ND: Private School

[roopdawg]

Adding on here. My parents spent their entire careers as educators in public school systems. My father retired as the superintendent of a county school system, then went on to work for the state department of education. He has 10 grandchildren over two states. All ten attend private Christian schools at his recommendation.

 

[PotimusWillie]

For those of you with experience, is private school worth it? My boys are in elementary school, and my wife really wants to put them in a private Christian school next year. The elementary school they are at now is great, and we have no issues with it. She just thinks the Christian school route would be better. For context, she went to this school and loved it, and she also works there. I just don’t want to drop a couple grand a month on school.

More than worth it. The environment in a typical public school is poor.

Our children are being influenced by other, unvetted families, for over 8 hours a day. Smart to guard those 8 hours and do our best to match the values our family promotes.

 

[Zachddt75]

I couldn’t disagree more……and as it’s stated above, nothing is absolute.

But you didn’t say why..

First of all, public schools are a joke. Your kids learn very little of importance that they’ll apply in their every day life. I think that’s pretty well known.

Private schools are better but at the end of the day both are a means of outsourcing your child’s education/care.

How could it ever be better to leave your kid in a school where they aren’t learning life skills and let’s be honest you don’t actually know what all they’re being taught/told.

I’d guess your answer might be the classic boomer response of “they need socialization!” But it’s easy to socialize your children outside of school and in a lot of states (unfortunately not Georgia) kids can participate in after school activities and sports even if they aren’t enrolled in the school.

 

[MiddleTennDawg]

The Ivies arent really the best example in the private vs. public debate, as they are picking mainly from Ivy feeders that are mainly in the northeast (Trinity, Horace Mann, PA, Philip Exeter, Lawrenceville, etc.). Those schools are sending 30%+ of their graduating seniors to the Ivies. That's a whole different league of private school.

I agree 100%, but he is the one that basically said it was a waste to go to private school then go to Georgia, and that is what the vast majority of private kids do, which is just dumb.

 

[MiddleTennDawg]

But you didn’t say why..

First of all, public schools are a joke. Your kids learn very little of importance that they’ll apply in their every day life. I think that’s pretty well known.

Private schools are better but at the end of the day both are a means of outsourcing your child’s education/care.

How could it ever be better to leave your kid in a school where they aren’t learning life skills and let’s be honest you don’t actually know what all they’re being taught/told.

I’d guess your answer might be the classic boomer response of “they need socialization!” But it’s easy to socialize your children outside of school and in a lot of states (unfortunately not Georgia) kids can participate in after school activities and sports even if they aren’t enrolled in the school.

True on sports. Mine are in a smallish private middle school that doesnt have baseball or football, but my son plays baseball for all-star and select teams outside of the school system. Works out fine.

 

[-lowcountrydawg]

Depends on the kid. Bottom line - anywhere anyone on this site would consider sending their kid to school will be more than fine academically....both public and private. From there it is simple - what is the best fit, and are they happy? Simple as that.

I've got one who graduated public school, and one who is wrapping up at private high school. Both were perfect for each of them, their personalities, friend group, etc.

There is no one answer, and in my opinion parents tend to freak out way more than they should about all schools - from pre-school to college. Pick one. Go. If happy, stay. If not, try somewhere else. Rinse. Repeat.

 

[poorpreacher]

As far as I'm concerned, public school in GA is fine, for the elementary years.

It depends on the location, but, generally speaking, I would not put my children in public middle or high school.