posted on Aug, 30 2007 @ 08:18 PM
I know this is a somewhat old thread, but I just got back from vacation so it's new to me
.
There are many different types of both private and public schools. On the private side you have some religion-affiliated schools that cost next to
nothing (I had a friend go to a Catholic school and it was only about $1700/year) to schools that are more for the upper-middle class that range from
$20k/year to $60k and up. The experiences and potential for financial success are much different.
The private school environment is also filled with much less distraction because students don't have to worry about fights, gangs, theft, fashion
(because of uniforms), needing a part-time job, and the like. Also, the family environment at home is generally more stable because there's at least
one parent who is obviously involved in their child's life to some degree because somebody's paying the tuition. All of this enables the students
to focus more on their studies.
On the public side there are many magnet schools that specialize in all kinds of different topics that don't accept just anybody like the regular
public schools must, so obviously the standard is higher. There are also charter schools that, as far as I know, get their funding from the city and
not the state - I know at least some of which in my area are quite well regarded. Then for regular public schools the quality varies not only by
state-system, but by neighborhood, because schools get much of their funding from property taxes.
Many, maybe most, private K-12 schools offer financial aid and scholarships to good students and gifted athletes/musicians/actors/etc, so it's not
all rich kids that go to the expensive schools. The thing is, at least for my K-12, such scholarships are not common knowledge like university
scholarships are.
I honestly believe you can get a good education anywhere as long as the student cares and seeks it out, but the environment in which one is taught can
make quite a difference. But one good piece of paper makes it easier to be given the opportunity for the next good piece of paper which makes it
easier to get a great many little green papers eventually.