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March 13, 2012

Which School Is Right For Your Family?

It's the time of the year which parents dread. No, I am not talking about taxes...I'm referring to school choices for the next year. Public school? Private school? Magnet school? Or homeschool? Personally, I do not think one is better than another, and my family have actually done them all. There are pros and cons on all, and here's my breakdown.


Public schools
Public schools get their financing from local, state and federal government funds. In most cases, they must admit all students who live within the borders of their district. Magnet schools are highly competitive, highly selective public schools renowned for their special programs, superior facilities and high academic standards. They may specialize in a particular area, such as science or the arts. Students who apply to these schools go through a rigorous testing and application process.
PROS
  • Public schools can sponsor more activities.
  • The student population tends to be more diverse.


Private schools
Private schools rely on tuition payments and funds from non-public sources such as religious organizations and charitable donations. These schools select from among students who apply for admission. They may be coed or single sex. The academic curriculum at these schools is supplemented with required daily religious instruction and prayer. Private schools generally cost from a few thousand to more than $10,000 per student per year.
PROS
  • Schools and classes tend to be much smaller.
  • Parent involvement is strong.


Homeschool
One of the main reasons people homeschool is because they enjoy having freedom in their daily lives.  Younger kids do school maybe three times a week while the older ones study for four or five days. There are options to join a co-op with various specialized classes.
PROS
  • Student enjoy individualized instruction.
  • Parents tend to enjoy more autonomy in the classroom and have more creative control over their teaching methods.

Next year my children will be attending public and private school. How about you?

2 comments:

  1. Jessica CMarch 13, 2012

    We are lucky to be in an excellent school for elementary. One of my favorite public programs is the ALPHA/GT program which all of my children tested into. Unfortunately, middle school public options are not as great. While private school is an option, it is a costly one when multiplying by 3. Money I think would be better saved for college. As it stands, our plan is public for elementary, homeschool for middle, and public or magnet for high school

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  2. UnknownMarch 13, 2012

    Jessica, that ALPHA/Gifting test sounds great! What district is it? BTW we have a similar plan for our children.

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Thank you so much for your comment!