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Public vs. Private School. How do you choose?

By
Real Estate Agent with 1
Elementary Schools in District #26

Elementary Schools in District #25

High Schools in District #26

High Schools in District #25

Catholic Schools in the 11357, 11358, 11364 and surrounding areas.  With my eldest son's pending 8th grade graduation, I was asked to write a letter about why I chose the school that I did.  While I will not repost the entire letter here, I will just give reasons why I chose a Catholic Private School as opposed to the Public Schools. 

I can remember when my oldest was going to be starting school.  My thoughts of him becoming a scholar were not any different than most of my friends hopes and dreams were for their children.  When they all chose to send their children to Public Schools, I chose the Catholic Private.  I knew that the financial end of things I would have to sacrifice somethings to allow him to go to the particular school that I wanted him to go to. 

When I went on my "interviews" , I knew the second I walked into St. Mel's that this would become his second home. It almost had nothing to do with the education that I was promised, but is was because of the comfort level that I got.  It was also about the foundation that he would gain.  I have to sadly admit that I am not a devout Catholic and I know less than my children do about Religion.  But, I wanted them to KNOW and understand more than I do. 

I am a strict mother.  I do not let things fly by me easy and most of the times I can claim I have "been there, DONE that".  I am harder on my kids than my husband is.  I wanted to know that when my children go to school they are expected to respect, listen and to do what is asked of them in and out of school.  I wanted my children to know that going to the Catholic Private was a privilege and something that I could take away should they not act in the way that they are expected to. 

It is not that I have anything against the Public Schools, in fact, the public schools in District 25 and 26 are fantastic.  Because I have never had my kids in any public schools ever, I can only go by what I have heard and what I have seen from the outside in.  I know that the public elementary schools are probably rated one of the highest in the districts.  But the Middle and High Schools are less than desirable.  NOW, let me again say that I don't know this for a fact, but this is what my peers tell me. 

So, with my sons pending graduation, he had a choice.  He could go to any school he wants to.  He has every door knocking with opportunity and he is in fact holding the key to his future.  After taking his High School entrance tests and scoring very high, combined with his 7th and 8th grade transcripts he had his pick to every school that he applied to.  He could even have his freedom and break free of the Catholic Private setting, should he want to do that.  When it came down for him to actually pick he chose a Private Catholic School.   

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Comments (3)

Brian Brady
Matthews Capital Markets - Tampa, FL
858-699-4590

I knew the second I walked into St. Mel's that this would become his second home. It almost had nothing to do with the education that I was promised, but is was because of the comfort level that I got.

I understand completely.  We felt that way with my daughter, Maggie, at St James Academy in Solana Beach.

I'm not surprised by your son's choice.  Don't be surprised if St Johns, Fordham, Notre Dame, Boston College or Villanova are on his list in 4 years. 

Mar 09, 2007 01:36 AM
Gregory Anderson
United Country - Fredericksburg, TX

The public school system has failed the American taxpayer.

While public school students are learning how to put a condom on a banana, private school students are studying poetry and character development.

Any parent that cares about the quality of their child's education should consider a private school.

Mar 09, 2007 02:57 AM
Christine Forgione
1 - Whitestone, NY
Associate Broker

Brian - From your mouth to God's ears.  I hope that those are his top four!  I just love the backgorund of Catholic Schools.  I feel that there is such a sense of belonging and everyone knows everyone.  I would suspect that If I lived in a different State he would be going to Public, but in NY our choices are minimal. 

 

Gregory - I can't say that I fully agree with you.  There are plenty of public schools (elementary schools) that have fantastic teachers and staff.  I just think in NY the higher the kids go in grade, the less appealing the schools become.  BTW - they use bananna's?  Hum.. interesting!

Mar 09, 2007 03:27 AM