The Pros and Cons of a Private Education

Pros and Cons

Two rows of wooden blocks with letters on each block. One spells "private?" the other spells "public?"

In this second article of our Pro/Con series (the first article may be found here), we review the pros and cons of a Private Education. This form of schooling is usually considered the antithesis of public instruction, which Merriam-Webster defines as follows:

“a school that is established, conducted, and primarily supported by a nongovernmental agency.”

Private schools come in a number of forms. While all ‘independent’ schools are private, not all private schools are independent owing to differences in funding.

Below are listed a few examples of private school categories:

Boarding Schools: Schools that house their students as well as educate them
Single-Sex Schools: Schools that are designed to educate a single gender
Religious and/or Cultural Schools: Schools that have religious or cultural values as their core philosophy
Montessori Schools: Schools that subscribe to the progressive educational philosophy of Maria Montessori (elementary and middle school only)
Waldorf Schools: Schools subscribing to the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, which emphasizes later learning and a powerful focus on creative activity
Special Needs Schools: Schools that cater to children with special needs or learning disabilities. May be therapeutic, behavioral, or educational in nature
Military Schools: Schools that emphasize discipline, student leadership, and rigorous academics
Country Day Schools/Traditional Private: A basic school (historically in the country) whose name simply means that students do not reside on campus
Classical Christian Schools: Emphasize Christian teachings, grammar, logic, and rhetoric
Language Immersion Schools: Schools that immerse students in another language either partly or completely
Independent Schools: Non-profit private schools that are independent in philosophy and not associated with any particular church, location, or institution

Given the variety above, it can be difficult to draw parallels between private and public schools. However, there are differences between them. While public schools may offer limited variations in type (i.e. magnet and charter options), the two remain fundamentally different in significant ways. Below are listed some of the pros and cons of private education.

Pros

Plenty of options

Private schools come in every imaginable shape and form with every imaginable skill and philosophy. For parents seeking a highly individual approach there are many choices to consider.
Smaller, more intimate learning environments

Given the fact that most private schools are small, students tend to receive a much more rigorous, individualized education. Student-teacher ratios tend to be low, and there is a greater sense of community.
Physical safety

According to data, private schools tend to have fewer behavioral incidents leading to better campus safety in general.
Distinctive cultures

Private schools tend to cultivate and promote a specific culture, which may appeal to certain families. Ivy League schools and universities are illustrative of this.
Better resources

Subject to marketplace competition and with more money at their disposal, private schools are often able to provide higher-quality facilities and better, more advanced technology for their students.
Philosophical independence

Private schools have the freedom to promote whatever religious, cultural, or educational philosophy they choose, which tends to produce less restrictive environments for students.
Accountability

Due to smaller size and less administrative complexity, it is often much easier to get things done at a private school. There is less bureaucracy to deal with, and what is there tends to be efficient due to the presence of paying customers.
Fewer Standardized Tests

Though requirements may vary according to state, the vast majority of private schools do not require their students to take as many tests as their public counterparts. With the exception to this rule being the NAEP (administered to grades 4, 8, and 12 every four years on a national scale), and the well-known SAT, private schools are not subject to nearly as many formal assessments, freeing up far more time for learning and greater flexibility in curriculum.

Cons

Expense

The most obvious disadvantage to private schooling is the price tag. There is no denying for most families that private education is expensive. Tuition is rarely tax-deductible, and while most offer scholarships or financial assistance, it may not be enough.
Potential for mismatch

With their highly specific cultures, private schools are more likely to be insular and less diverse. Changing students may find themselves in need of alternatives when a broader environment would have sufficed.
Less racially and culturally diverse

The vast majority of private school attendees are white, leading to a more insular environment with fewer opportunities for cultural exposure.
Unpredictable teacher quality

Given that most private school teachers are paid less than their public counterparts and aren’t required to be certified, the quality of instruction may vary. Additionally, private schools often have difficulty retaining math, science, and special education teachers.
Stress

Due to the rigorous nature of many private school programs and a more competitive culture in general, stress may become pervasive, often from a very young age.
Limits in transportation

While some larger private schools may provide transportation for their students, the vast majority do not, leaving families to make their own arrangements.
Fewer offerings

Fewer students can mean fewer extracurricular activities, academic courses, and athletic opportunities.

For the family of means living in close proximity to quality options, a private school can be an excellent alternative. Children tend to be well-educated and well-attended to, and their strengths and limitations tend to be addressed more directly. In a quality private environment, the curriculum tends to be more customized, scheduling is less rigid, and individual differences are more accepted.

On the other hand, this form of education is unquestionably expensive, may have stricter entrance requirements, and may command environments that are less diverse, more stratified, and less tolerant of cultural differences. As with any educational decision, families must weigh all factors to determine if the needs of their children can be met in a conventional setting, or if the challenges are grave enough that an alternative must be sought out. In any case, always remember that ‘Where there is a will there is a way’, and (much more often than not) no shortage of options in any endeavor.