Which School is Right for Your Family

By Bonnie Owens on April 27th, 2009

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When I was a kid all of the kids in our neighborhood went to public school.  But these days the public schools are overcrowded and underfunded.  And some have curriculums that make a lot of parents uncomfortable.  Sending your small child into a new chapter of their life is scary enough, but when you are uneasy about the environment in which they will be in it is downright terrifying.  Luckily there are several options for your child’s education.

Public School

• Pros: One of the biggest upsides(especially in today’s economy) is that it is free, well publicly funded.  Our local elementary school even offers a free after-school program where teacher’s aides help kids with their homework.  Many parents often feel like public school keeps their kids grounded and give them more of a “real world” experience compared to the alternatives.
• Cons: Classes can be crowded resulting in your child not getting the the attention or the supervision they need.  The curriculum is often not as advanced as the alternatives and sometimes includes lessons about social or religious subjects that many parents would prefer to address with their children themselves.  Violence is becoming more prevalent in the public school system.

Charter School

• Pros: Charter schools are part of the public school system which make them publicly funded, costing you nothing out-of-pocket.  Classes are usually limited to 20 students or less.  Many have an advanced curriculum.  Some even incorporate second and third language studies as early as kindergarten.  They hold their students to a higher behavioral standard which minimizes violence.
• Cons: They have limited room and are in high demand making them hard to get into with long waiting lists.  They are still under public school jurisdiction which means they may still be teaching subjects you may not want your child to be learning in school. 

Private School

• Pros: You can pick a school that is tailor made to what you want your child to be learning.  Their curriculum is usually much better, some times a few grade levels ahead of public schools.  Violence is kept very low with a strict behavior code enforced by expulsion.  It looks good on your child’s educational resume.
• Cons:  It can be very pricey.   Private schools in our area range from $400-1000 per child per month.  Most of them have sibling discounts, but they are not much.  Advanced curriculum results in more homework and much more time devoted to school, which some students can find overwhelming.  Some parents think that the environment is too controlled, thus not preparing their child for the real world.

Homeschooling

• Pros: You control exactly what your child learns and what they are exposed to.  Your child get one-on-one attention, or close to it if you homeschool multiple children.  You get to watch your child(ren)learn and grow, which encourages family bonding.  It is usually cost effective.  Homeschooling fees range from free-$800 per child per year.  You can join homeschooling groups which encourages socialization.  If you homeschool you can enroll you child in the sports programs of the local public school.  You can also do a school day option where your child attends your local school  1-2 days per week and goes on field trips with them.
• Cons: It is time consuming  and usually makes an outside career difficult or impossible for one parent.  You must be highly organized.  You have to do testing on your own time to make sure your child is learning at an adequate level.  Some parents believe that it doesn’t give their child enough interaction or experience to prepare them for the real world.