Private vs. Public High School Dilemna

[Tree0164]

I went to 12 years of Catholic school. It was a college prep high school.

I don't think the private eduction was worth it. The teachers don't have to be certified to teach at Catholic schools. The sports, afterschool actiivities were ok, nothing great.

My own children are going to be public school. There will be 300-400 kids in each grade level.

[tabbycat31]

As a small school alum, I wish I could have gone to a bigger one. There were 96 in my graduating (public) high school class, and if you had a hard time fitting in (as I did), then school was hell for you. Even the teachers knew who was popular, etc, and would favor the popular kids.

[BCHGRL]

right on tabbycat31. Depending on the affluence of the private school, you may have to "compete" with parents who give their kids everything. There are a few high schools in my area like that. Even though they are public, the kids have to buy all Adias uniforms and equipment if they are going to play soccer, the parents have to raise a ton of money and are scheduled to work concession without their input. Their name just appears on a calendar and if they can't work they have to find another parent that can. The kids at this school drive nicer cars (beamers, hummers) than most adults do.

One school in my area that I would consider is a collegiate high school where students get college credit for the courses they take so many graduate with an AA on the same day they graduate from high school.

[project15]

I went to private christian schools my whole life. I went to one that I hated for a year and then one that I spent the rest of high school at and loved it. I really appreciate that they were christian schools since I have a much greater knowledge of the christian religion than my wife who went to public schools.

I would say not to send your kid to a catholic school unless you really have a desire for them to learn about the catholic christian religion.

[fairy74]

I went to all girls Catholic high school and it was perhaps the best investment my parents ever made. I tended to be a social butterfly and got a little distracted by those darn boys in middle school (went from an A student to a C student because girls who acted dumb were the popular ones). The education I got was top notch at Catholic School, I was able to focus on my work and posted good scores and excellent SAT's. I was able to take a lot of AP classes and the first two years of college were easy for me, because I had been doing that level of work in high school. Also many of my first jobs were directly related to the fact that I went to XYZ school and their alumni were fabulous about hiring girls from the same school. I honestly don't think I would be an attorney today if I had not gone to private school. It really was an issue of focus and having small enough classes that I could not get lost in the system.

[Homebody]

My older daughters went to public high school, youngest to private Catholic. Yes we are Catholic, but my older brother who is NOT is sending his son in Washington State to private Catholic school all 12 years.

I think the every child and their needs are different. I think the comment about punishment is a bit outdated, back when nuns were the teachers....

But only you and your family can make this decision. I am not sorry I sent YD to private school. It was what was best for her at the time. I have no idea if it would have been better for her to go to the public high school where her sisters went or not. But I am happy with how she doing now as I am happy with how the older girls are doing.