The Pros and Cons of the Private School Experience

What Every Family Should Know

By Tara Meacham, published Mar 19, 2007
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The decision to enroll a child in a private school is ultimately a family matter. For the student, a private school represents great opportunity-but it also has drawbacks. Many parents fail to consider the negative consequences of sending their children to preparatory school.

Family Affair

Deciding to attend a preparatory school and also deciding upon the best school for the child must be a family affair. Parents often make financial arrangements and considerations, but neglect other issues such as:
  • Another (unplanned) child-could the family afford to send both children?
  • Commute-if the private school is greater than ten miles away, the public school district may not provide bus service.
  • Adjustment-how well does the child adjust to new surroundings and situations?
The family should discuss these items over dinner, as a unit. Even a younger child should understand the investment being put forth in his or her education, and parents should know exactly how their child feels about adapting to a new school.

The Basics

Private schools typically emphasize key qualities. The family should discuss these qualities and determine which are desirable to them and what these values mean to the family.
  • Leadership
  • Academic excellence
  • Collegiate goals
  • Wealth
  • Networking
  • Tradition
  • Equality
  • Innovation
  • Critical thinking skills


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The Pros and Cons of the Private School Experience

George Washington crossing the Delaware River. Germantown Academy is a nonsectarian private school located near the Delaware; Washington's adopted son attended Germantown Academy.

Credit: Emanuel Leutze (1816 - 1868)

Copyright: Public Domain Image

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Other topics: 
Takeaways
  • Many parents allow permissive drinking.
  • Many private schools offer a complete educational experience.
  • Other children will expect some basic information that may shock the family.
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Comments
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Everyone in my family went to a private school. I wanted my children to go also. It was a rush decision when I finally decided to pull one of them out. I should never have waited as long as I did. Private school became torture for him.

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Posted on 03/21/2007 at 11:03:00 AM

 
I am on the fence about this one. I went to private schools, and everyone in my family went to private schools. I think it gave us all a sense of importance that was unrealistic and unfounded. the classes were smaller, and while that is a good thing, it also limited our perceptions of the world. It limited our ability to relate to others. Of course, my ACT scores were very good, but when I met people who went to the public schools who did equally well, I had to wonder if I was as smart as they were or why they could do as well with what they had. Those people also handle social situations much better than I did. However, if you are trying to give your child the best advantage, it works. Almost none of the girls I went high school with got pregnant (or admitted it) before they were done with college, let alone high school. They are pretty much all successful too.

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Posted on 03/20/2007 at 4:03:00 PM

 
This article brings up some very important information. People always just think about the good side of private school.

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Posted on 03/20/2007 at 3:03:00 PM

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