Parents have to think about the best possible ways in which they can educate their children and ensure that they have a bright future. They can choose to provide them private or public education. A particular type of education may be suitable for one family or child but might not be appropriate for another. There are six factors that you should keep in mind while making your choice.

Facilities Available

The facilities offered by some public schools are impressive. Generally, wealthy suburban public schools often provide more amenities compared to the public schools located in the inner-city.

If the development team of a private school is working successfully, it can continue to get financial support from alumni and parents and provide several good facilities to the students. Some K-12 private schools have amenities that are better than many universities and colleges. For example, Hotchkiss and Andover have athletic facilities and libraries that are similar to those at Cornell and Brown.

If you want your child to be a football player, look for a school that has an excellent coaching staff and athletic facilities.

Number of Students in Every Class

Generally, privately run schools have a fewer number of students in a class. Small class size is suitable for students who get distracted easily. Private education helps to provide individual attention to students. If the ratio between the students and teachers is 15:1, it is possible to attend to the students individually. Several private schools have a rate of 7:1.

The class size is usually large in public schools, and there are more than 35 students in each class. But if the teacher is strong and the students behave well, children can learn even in such an environment.

Qualified Teachers

Usually, the teachers receive a good salary and pension in public schools. However, the compensation may vary according to the school location and local economic conditions. For example, teachers may get a lower salary in Duluth because the cost of living is less compared to the teachers in San Francisco. Public schools have low teacher retention.

Private schools hire teachers who possess advanced degrees. For instance, they would hire a person who has a degree in Spanish as well as a degree in literature to work as a Spanish teacher.

Finances

Private schools are usually better off financially than public schools.

Administrative Issues

Public schools usually have bloated bureaucracies and antiquated rules. Private schools have better management. They do not have to handle teacher’s unions.

Parents’ Involvement

Besides financial considerations, you will have to see how much time and effort you will have to put in. For instance, if you send your child to a private school, you are expected to take them to school and pick them up after school hours. Students have to take part in some activities outside the school hours. So you have to drive and spend many hours per week to educate your child.

Both private and public schools have some benefits and a few limitations. You can weigh the positive and negative points and make the best choice for your children and family.

What did we miss?