Many parents are facing the difficult task of finding a school that will meet their children’s needs. But how do they deal with the dilemma of choosing between public or private school? Here is a sample listing of criteria that can help you to make up your mind:

• Cost: Private schools usually cost a lot of money, whereas public education is funded through state and local taxes.
• Admissions:  Unlike public schools which admit all children, private schools are rather selective. In accordance with the law, public schools must provide education to all children, including those with special needs. On the contrary, private schools are under no legal obligation to accept all children and admissions are usually competitive.
• School program: Unlike the flexibility of the curriculum in private schools where is offered a program specially designed for students, public schools offer a general program, designed for all children, which usually includes English, maths, science, history, physical education etc. While private schools can create their own curriculum and assessment system, public schools must stick to the general program. Private schools can offer specialized programs that blend lessons, using art as well as science. Public schools may also offer programs in art and science but they are an integral part of the general curriculum.
• Educating staff: While all teachers in a public school are state certified, those in private schools may not be required to have certification.
• Students: Public schools admit all children and they do not apply selective admissions process, while the students at private schools are determined by a selection process. This means that they must apply before being accepted at the school.
• Class size: Generally,  the class size in public schools is bigger than that in private schools. This is one of the reasons why parents tend to prefer private schools instead of public schools. Smaller class size, more individual attention to students.
• Children with special needs: While private schools are not obligated by law to accept children with special needs, public schools are under the legal obligation to educate all children and provide all the necessary means to meet their special needs. Unlike public schools which offer special education programs for students with special needs, private schools do not have special education programs.

Whatever you decide, remember there are very good private schools and there are very good public schools. The trick is to find what’s important for your kid.