When deciding between private or public school, understanding the options will help you choose the best place for your child, from preschool to high school.
As you begin researching, here are some major differences between private and public schools that will help you narrow down your choices.
Class sizes
In the 2020-21 school year, the average class size was 17-22 students in public schools and 14-16 students in private schools, according to the National Teacher and Principal Survey.
Why does class size matter? For one, test scores increase as class size decreases, with scores continuing to increase each year that students remain in small classes, according to research in the Quarterly Journal of Economics.
In big classes, teachers aren’t able to do as much for each student.
“The presence of different student populations (such as special education, gifted and talented students, students with behavioral issues, etc.) varies very little according to teachers’ views on their class size, but in conversation, teachers tell us that larger class sizes make it difficult to address the individual needs of each student — there simply isn’t enough time in the school day,” according to research by Scholastic and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Graduation rates
In the 2020-21 school year, 87% of public school students graduated from high school, compared to 96% of private school students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Even if a student doesn’t go on to college, a high school diploma matters: In 2022, workers 25 and older without one earned an average of $682 per week compared to those with a diploma who earned $853 per week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“And earnings improved with every level of education completed,” the organization said. That means a college degree will help even more.
Elite colleges
If not just any college will do, it’s worth noting that, while only 9% of students in the United States attend private school, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than one-third of students at elite universities like Harvard, Columbia, and Yale come from private schools.
However, private school students may have to do more to stand out from their peers on college applications because admissions offices know they have advantages that public school students don’t. On the other hand, public schools vary in quality, and families have less choice about where a child can attend.
Price
A big differentiator between public and private schools is price. Taxpayers fund public schools and, in California, the school system is No. 23 in the nation when it comes to education quality, according to U.S.News & World Report.
On a national level, the average cost of private elementary school is $12,129 while high school is $16,871, according to Private School Review. And California is one of the top 10 most expensive states when it comes to private schools. If private school is the right choice but money is an issue, several options may help ease the cost:
- K-12 students can use up to $10,000 of an education savings plan every year, according to ScholarShare 529.
- Scholarships may be available from individual schools or private organizations.
- Educational loans are available for school costs. Otherwise, personal loans could be an option for parents.
Santa Barbara County
A child may start in public or private school, and then later need to switch. Fortunately, Santa Barbara has many options for families who want to ensure the best educational opportunities and environment for now and the future.