<p>Well recently I've become CC addicted and have been involving myself more and more in my school.</p>
<p>Still questions linger in my head about certain topics. So who else would I ask but you guys? </p>
<p>Recently I've started questioning my choices in which school I attend. Currently I attend a public high school with around 2,000 students. It is located in a semi-rural area and falls into a very harsh stereotype that all of the kids attend community college, if they even get to college. We had around 5 National Merit Semifinalists last year. APs are only admitted to seniors. In general, the student body fits the stereotype given, lazy kids who tend to slack off.</p>
<p>I look over at some of the private schools in my neighboring county. We have one that is apparently a top 50 school in the nation for sending kids regularly to Ivy League schools. We have other nonsectarian schools that offer great educational opportunities as well. I'm now wondering if I made the right decision attending a public school. I'm half-way through my freshmen year and fretting over this stupid question. While I could attend one of these institutions, I couldn't for the life of me ask my parents to shell out $20,000 a year in tuition. We know people from my moms work (in her same position) who regularly send their kids to these, but my parents are super tight on money it seems all of the time. On top of that, I hear that the social life at each of these schools absolutely fail.</p>
<p>I'm just wondering, how many of you CCers attend a private high school? To you guys who do not, do you feel that public school students can achieve the same post-secondary opportunities as those from private institutions? Take into account demographics, public schools in more affluent areas tend to be better places.</p>
<p>My take on things: I go to a public HS in the suburbs that sends more than 50% to the local community college. We had like 3 semi-finalists last year… honestly, I think it’s good enough, esp. for being free. We still send a few people to good schools, so as long as you stay on top of things, you’re pretty well off.</p>
<p>It’s an ignorant restriction. Out of all of the students I know (I try to surround myself with my peers who have the same goals as I) not one junior has a scheduled AP. I haven’t looked at the official scheduling, but as I understand it our counselors don’t think juniors are prepared for the coursework.</p>
<p>I attend a private school in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The class sizes are small, but are very competitive (people are admitted via a fairly selective admissions process). As a result, I’ve found myself to be constantly fretting over grades this year, since I’m competing against a hard-working and intelligent class. Since there are only 85 people in my grade, not being among the top 8 people automatically kicks me out of top 10% ranking, and even though I found out towards the end of this semester that my school actually does NOT provide the specific rank (nor does it take the time to calculate), the counselors DO indicate on the forms which decile each student falls into. So I’ve found this whole thing to be very stressful indeed, not to mention a bit demoralizing at times. Just to give you an idea of how competitive my school is, the Classes of 2009 and 2010 both reported at least 20 people out of 80-something who earned the designation of National Merit Semifinalist. </p>
<p>In that sense, I miss my old school - it was a large international school in Singapore (roughly 270 kids per graduating class), and even though there were several unfortunate incidents that happened to me grade-wise that weren’t my fault, I think there was a high chance that I still made the top 10%, albeit not the top 5% (I had an unweighted GPA of 3.8 for grades 9 and 10, while taking the hardest possible courseload - fairly decent considering the incidents that occurred). </p>
<p>But I won’t deny that my experience at my current private school has been very intellectually stimulating/challenging, and in some cases I’ve actually grown to love the challenge. So I guess it depends on what you want - for example, being at a large public school makes things easier on you, both in terms of grades and class rank. But my private school experience has given me more of an education, if you know what I mean…</p>
<p>I dont know what you mean by more of an education. Im sure ive worked as hard as you have in high school and I currently attend a decent high school in texas, where few kids are interested in top schools. I doubt your education was any better than mine. Sure you might have had better teachers and it might have been easier for you to get that education, but my hard work negates all that and I see it as equal. Im going to a top 20 uni next year and i feel as ready and confident as anyone else.</p>
<p>to the OP
I say you go ***** at the counselors and principal about that AP rule. When i started out as a freshman, i went to the principal and told him i wanted to take bio,chem,alg2,and geometry all as a freshman (2 years into 1 year). I even told him I would most likely attend the rival high school near it if I couldnt get that schedule (and sold myself as a great student). It worked, that allowed me to take 4 AP’s in sophomore year, skip junior year, and take 6 in senior year. Dont worry about the private school, it doesnt matter that much. Keep going to the school you fit it or rather want to go to (as you said the social life) and just work a bit harder and you’ll find yourself at no disadvantage in the college admissions process</p>
<p>Public school isn’t technically “free” since tax dollars pay for it.</p>
<p>I love my private school. The community is really close, teachers actually care about their jobs, and most kids actually care about getting an education.</p>
<p>I used to attend a private middle school. But then I moved and I’m now in a public high school…</p>
<p>@ Coste: If it’s about your parents’ budget, try just asking them about it. For my parents, education is the second most important thing that involves me (the first is my health). Figure something out, whether it be a scholarship or a part-time job that supports this. Academics will play a serious part in determining your future in the years to come, and I’m thinking this also means what opportunities you get. Although colleges do look at what your high school offers when looking at your resume, but…</p>
<p>I think you should try to go for the private schools. In terms of social lives…well, you’ll be studying all day long (from what I’m assuming). Your textbooks can be your best friends. And everyone here can talk to you, I guess…so we’re considered probably 0.25 of a full social life.</p>
<p>I’m at a public school, and I know that you CAN get around those crazy AP rules. Sophomore year, I took a senior AP class just by talking to my guidance counselor. You can get around those slightly ridiculous rules, but it just takes some work. Excel in all your classes and show those teachers that you’re ready for an AP! </p>
<p>When I was small, I desperately wanted to go to a private school since all my parents’ friends sent their kids to prestigious private schools. But I learned that you control your education, and you can make of it what you want. Clearly, some schools are better than others, but your choices and determination can really make a lousy education fabulous.</p>
<p>It’s interesting to read about the experiences for those of you who’ve gone both routes.</p>
<p>Right now I’m more or less considering how damaging it will be to me resume. Currently I’m a straight A student who’s involved in two of the most prestigious (if you can call them that) ECs offered at my school. I have friends and I’m semi-popular (not looking at this in a superficial way, but in the view of class elections and opinions). Moving to a private school will seriously screw up my resume I fear. The courses will be harder, tests harder, and the ECs harder. I know that makes me sound lazy, but going into Sophomore year I don’t want to sabotage myself. Though this coming year would be the only year to switch, as switching junior year would really hurt me.</p>
<p>Plus, I don’t know how well I would do on placement tests even if I’m straight A public.</p>
<p>Also financially speaking, I don’t think a job would be necessary. My parents just need better personal finance skills. Though I worry moving to an affluent private school could also hurt my ego. I know, so superficial. Though it’s there, as in many high schoolers. Right now I’m considered pretty well off at my public school, I shop at all of the places considered nice and my family vacations in what people consider very nice. Going to an affluent school, I worry I’d be socially awkward because I couldn’t blow a $1,000 at Nordstrom with classmates or visit Thailand. I know, it’s stupid and naive, but I can’t help but worry.</p>
<p>Personally, I think that your decision shouldn’t be influenced by what you think colleges are looking for. If your family decides that you can afford private school, and you decide to go, choose because of the educational opportunities. Don’t be worried about getting elected class president.</p>
<p>Oh and yes, the pressure to wear Uggs, Northface, Vera Bradley, Juicy, etc. would be extreme. But that wouldn’t make you socially awkward. Just be yourself, however corny that sounds. What people really see is who you are.</p>
<p>I go to a private school, but I have tons of friends in public too.</p>
<p>My class size in private is around 97 kids. In public school, the graduating class is hovering around 1,200 kids. It is one of the best public high schools in the country, in one of the best districts. I personally like the smaller class sizes, in my school it’s around 15 kids/class while in public it’s around 35-40 kids.</p>
<p>
Not necessarily true. I go to a “college prep school”, and it might seem harder at first, but you’ll get used to the pacing of the classes. I used to boast 98+ averages, but when I first went private, it dropped to around 93, but now I have it back up to around 97.</p>
<p>
Not everyone is like that (take me for example xD). I think it depends on who you hang out with. My friends don’t wear those brands on a daily bases… some of them do go on those trips though >.> One of my friend’s father won a court case for about multi mill, and she acted like it was nothing (for them though, it probably was). She wears those nice designer brands, but I don’t feel awkward around her.</p>
<p>haha fledgling went to the largest (and one of the best) international schools in the world i also attend an int’l school and let me tell you that if you have a graduating class of 80 (which my school is close to) in each grade, and 20 people who get national merit (i’m also guessing about 10-15 don’t qualify because of citizenship) it is competitive. it is annoying. and you will want to tear your brains out.</p>
<p>i suggest that unless you’re willing to do all of the things/compete with the things I mentioned above, you stay and chill a little in public high school. it lessens the competition for you and you’ll be relieved of a huge burden.</p>
<p>I go to a private school. I like it there, but I wish it offered more classes. It’s kinda limited by size. I’m not exactly wealthy eithier, I’m just middle-class, but I’ve never felt that people are snobbish about their money (except the kid with the $70000 car who is only just 17). And some pretty important people go to my school.</p>
<p>Haha, by “more of an education” I mean that I’ve grown to love learning for its own sake, to enjoy reading a lengthy novel even though it’s not required for class, etc. Basically, my teachers have taught me to appreciate the beauty of each subject (this sounds incredibly geeky, but it’s true). At my previous school, almost nobody, and I mean nobody, read during their free time, even though - as yoursky stated - it was one of the best and most well-known international schools in the world. There was once an entire article in the student newspaper that was discussing the underused state of library books since nobody ever checked them out, lol. Shameless grade grubbing was also rampant there, and although it’s not nonexistent at my new school, it’s definitely taken on a lesser role. </p>
<p>It’s awesome that you’re working hard, but I’m just saying that by “more of an education” I’m talking about the appreciation of learning itself, rather than the breadth/depth of the subjects taught haha.</p>
<p>There is no real broad answer that can be given about whether public or private is better, sine it largely depends on the school that you go to. There will be some public schools that are much better than most private schools, and some private schools that will blow the public schools out of the water. I attended a private school for grades 9 and 10, where the classes were much easier than those at the public school I attend now, which is one of the best traditional four year high schools, public or private, in the state. Also, I have found that the best teachers at private schools have generally taught in a public school setting before moving to private school, and that public school teachers, even in the private school environment, are much more professional, because they realize that they are there to be teachers and mentors, not friends.</p>
<p>As for the social aspect, it depends on what you like. Public schools are generally much more diverse, and you will have an opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, which is something you might not have the opportunity to do in a private school. Again, it depends on you personally, and on each school individually.</p>
<p>I go to a private school that could pass as a public school. As things in our area go, most of the public schools actually offer more in the way of AP’s and extracurriculers. That might be because my school’s a Catholic school. But it really depends on which private/public schools you’re talking about. In my school, almost no one goes to community college, but Ivy League is rare, too. Not just because people can’t always afford it, but because most people don’t apply (or get in). </p>
<p>As for social life, my school’s pretty much the same as a public school.</p>
<p>From my observation and analysis, i’d say there are more good public schools than good private schools,but if you compare the top 50 private schools and top 50 public schools in the country,private schools hand down.</p>
<p>In my area, the private schools are comparable to my private school in education (really, it comes down to the IB versus AP debate, since my public has an IB magnet program). But my school offers more ECs and a wider variety of classes. Though it’s certainly easier to fall through the cracks or to get an unstimulating education, with a little bit of motivation, you can find a whole wealth of resources. So while the private school in your area may have higher SAT averages, success rates getting into good colleges, NM (semi)finalists as a whole, I assume you’ll find comparable levels of achievement if you look to upper decile, fifth, half, whatever of your public. Then surround yourself with those people–who, might I add, will likely have a more interesting set of backgrounds, religiously, socioeconomically, racially, etc.</p>
i also attend an int’l school and let me tell you that if you have a graduating class of 80 (which my school is close to) in each grade, and 20 people who get national merit (i’m also guessing about 10-15 don’t qualify because of citizenship) it is competitive. it is annoying. and you will want to tear your brains out.</p>