Private v. Public Education: Is There A Winner?

The long debated question of whether private schools are academically superior to public schools still goes unanswered to this day. Many studies have found that there are numerous benefits and detriments to both sides of the argument. Despite all of this research and evidence, the findings are very much split. There is no concrete evidence that declares one type of schooling better than the other and there may never be.

Despite some experts say that there is no difference between students who graduate from public and private schools, more people find private schools to be the better alternative. Experts such as William Evans and Robert Schwab, professors who

specialize in research on public education, found that private schools outperform public schools while also raising the chances of attending a four-year college. While many researchers do agree with Evans and Schwab, expert and research analyst, Dan Goldhaber’s data suggests that there is no significant evidence that one education institution is better than the other.

Click these links to learn more about these researchers' opinions:

Evans&Schwab - https://academic.oup.com/qje/article/110/4/941/1870567

Goldhaber - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0272775795000429

Upon doing research it’s immediately apparent that opinions are divided. There are many factors that lead people to chosing one school over the other, such as

grades and test scores. Evidence from these studies shows that academically, private schools produce higher SAT and ACT scores than public schools. In 2018, the College Board showed that public school students even scored below the national average, while independent schools scored 120 points above the mean.

Although test scores are a major plus for many parents and students since it helps students get into more renowned colleges, private schools come with a tuition that many families can’t afford. As for the

affordable alternative option, having no tuition fee is not the only benefit that comes with public schools. Public schools provide students with a diverse environment and more freedom to express themselves since there are no required uniforms and less strict rules. Studies and research also show that public school teachers tend to be more experienced than their private school counterparts. Compared to private school teachers, a larger majority of public teachers have earned their master’s degree and attend teacher workshops to improve their teaching skills.

Ultimately, no matter how much research you conduct or how much you ponder the question, there will probably never be one right answer to which type of schooling is better. Each type of institution has its own list of pros and cons that may attract one person but draw another away. Everyone has different opinions and values that contribute to them choosing one school system over the other. All that you need to know is no matter what school a parent chooses to send their child to, it was the right choice for them.