Public Schools

Public Schools in the United States

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Published February 23rd 2010, in Education, Public Schools

In the USA children generally start their school career at the age of five or six, depending on when their birthday falls.  They start in Grade 1 and continue their schooling until they reach Grade 12.
The school system breaks the twelve years up into:

  • Preschool: Children younger than five attend preschool.  It introduces children to some necessary concepts and prepare them for formal schooling.
  • Elementary School (Grade School):  The elementary school usually consists out of  a pre-kindergarten section for the 4 – 5 year olds, the kindergarten for the 5-6 year olds and then progresses from grade 1 to grade 5 for six to 11 year olds.
  • Middle School: Middle school caters for the 11 to 14 year olds, from grade 6 to grade 8.
  • High School: In high school you will find your freshmans in 9th grade, your sophomores in grade 10, the juniors in grade 11 and the seniors in grade 12.  Children spend time in high school from the age of 14 to 18.

Schooling is compulsary in the United States and the classes consist of 20 -30 pupils per class.  Public schooling is free and about 85% of children attend public schools.  The remaining 15% of the children are enrolled in private schools.  Individual school districts determine the curriculum for their schools but the government instituted the policy of “No Child Left Behind” in all public schools for the whole of the USA.

In addition to general public schools there are also magnet schools and charter schools, which  fall somewhere in between public and private school.

Magnet schools: Magnet schools were introduced to compensate for the differences in the school quality based on the area in which a child resides.  They provide space for students who do not live in a certain area, but these schools have to serve all residents in their area as well.  Admission to magnet schools is based on applications and therefore can be very competitive.

Charter schools: Although charter schools are publicly funded, they are allowed to alter some rules and regulations that are specified for public schools. These rules and regulations do not apply to religion, because public schools in the USA promote non-religious affiliated schooling.  At the end of the day their existence hinges on the accountability for producing certain results. In these schools parents and teachers can tailor the curriculum to produce academic excellence.  Admission to charter schools are based on random selection.  If more children apply to a charter school than can be accommodated, selection will take place on a lottery basis.  Charter schools are however allowed to set minimum qualifications for admission.


Advantages of Private Schools

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Published February 23rd 2010, in Education, Private Schools

Many parents are faced with making a choice between placing your child in a private school or a public school.  The debate is ongoing, but from my point of view there are certain advantages of placing your child in a private school.

* The first advantage is the lower student – teacher ratio.  There are less students that require the teacher’s attention, therefore your child is ensured of individual time with the teacher.
* Unlike public schools, private schools have the right to expel students who do not adhere to regulations or are under-achieving.  This creates a school with higher standards and a better reputation.

* In private schooling, parents have a say in the running of the school.  They are seen as partners in the educational process.  Usually parents, because of the financial input they give, become more involved in their children’s education.

* As a result of the higher tuition paid by parents, the schools are able to buy better equipment and can maintain the grounds more effectively.  Latest technologies are affordable and give learners an academic advantage.

* Personal attention to the learner’s progress means that accelerated learning can be achieved.

* Private schools usually expect their students to wear uniforms, which gives children the opportunity to have a sense of group coherence and belonging.

* Private schools tend to attract better or more qualified teachers, because they can afford higher salaries.

* The social advantages of private schools include the possibility of students to form deeper personal relationships with their peers and teachers due to the smaller class size.

* It has been shown that there are less violence and drug abuse in private schools, because it can be recognized and dealt with at the onset.

* Private schools have fewer disciplinary issues and a lower drop-out rate.

* A higher percentage of private school students graduate to go on to tertiary institutions than children from public schools.

* Communication seems to be better in private schools between the parents and the faculty members, between teachers and students and between peers.

* Students get the opportunity due to smaller class sizes to speak up easier in class.  This in turns build self-confidence and self-esteem.

Mentioning these advantages does not mean that I think all public schools are bad.  You will find that schools in smaller towns and more rural areas sometimes are on par with private schools as a result of a lower population density. Many parents cannot afford the tuition of private schools and therefore are forced into public education for their children – parents who are uncomfortable with that option should consider the possibility of magnet and charter schools in their area.