Public and private schools have many things in common, but some differences set them apart. How different are they really from making private school worth it, though? The average private school tuition in North Carolina is $9,696 per year. With such a high cost, private schools can add up quickly, but some benefits may be worth it.

Private schools tend to have smaller classes, so it’s less overwhelming for students. Some research has shown that private school kids score higher than public school students. The smaller classes also make it easier for the teachers to help the students individually, making them less likely to be left behind. Since private schools gain a lot of money from tuition, they can get resources for kids to learn better, while public schools lack the funding for specific necessities for students to learn. Private school students also have a higher chance of getting into universities and jobs after graduation. “I don’t think that’s fair because there are plenty of people who don’t have the option of going to a private school, and public education is the only one they have access to. When universities and employers favor those who went to private school, it’s a very harmful classist policy,” says Christian Richter.

Private schools are only sometimes a good thing, though. Going to a private school is too expensive for most families, and for some families, it causes a financial strain on them. The students are usually less diverse, which doesn’t expose them to other people with different cultures and needs. Though students test higher than those in public schools, one of the reasons is that the work is more complex, which can put a minor strain on students who can only learn slowly. Private schools are also more strict with behavior; most will kick out students if there’s a small behavior problem, while public schools are more tolerant of behaviors.

Public schools are free, so many more students can enroll, exposing kids to more diverse people. Students at public schools are given more varied course options for their future and have better access to sports, art, and music programs. Many times the teachers in public schools are more qualified to teach than private school teachers and have more time for core subjects. Transportation is also more common for students in public schools, where buses can pick up students, which can help parents who work in the mornings.
Public schools are less strict with behaviors, which also causes more bullying toward students, affecting their mental health. Money is spent in varying amounts, certain sports are more funded than others, and some courses don’t get funding. “You gotta think about how the consumer views it, like what gets more views on average, tennis or basketball? Golf or football? Of course, there is going to be more funding for the more popular sports because they’re going to bring in more money,” says Wesley Mcfalls. With the larger class sizes, teachers are less likely to be able to teach a student individually. With the “no child left behind” act, this causes lots of students to miss important information and then be pushed forward without knowing how to do certain things.

Public and private schools have many differences and similarities, but deciding which is better for a student solely depends on what the student is like and what they prefer.