholarships that exceeded the cost of their private high-school education, essentially making that tuition “free”. The ultimate goal for many high-school students is admittance to the college of their choice, and private schools tend to have better results on the whole in achieving this goal.
Even though this post is about the benefits of a private school education, I wholeheartedly feel that public schools can serve students well. The biggest factor in determining student success at any level is parent involvement. However, private schools can often times assist parents in helping their child reach their potential, particularly those with diagnosed learning differences and/or ADHD.
In the article you talked about how you should choose a private school, as they usually have small classes, which allows students to really get to know each other. With the ability to make great relationships in school, you would feel more included and more motivated to do well in your studies. I’ll have to look up private schools in my area, as I would love for my kids to have a schooling experience like the one you mentioned.
Thanks for the reply. I highly suggest Googling your states independent school association to get a comprehensive list of schools. The associations are a great place to start, as the process can be overwhelming.
It’s interesting that private schools have small grade sizes ranging from 50-150 students in middle and high school. I’ve heard a lot about the benefits of having a smaller class but haven’t ever really understood it. Maybe it could be considered an education fad but I should probably give it a try before getting an opinion. Perhaps I’ll enroll my kids in a few smaller classes this year to see how it goes for them.
Private schools have been around for a long time (hundreds of years!). The small class sizes are more of a trend than a fad. I think most schools, including public, are trying to find ways of reducing class sizes so the school can meet more of the individuals’ needs.
Great article on why private schools can be so great. I put all three of my kids through – expensive but well worth it over the long haul. Thanks for putting this out there.
Many people say they make up the cost of private school tuition by landing big college scholarships. That’s a huge advantage to private school; the increased attention on college admissions and scholarship search.
I like that you mention how teachers that work with private schools are often more accessible than those with public schools. With fewer students to deal with, it definitely makes sense that it’d be easier for a student or parent to go to the teacher and ask questions. Thanks for the post; I’m considering sending my son to a private school and think this reasoning could be very beneficial to remember, especially when talking to my wife about it.
Having direct access to teachers is so valuable. I’m a high school administrator, but I always refer parents to the teacher first. Most of the time that resolves issues and sets the child up for success better than I can.
Thanks for letting me know that with private schooling both my child and I will have more accessibility to the teachers and staff. My son has been shown to be very gifted in academics so I was wondering if I should find a more challenging program. Now that I know that with private schooling, he will both be challenged and have more interactions with the teacher, I will definitely be looking into local programs.
The beauty of private schools is that most of the curriculum is flexible (i.e., no state standards to follow). This allows teachers to meet the needs of individuals better, which includes increasing the academic rigor for gifted students.
I agree, class size should always be looked at when choosing a private school, especially if you want to ensure that your child gets a good education. After all, you want to make sure that there aren’t so many students in the class that your child gets lost in the crowd. Instead you should make sure that it is possible for your child to get some one-on-one time with the teacher.
Thank you for sharing the reasons why it is a good idea to enroll a child in a private school as I really do wish to know. The part that I liked was about the idea that private schools have smaller class sizes and so the teachers know the students very well and have the time to address their learning needs. I will consider this, especially since my little girl does need special instruction.
Thanks for the response. Yes, making sure your child is known by adults on campus is critical to social and emotional development. In my mind that worth the price of tuition alone. Plus, individual instruction is more accessible in smaller settings.
Thanks for talking about why education is so important for everyone, especially children. In my opinion, one of the biggest benefits is that you get smaller class sizes. That typically leads to more one-on-one situations and better learning. My sister has been debating on putting her kids in some private schools; I will be sure to share this with her.
Thanks Hector…I couldn’t agree more!
I didn’t know that class size is smaller in private school. My daughter struggles to focus in large class sizes. I would love for her to experience a smaller class size.
Yes, that’s a big part of the private school system. Smaller class sizes are very beneficial for students with attention and focus issues; teachers have a better gauge on when students are losing focus.
I like what you said about smaller class sizes in private schools. Private education can be catered to student needs. My friend wants to enroll his daughter in the best private school in the area.
Smaller class sizes are one of the main predictors of academic preparedness. In my opinion it’s definitely worth the tuition.
My daughter is almost old enough to start school, and we can’t decide if we should put her in private or public school. Your article had great tips for considering something liked this, and I liked how you said a private education usually means less students. This would allow our daughter to be involved in more extracurricular activities, so we’ll keep this in mind when considering her education.
Yes, private school generally allows kids to participate in more extracurricular activities. In fact, many private school have a “no cut” policy, meaning a child can indeed do it all.
It will be better for my kid to be in a faith-based high school since she’ll be able to focus on her studies and learning the Bible at the same time. It’s interesting to know that a child that goes through the admissions process would have a better chance of getting higher academic grades. I think I’ll consider enrolling her in one so she can be successful in the long run.
It’s great to know that private schools get to enjoy being flexible with their curriculums. I think that this would be best for my child if I want her to be a scientist someday. Maybe I should enroll her in a private school so she can enjoy learning more science-related subjects.