i don't disagree with this, but my point is that this is not as valuable in the general sense as people think b/c of what i said above--

if you can send your kid to a highly regarded private school, or if the public schooling in your area is poor then i would say go for it. if there are no private schools of note near you or available to your child and there are solid public schools then i would go public. parents should approach it on a case by case basis

100% depends on where you live, the population around you, etc. Based on the statistics you gave, though, I think it's pretty much a no-brainer to send them to the private schools.

I grew up in central PA and attended public school for grade school and HS. I still performed very well on my SAT's and standardized tests, but I would say that if anything my schools held me back. That said, the private school in my area wouldn't have been any better. The teachers and students were just as apathetic there as they were at the public schools.

Basically, as much as you'd like your kid to hang out with a diverse crowd, you don't want the other students' low ambitions or negative attitudes to rub off onto your own child in a school setting. Sign him/her up for little league, ballet, gymnastics, boy scouts, whatever. They can interact with and be friends with anybody and everybody.

Oh, and about the 2 1/2 hours of HW each night. That is obviously student-dependent and likely (imo) an overstatement, although I could be wrong.

thanks for the post -

i agree - based on the data i've been finding it seems like a pretty cut and dry issue here - though I have really enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts

I went to a private prep high school...all because of my dad wanting to bone this chick who was sending her son there. I'm pretty sure ever single person in my grad. class went to college.

I doubt the HS students actually have 2 1/2 hours of homework every night ...unless they are just really dumb.

My brother went to a public high school. Def. a big drop off....but he scored way more pussy.

Yeah, I agree with that. I live in Vancouver and the few private schools here are pretty highly touted.

My parents let me decide after 4th grade what I wanted to do. The choice was easy for me, and I have no regrets with my decision. I guess I was a fairly precocious 4th grader, though.

The school I chose also warned that students would amass several hours of homework every night, and, just like any task in life, it was possible to spend that much time doing homework, but I never once spent half that much time.

I also think this is one of those situations where no matter what you do, your decision will be fine. If your children are good students, they'll do well in life regardless of their early education. Your children's behavior is a reflection of your parenting, don't forget.

Interesting thread and I'm in a similar situaiton. My girls are 3 and 1.5. I went to a public school for high school, but a prestigious college and Ivy grad school. If you can afford to do private school, I would.

Having said that, it partly depends on your children. If they have ambitions to be a lawyer, doctor, investment banker, etc., prep school and fancy college will help. If they want to be a teacher, plumber, scuba dive instructor, etc., it is a total waste of money.

Going to private school is an advantage when it comes to going to college. There is a reason that once every 5 years one kid from my high school went to an Ivy League, and why 10 kids a year from Andover go to Harvard alone.

I think plenty of people send their kids to private school because they want their kids to evolve to later choose to be a lawyer, doctor, etc, rather than a plumber, scuba dive instructor. I have to think that you won't know in advance what your kids preferences are, because they won't know.

Why not leave them in the public school system until Jr High, then move them to the private school system?
It's not they'd be so behind by the end of 6th grade they couldn't catch up. If they're bright, they probably wouldn't even have any catching up to do.

Updates? Thoughts on your experiences?

I would like to know what happened too.

I went to a public school but I think if all things equal you would get a better education at a private school but that same person could still get a damn good education at a public school.

It's all about how you raise your kid, imo. Teach them to excel, care, learn, etc and they will thrive anywhere. Private schools aren't all they're cracked up to be. Obviously, if your local school system is really bad, you might want to explore other options.

I went to a fancy private school, was among the best students, went to the world's #1 university, was among the best students, etc. People like me made those places good names, not the other way around.

My kids go to public school with all the other immigrants. Private school is socially twisted. Social education is important too.

if you want the best education and your kids to be socially awkward and a weirdo send em to private school if not go to public school