Are Private Schools Actually Safer For Your Child?

Public schools vs. private schools is a long-standing debate between parents with the capacity to enroll their children in private education. Moreover, private and public schools have their advantages and disadvantages. So, are private schools safer for your kids? This article outlines a basic comparison of private vs. public schools that can help a parent make a well-informed decision.

Private Schools vs. Public Schools: Teachers

Research indicates that the percentage of new teachers with experience lower than four years is higher in private schools. Most teachers prefer public schools due to better benefits packages and higher salaries. The number of teachers with master’s degrees and those who participate in annual professional development is also high in public schools compared to private schools. Therefore, teachers in public schools are averagely more experienced than those in private schools.

Private School vs. Public School: Class Sizes

The difference in class sizes is a significant consideration for parents debating between private and public schools. The average class size of public schools in the United States is 25 kids and 19 children per class in private schools. Consequently, the student-to-teacher ratio in private schools is better, since it is 12.2: 1, while in public schools, it is 16:1.

Private School vs. Public School: Diversity

The number of private schools in the United States is 34,576 schools; hence 25% of all schools in the United States are private schools. These schools offer parents the opportunity to select the peers of their kids. Generally, private schools usually provide a more positive peer setting. One of the reasons this is possible is that private schools can evaluate who they want to admit, and they can also customize their offerings to suit the type or class of kids they intend to admit. This can make it easy to develop their character.

Notably, the National Drunk Diving Statistics of 2018 indicates that there were 8,280 DUI arrests in the year. These cases are more common in lower socioeconomic populations, meaning it can contribute to the areas around public schools being less safe. The population of private schools is mostly comprised of students from a higher socioeconomic class due to the cost involved. Apart from some charter schools, public schools are prohibited from choosing and selecting the students to admit.

Private School vs. Public School: Classes

Private schools may offer a curriculum suiting their focus, since the state does not supervise them. Therefore, if you want your kids to study theater, the arts, music, or any other subjects, private schools suit this need. However, public schools mostly focus on the fundamental classes due to their mandated testing and ever-changing budgets. This may deny kids an opportunity to explore other subjects they may be interested in.

Since 1970, when 3.5% of the population in the United States were students, college admission rates have increased to 195%. Most private schools at the high school level focus on preparing students for college. They tend to provide a broader array of extracurricular offerings; international Baccalaureate programs, advanced placement courses, and gifted studies classes.

Private School vs. Public School: Test Scores

Based on a recent review of high school graduates, private school students scored four points higher in the ACT test. Moreover, this difference is also witnessed in middle and primary schools. A mathematics test comparison indicated private schools scored eight points higher for fourth graders and 18 points higher for eighth-graders. Reading also indicated similar results, as private schools outscored their public counterparts by 18 points and 15 points in the eighth and fourth grades, respectively.

Private School vs. Public School: Religion

The majority of private students usually enroll in schools affiliated with some kind of religion. For instance, 1.9 million children are registered in Catholic schools, making it the biggest private school universe component. However, this system is changing nowadays, since about 18.4% of students enrolled are non-Catholic, which is continuously increasing.

Although private schools tend to have more benefits than public ones, it depends on the parent’s position. For instance, some parents may not afford the cost linked to private schools.