<p>
[quote]
Modadunn-- your sister's real world observations support the value of single sex private schools.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Ugh ugh ugh, I would have <em>hated</em> being in an all-girl environment. Just the idea makes me cringe. And the all-girl private schools in my area, for all their alleged academic prowess, were horrible in science and math.</p>
<p>I'm willing to believe that they are valuable for some people (just like private schools), but not all.</p>
<p>My S was on the Math Club Team at his private all boys school in middle school. The girls from the private all girls school (which was the "sister" school to my S's all boy school) who tried to compete in the statewide math contests complained that 1) the math instruction program at the girls' school was "weak" compared to the boys' program and 2) there was no school sponsored Math Club Team at the girls' school.</p>
<p>Several of the girls' parents got together and paid the math teacher from the boys school who was in charge of the Math Club Team to coach their daughters for the competitions.</p>
<p>I can see that for a math-science girl, co-ed provides a more interesting and competitive learning environment.</p>
<p>We are a few thousand $ short of NYC price. What we get is a more flexible curriculum, a lot less requirements by the state. We get instance response from the headmaster, teachers...I know most of 120 kids/families. They get writing assignments every week and get feedback in matter of days. We have one GC for every 30 kids, and they usually know before admission results come out. The kids are still friends years after graduation, and most parents give internships to each other's kids. It's hard to say if it's worth it for everyone, but it has served my Ds well. The school is a co-ed school, but maybe becuase of the size my Ds are very active and vocal in HS, D1 is very comfortable to go to her professors or speak up in her classes in college.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The kids are still friends years after graduation, and most parents give internships to each other's kids. It's hard to say if it's worth it for everyone, but it has served my Ds well.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I have noted the same degree of close continued connection between the students from S's private all boys school after they graduated. There is truly a network of alums of all ages from which to draw later advice, assistance and direction in their careers.</p>
<p>This has been particularly noticable for alums in entertainment. Steve Miller and Rhett Miller (Old 97s) came back in 2007 and gave a on campus concert. There was a sixth grade guitar virtuoso who got to jam with them on stage. Probably changed his life. The Wilsons used the campus to film Bottle Rocket. Luke attends reunions. Tommy Lee Jones does the promotional film requesting donations to provide scholarships since he attended on one. Robert Hoffman (Harvard Lampoon and one of founders of National Lampoon) was a trustee and major benefactor.</p>
<p>The school has an alumni career symposium where they invite alums who are outstanding in various fields to come back and speak to and hang with the juniors and seniors who have interests in those fields.</p>
<p>I'm not sure these things happen in many public schools.</p>
<p>My observation was that the big advantages of the private prep school were individualized college counseling and greater opportunity to participate in sports/activities regardless of skill level. Big disadvantages were cost (the prep school my son attended for middle school is now $17,500 per year in Kentucky!), elitism, and the "nothing is too good for us" attitude.</p>
<p>I have not read this thread but I have several friends whose kids attended private school. The number of APs offered is not critical in determining the quality of education received.</p>
<p>Many colleges will not allow you to use AP units for classes required for your major, many private school kids want a 4 year experience and are not trying to use those units to save time. An outstanding teacher in a class with a tough curriculum can out educate an AP class.</p>
<p>There are college prep private schools and there are less intense schools. If your private sends 95% of the students to 4 year universities and some percentage to Ivy's/top 10-25 ranked schools they probably have a good focus.</p>
<p>Some kids we know go to a religious based private school and while it is better than the nearby publics it is not anything like some of the college prep privates.</p>
<p>A private school is meeting a particular need.</p>
<p>Even a school that has the best reputation may not be the right one for a given kid. One thing that I appreciate from my boys' high school is that they were very well educated. They finished school with a good handle on doing college work, and really were well into 2nd year college in terms of educational level. In fact, their credits really put them there. But that is not the only thing that makes a high school a good fit. I think my younger of those two boys would have been happier and less stressed at an all boys catholic school where most of his peers ended up going.</p>
<p>OP Questions:</p>
<p>
[quote]
My parents haven't really justified why I went to a private school. Why would you send your kid to a private school?
[/quote]
Lots of reason, few of those for me were:
1. Controlled environment: More probability of getting better results.
2. Adminstration is approachable: People listen to parent concerns and can work together for the betterment of the student
3. Rigorous Curriculumn, Excellent teachers, latest tools, labs
4. Plenty of Extra curricular activities
and so on...</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is it resonable to think I would be more prepared for college than someone at a public school taking the same courses?
[/quote]
Depends on the school. As there are public school that might provide more oppertunities, so not all private schools are better than all public.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Do private schools tend to go more in depth than publics on course material?
[/quote]
Generally yes for all the prep school.</p>