Private School Teaching Vs. Public School Teaching

Private schools select their teachers and curricula independent of local, state or federal education standards.

Private school teaching may differ greatly from public school teaching based on a number of variables, such as educational standards, teachers' training and funding. For instance, public schools from K-12 generally follow standards set by local, state and federal governments, and rely on these governments for funding. Private schools, on the other hand, set their own educational standards, and are funded by tuition, alumni, grants and endowments. In terms of teacher training, public schools require educators to complete an accredited, state credentialing program. Private schools may or may not require credentials, and set their own teacher qualifications. Charter schools are a public-private combination and include elements of both school systems.

Generalizations Difficult

It is difficult to make sweeping comparisons between public and private schools.

Blanket generalizations cannot be made about the differences between private school and public school teaching; schools are best assessed individually. As a 2006 New York Times Editorial put it: "The public, private, charter and religious realms all contain schools that range from good to not so good to downright horrendous."

An overarching study done by the U.S. Department of Education in 2006 found that private schools, as a whole, may surpass public schools in terms of student achievement on math and reading tests, but those numbers break down when variables such as race and income are accounted for. As the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) concluded in 2002: "Student characteristics such as socioeconomic status (SES), prior achievement and support for learning at home, and motivation level may influence student outcomes, independent of the sector of school attended. Characteristics of schools such as enrollment size, community type, and student body composition may also affect outcomes, regardless of school sector."

Nevertheless, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), an annual study done by NCES, reports some major, overarching differences between private and public school education.

Coursework

Unlike public schools, private schools often teach religion and morals.

According to the NAEP studies, from 1999-2000, private schools required more high-school coursework in social studies, mathematics, science, foreign language and computer science, reaching as high as a full year more in foreign language. Private schools were four times more likely than public schools to require students to engage in community service to graduate. Private schools were more likely to incorporate art, music and field trips into the curriculum. Furthermore, students at private schools often receive education in values, morals and/or religion, while such topics do not typically play a role in a public school curriculum.

Pedagogical Methods

Private schools, whether they are Montessori, Waldorf or of another ilk, may have their own unique teaching practices. From teaching techniques to assessment and discipline, private schools set their own rules, and may or may not opt to use grades or standardized tests (although most do).

Class Size

Public schools typically have larger class sizes and higher student-to-teacher ratios.

Class size affects the teaching provided at public and private schools. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that private schools average 13 students per teacher, while public schools average around 16 students per teacher. In most cases, this means students receive more individualized attention in private schools, although this may not apply to students with special needs.

Private schools, which tend to be considerably smaller than public schools, rarely offer the kind of in-depth programs that public schools provide for students with special needs (mental or academic). Most public schools offer a wide range of extracurricular sports and activities. While large private schools often do the same, smaller private schools may not be able to afford these kinds of programs, or may not have enough student interest to fill them.

Teacher Qualifications

It is harder to fire teachers at public schools.

Teachers often differ from public to private schools. Unlike public school teachers, private school teachers may not need certification, as each private school sets its own teacher requirements independent of district, state or federal standards. Often, private school teachers will have specialized education in the subject they teach. Private schools can also dismiss teachers more easily, while public school teachers are granted tenure by law; public schools cannot fire teachers without first allowing a 12-month rehabilitation program.

Classroom Demographics

Private schools tend to have less ethnic diversity than public schools.

Public schools usually accept any students assigned to them, while private schools choose whom they want to accept. As a result, classroom demographics may vary greatly between public and private schools. One major determiner of a private school's demographics is tuition. While public education is free of charge, the National Association of Independent Schools reports that the median tuition fee for private day schools in the United States is around $12,000 for grades 1 to 3, $13,000 for grades 6 to 8 and $15,000 for grades 9 to 12. The National Center for Educational Statistics discovered in 1999--2000 that 63 percent of all public school students were white, compared with 77 percent of all private school students.

Charter Schools

Around the country, the number of charter schools is steadily increasing. As of 2005, there were 3,400 public charter schools in the United States, according to the Center for Education Reform. Like private schools, charter schools may offer specialized programs and have smaller classes, but are considered public because they rely on government funding and are generally open to most applicants. Since charter schools are attended by choice, they are permitted to waive some of the rules and standards which apply to other public schools.

References

• Public School Review: Public School vs. Private School
• National Center for Education Statistics: Private Schools
• National Center for Education Statistics: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
• New York Times: Editorial: Public vs. Private Schools

Resources

• National Association of Independent Schools
• The Center for Education Reform