<p>I think most CC'ers go to public school...right?</p>
<p>At least I do. It's not the best school in the county (maybe 2nd or 3rd best, there are 2 other schools who would cream us at academics), but I live in a county known for its education system. Part of the reason why housing prices here are ridiculously high, and still climbing.</p>
<p>I hear you on the housing prices, yanners. It's going to be impossible to buy a house when we're all adults.</p>
<p>There's nothing wrong with going to a private school because there are no good public schools around or for religious reasons. The problem is that a lot of people do go to private schools when they are in great school systems already. Obviously private school tuition is expense, so most of the families are well off, so they probably live in a good neighborhood already with good schools, do you get it? Some people send their children to private schools because they want them to be better off for getting into HYP. Or because they're just elitest and think they're children are too good for public school. Of course not all people who send their children to private schools are like this, but some are.</p>
<p>Public schools are more like the real world. It's better to end the sheltering now before they go off to college isn't it?</p>
<p>Not necessarily. Just because you live in a good neighborhood doesn't mean that the public schools are that great. And how are public schools more like the "real world," other than the fact that they include more people?</p>
<p>I was homeschooled for high school only, but had I remained in the system, I wouldn't have gone to any of my town's public high schools. The main one is honestly awful and can barely remain accredited, the tech school wouldn't have applied to me, and the two alternative high schools are for students with behavioral issues.</p>
<p>I would have liked to attend the "middle college" my community college (where I am now) runs, but they have an impossible lottery admissions practice and you still need to be enrolled in one of your town's public high schools to attend.</p>
<p>Going to a private school would've been nice, since I'm from Connecticut and we only have approximately ninety bajillion around here (give or take a few), but we had no money for it and I value my independence too much to deal with assigned courses. Definitely couldn't have done the boarding school thing.</p>
<p>All in all, I'm glad I did homeschooling. It's just going to be a royal pain to come up with a "transcript" for when I transfer.</p>
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And how are public schools more like the "real world," other than the fact that they include more people?
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Because not everyone is catholic and not everyone is white.</p>
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missing by not going to public schools cause they aren't getting the "real" high school xpernce....
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I don't they're missing very much... And why don't you think there are "obstacles" in private school?</p>
<p>And not every private school is a Catholic school. I think most of the really expensive ones are not Catholic. Most Catholic private schools are those affiliated with the Archdiocese, like many parochial schools. Besides, my elementary/middle school was predominantly Latino (also a private school).</p>
<p>:[ I got to a private boarding school.</p>
<p>I don't like the idea that all CCers go to 'top notch public schools'. I'm sure quite a few of us go to 'normal public schools' thanks. My school is ghe-eh-toe. But we have the IB program and a lot of APs. And that's a heck of a lot compared to some of the schools some CCers go to.</p>
<p>Living in Connecticut outside of Fairfield County, most of the private schools around me are Catholic, but they certainly aren't exclusively Catholic in student body. My town is home to a large, regional Catholic high school, and something like 20% of the student body there is non-Catholic. I had three Jewish friends go there who had a great time, including one conservative.</p>
<p>Also, since when are most Catholics WASPy? Most of my friends who go to our big Catholic high school are Irish, Italian, Polish, Lithuanian, Puerto Rican, Ukrainian, Portuguese, and Peruvian, with a few Bosnians mixed in for good measure. Granted, most are still white in some form or another, but they're not all English kids with Smith for a last name.</p>
<p>Actually, it's the Protestant high school in my town that's just about entirely white and very socially secluded. It has something like 150 students, but no one I know goes there. They're the ones considered to be upper-class and sheltered.</p>
<p>to ilovemath: don't go badmouthing Stuy... I go there! And I don't even know what Townsend Harris IS! so pffffffft no one cares.</p>
<p>umm yeah people walk into my building and are like "wow, is this a private school?" so... there probably isn't much difference, is there?</p>
<p>i'm curious though, what is admissions into a private school like? do you just show up with a huge check or what? :P</p>
<p>Your school is ghetto with the IB and AP program? Give me a break.</p>
<p>my friends dad is a cardiologist, and he doesn't believe in private education..that's why his children go to public schools...weird.</p>
<p>IB schools tend to be located on wealthy areas...I know.</p>
<p>public school.. my school is good and can afford better stuff than private schools in our area</p>
<p>Most of my Catholic high school was not Catholic, although that can be attributed to the state not the school. I don't think I was any more sheltered by my parents by going to private school than if I had gone to public school. This may be due to my father's profession more than anything though, he's a retired police officer, so my sister and I are protected and looked after more than many of our friends because our dad knows more about what goes on than the average parent. </p>
<p>My high school was definitely a mixture of different kids especially for a state that is not known for it's diversity. Several of my friends are gay or bisexual, one of my best friends is African-American, a friend of mine is Jewish, a friend of mine is Pegan, and a friend of mine is Buddhist. </p>
<p>My high school had drugs and fights and alcohol, although I don't know why missing that would be something devastating. Not being another face in the crowd is a good thing, and even if every teacher knows your name you have to earn the respect you get. If anything getting respect for standing intellectually in a private school might be even more difficult because there is a selection process for your classmates rather than in public school where there is more of a mixture of levels of ability. </p>
<p>I would say there are definite advantages and disadvantages to both public and private schools, but I would not trade my experiences at Catholic school for anything in the world. I made wonderful friends, had inspirational teachers, and had small classes.</p>
<p>crash_blair, it's pretty much like applying to college. You do some mild research on where you want to go, visit the schools (most private high schools allow you to "shadow" a freshman for a day), fill out an application, write an essay (usually), possibly do an interview (my interview was basically a "you're in, any questions for me?"), and wait for your acceptance letter. </p>
<p>Another note, a lot of kids in private schools are on a good amount financial aid, myself included.</p>
<p>This is just my opinion (no death threats in my mail box, please!):</p>
<p>Private School: It does a better job motivating students to study hard (but does more of a job forcing work onto students that might not have the self-discipline to do it himself/herself).</p>
<p>Public School: There are aspects in public school (especially socially) that you will most likely not find in a private school. This is where students shine and are motivated enough to take the most challenging classes available, etc. It can be the epitome of "it's what you make it".</p>
<p>I'll add more of my opinion later, if anyone wants it, but I'm just curious of what you think of what I've written so far.</p>
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Your school is ghetto with the IB and AP program? Give me a break.
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</p>
<p>Yep, our school sure is ghetto. In our district, its known as the "ghetto" school. There are gang members and you shouldn't be surprised to see graffitti every now and then. There are fights and everything. A lot of parents want the IB moved to Rowlett, where the wealthy kids are. I personally like the mix.</p>
<p>We look like we don't have money to do anything. Well, I think part of the reason was because they needed to pay for the IB program. And our athletics. They put alot of pride in these two programs. They've saved and they are doing some major construction now. They aren't even finished and school is about to start. I wonder how it will turn out.</p>
<p>I think IB would be pretty awesome at a rich school like Rowlett. I think they also get to have more courses because the go by Tri-mesters. All GISD school save Garland (my school) have little resturaunts like a Pizza place or American food or whatever. Rowlett (I live in Rowlett) has a lot of stuff. A water park, community center and huge playground are all right next door to the highschool which would be very very useful to IB students. They have like 5 fields around the school for football, track and whatever practice while we at Garland have to go half a mile for football practice, band practice, track practice and etc. Rowlett is just rich. </p>
<p>I'm going to the school tomorrow (my school) and I'll get to see just how much construction is actually done. ANother reason this may have taken so long is because our school is considered a historical land mark. Somebody really didn't want it to change.</p>
<p>crash blair, i didnt mean anything bad, its just that my schools really good (like we have like best regents statistics or w/e and we're the "best school in Queens" and stuff) but nearly no one knows about us, yet everyone knows stuy. so around here we're sour at you guys lol</p>