In the United States there are numerous options for families concerning school choice. The two most discussed options are public and private institutions, which both possess advantages and disadvantages. Families are faced with the controversial task of deciding which path to send their child on for their lower/middle level education. “Where we choose to send our kids to school is a loaded topic that can come to symbolize a parent's values, income and worldview” (Wallace). The debated task of school choice is such a debated topic and sadly can reflect on the parents in the end. “Because you love your children, you're considering the available options for their educational future” (Staff). Parents are to make this decision for the better of their child individually as a student. When looking at funding, academic programs/activities, and admissions one can see that public schools are more efficient than private institutions. It is important for parents to fully understand all of these benefits when they are making a decision about their child’s education. While some would argue private schooling is more effective than public for various other reasons, it is important to understand both sides of the argument to make a concrete decision of which schooling system is the best fit for their child.

The funding for public schools is a much different process than it is for private institutions. When attending a private school, there are mandatory dues that you owe, much like tuition in college. Public schools, however, do not require admission fees. One only pays optional small fees, such as a parking pass, locker, yearbook, etc. I firmly believe that paying small, optional fees at a public school is a much better option than large tuitions for the same education. “According to the National Association of Independent Schools, the median tuition for their member private day schools was close to $37,017” (GreatSchools Staff). It is disheartening to me to know a family is investing large amounts of money to send their child to an institution when the same education is free. Paying a tuition and such amounts of money is understanding when considering upper level education, such as college, but when sending a child through his/her lower level education no family should have to pay such dues. Private school teachers do not have to be certified to teach within a school (Wydock). I find this to be quite disturbing to know that a child could potentially be taught by someone who is not even certified. In a scholarly article, the author mentions, “…they are an alternative to public schools only in the criteria of establishing and financing” (Zukovic). These two schooling systems are not very much different, but these two factors of certification and tuition are two of the main points. 

In discussions of the debate of public opposed to private schooling, one controversial issue has been teacher’s pay in each institution. Under the topic of funding, one should consider the viewpoint from an educator or faculty member. “The average annual base salary of regular full-time public-school teachers was $49,600 while that number for private school teachers was $36,300 at last count in 2008” (Graff). As an aspiring education major, this baffles me considering students are paying a tuition to go to said private school but the teachers at these schools are getting paid less than those of a public school, where there is no tuition. Looking at this issue from the educator’s viewpoint really makes you contemplate how the difference in pay is logical considering the significant amount of money private schools are taking in each year. Another factor to take into consideration from the perspective of a teacher is the fact that the environment for educators is more insightful in a public school over a private school. “At last count, 84.5 percent remained at the same school the following year… At private schools, 79.2 percent…stayed at their jobs” (Graff). Teachers are found to stay at their schools longer when they work a public school rather than a private school. In a private school there are larger demands placed on teachers to maintain the reputation of these prestigious private school. With this being said there are statistics being shown, like the one from the article Graff wrote, that private school teachers move schools more often than public school teachers would. This does not make the institutions look reliable because teachers are not consistent and moving around too much from a parental perspective. With the understanding of private schools taking in tuition, unlike public schools, it is concerning that their teachers are paid less and also move around more.

Bearing in mind the required funds of private schools, this leads to the need of parental fundraising and involvement within the school. “For parents this quickly translates into the bad news: high tuition costs and sometimes an exhausting work calendar of parent-sponsored fundraisers” (GreatSchool Staff). Taking in account the high tuition required for private schools, parents come across numerous fundraising events and involving themselves within groups, such as a PTA board. “About 56 percent of public school parents participated in fundraising, 84 percent of private school parents participated in fundraising” (Graff). While many parents find it rewarding to be involved at their child’s school, there is a difference between wanting to be involved to aid in the school’s events and being involved solely to raise the needed funds for the school. “When it came to serving on a committee, 38 percent of public school parents signed up, and 66 percent of private school parents served” (Graff). In public schools there are many events that the PTA will plan for the students such as senior night dinners, homecoming game lunches, or grandparents’ appreciation breakfast. These events could also come about in a private school but many of these events are seen more seldom within the private schools because of the concentration on funding. The push for fundraising within a public school is to better the environment for the students, while the focal point of fundraising within a private school is to raise the money needed for children’s tuition and required fees. 

Taking into consideration that private schools create such a rigorous need of parental involvement, we can also look at the fact that these private schools also have such a competitive game of admissions. When parents are deciding where to send their children, they have to take into account the admissions system of both schooling systems. Private schools are creating this image of such a high level of achievement comparative to other schooling systems solely because they have such a demanding admissions program. This admissions policy includes, “in-depth applications with multiple interviews, essays, and testing” (GreatSchools Staff). While private schools are asking so much of their potential students, public schools only need the essentials and everyone is always accepted into the system. Public schools only ask for their incoming students to, “…filling out a few forms and providing proof of your address to the local school district office” (GreatSchools Staff). Admissions into a public school does not require one to put forth their best efforts forth and wait to be invited into the system, such as a private school. Private schools also put in the factor of choice when considering new incoming students. Not only are the admissions advisors looking at applications but they also consider, “…their scholastic achievement but also their ethnicity and religious background — as well as the special attributes (or assets) of their parents” (GreatSchools Staff). To think the future educational path of a child is being decided over the assets his/her parents entitle is ludicrous. The ethnicity of a child, the religion a child practices, and the being of a child’s parents should not be an aspect of a decision when placing said child into a schooling system. “There are over 47 million children enrolled in public school and about 3.2 million students in private schools” (Graff). The harsh criteria private schools are making prerequisites are creating lower enrollment numbers than that of public schools. “They can have test requirements, and other forms of assessment before granting admission” (O’Neill). Many times, parents choose the easy way out because they do not want to place their child in the position of being tested just to be able to get their elementary/middle level education. Private schools also use this harsh admission standards to make their schooling systems look better and appeal to parents because of high-test averages. “The test scores at a private school might be significantly higher than a local public school, making it a more attractive option” (O’Neill). When a parent sees a school has such a good test reputation and high-grade averages they presume the school is better than any of the public schools and are automatically drawn to apply. This saddens me to know that the admissions of private schools right around me are requiring essays, applications, and even taking into consideration a child’s ethnicity just to maintain the prestigious image their school holds. 

In addition to the difficult admissions of private schools, the academics and extra-curricular activities of these competing schooling systems are very different. In 2006, two students from the University of Illinois completed a study that resulted in the founding of, “…’ after accounting for the fact that private schools serve more advantaged populations, public schools perform remarkably well, often outscoring private and charter schools’” (GreatSchools Staff). While private schools do put emphasis on their outstanding academic achievements and impeccable test scores, public schools have the ability to do just the same. “Public schools offer a general program, designed for all” (Chen). While public schools work mostly with the state, this creates a general education program for the public-school students. This general program enforced within public schools includes, “…math, English, reading, writing, science, history and physical education” (Chen). Being that the state funds public schools, they are to follow state laws and regulations. With this being said, standardized testing within public schools measures the general education program that the state enforces. “Related to the academic reputation is the focus of the school on college preparation” (Chen). These said standardized tests are a major factor that is considered when applying to enroll in higher level education institutions such as universities and colleges. In addition to academic programs, public schools also have special programs put into place for students with special needs or any other disability that needs extra attention. “…public schools often have in place special programs for children with special needs, be they academic or developmental in nature” (Chen). When a parent is going through life with a child that has a disability, it is always heartwarming for this parent to know there is a school with the accommodations their child would need to be in school. On the other hand, private schools, “…while they may have special programs for gifted students, will rarely have programs for children with special needs unless that is what the private school specializes in” (Chen). While it is very wonderful that the private schools have programs for gifted students, accommodations and programs for students with disabilities should also be something implemented in the system with no questions asked. 

As a student myself, I have had the opportunity to experience both of these schooling systems, public and private school, as just a third grader. I went to both a public and private school in the third grade and I could most definitely tell which school was a better fit for me as a student. I personally favored the public school over the private school for many reasons including friends, the environment, and my personal well-being. While I did make many long-lasting friendships and great connections with teachers while I was at the private school, I felt myself to be happier, making even more friends, and better fit within a public school. While I attended the private school, I felt myself consistently feeling like I needed to act a certain way, and be a certain someone that just wasn’t me. Being in the private school system put a lot of pressure on me as a young third grader that I didn’t find to bother me when I was at the public school. While I understand that friendships and one’s personal well-being can be different on both sides of the argument, this is simply an example of my personal experience within the two programs. Many parents in the United States understand this controversial argument between sending their kids to either a private school or a public school. A mother of three children, Julie DeNeen adds, “’It feels like they're insinuating that I am somehow doing less for my child by keeping them in public school…’” (Wallace). It is absurd for a parent to feel as if they are not giving their child full potential just because of the schooling system they choose to put their child through. School choice is solely up to the parent and should not be something that is looked down upon because one does not agree with a certain decision of a parent for their own child. “The decision, in part, comes from her and her husband's experiences: She was home-schooled until high school; he attended private school until his high school years” (Wallace). Lyz Lenz, mother of two, is an example of understanding that school choice is simply just a personal choice. She used her own experience and her husband’s experience to make the decision of sending her two children through the private school system all the way through high school. This is not a wrong decision, this is not a choice that Lenz should be judged for, she simply made a decision that she sees best fit for her kids. 

The debate of public versus private school considering school choice is a common issue found in the United States. Without a doubt, public schools have many more accommodations and benefits for students rather than private schools can offer. The decision of where one should choose to send their child is important because this verdict can affect the rest of a child’s life and education. As I have noted, funding, academic programs/activities, and admissions are factors that can create a change of heart when deciding which path, one would choose for their child. Of course, many believe that private schools reign above public schools but, the excessive funds and rigorous admissions programs should tell one otherwise. As stated, private schools require a mandatory tuition fee unlike a public school which asks for optional, small fees throughout your time as a student. Private schools also continue to require incoming students to fill out a demanding application, complete thorough essays, and sometimes go through an interview process, all to possibly receive an invite to enroll in the school. On the other hand, public schools allow all incoming students admission into the school with simply proof of residency and a few easy forms to fill out. At this point, I believe a change can be made to better the decision between public or private school and to make this issue much less controversial and demanding for parents and students. The decision does not come down to which school is better but rather if, “…there is a right answer to which one is right for a particular student” (Niche).  As a result, and as an education major, I wish to be able to make a change relating to the topic of school choice and to create a less disheartening view on parents concerning which institution, public school or private school, one decides to continue to put their child into. 
