5 Major Differences Between Public and Private Schools

Are you wondering whether it’s worth paying to send your child to a private school? If so, you’ll want to consider these five major differences between public and private schools.

5 Major Differences Between Public and Private Schools

1. Different Academic Outcomes

The Canadian government has posted an interesting study at the Statistics Canada website analyzing the different academic outcomes between public and private school students. According to their research, private school students attain measurably higher academic achievements in multiple school subjects including math, reading and science.

Better performance in these subjects could potentially lead to a variety of advantages for your child after graduation from high school. It could result in a better selection of colleges or possibly even some merit-based college scholarships would be available.

2. The Possibility for Different Religious Values and Worldviews

In the USA, there’s a legally mandated separation between church and state. This means schools that receive government funding are expected to maintain a neutral stance when it comes to religion. In contrast, there’s no such requirement for private schools.

If you want your child to have an education grounded in a particular religious worldview other than secular humanism, you’ll need to choose a private religious school.

3. A Different Way of Dressing

Many private schools enforce dress codes. Some even designate school uniforms. Dress codes and uniforms can be beneficial in many ways. They teach your child how to dress appropriately. A uniform can take some social pressures off your child because s/he won’t feel pressured to wear the coolest clothes when everyone is dressed alike. Custom school uniforms from SKG and similar providers allow students to focus more on a person’s ideas and communications than on his or her appearance. Because of these factors, the presence or lack of a uniform or dress code can make for a distinctively different academic experience.

4. Different Expectations for Accessibility to Teachers

Private school students tend to enjoy greater accessibility to teachers than their public school counterparts do. It is often ingrained in private school students that they are expected to ask for help when they need it. This is in contrast to public school students, who are often made to feel ashamed of having to stay after class to see a teacher or get help if they need it.

5. Different Socio-Economic Status

Although there are many exceptions, on average, private school students tend to be more affluent than public school students. This is an especially important consideration for your family if your income levels are at the lower end; your child is likely to be surrounded by kids who’ll have jewelry, cars and gadgets that you might not see as being high-priority purchases.

Now that you understand these five major differences between public and private schools, you’re better equipped to make a decision about whether it would be worthwhile for you to send your child to a private school. These insights will be helpful to you when you make any upcoming decisions about your child’s schooling.