Why do you send your kids to private or Catholic school?

Just wondering why you send your kids to private school?

My DS will start K next year and will attend catholic school. At present our intention is just to send him for Kindergarten and then transition him to publc schools. But the more I learn about his school, the more parents, and faculty I meet, I wonder if I am going to change my mind regarding this and want to keep him there.

So Anyway I am just wondering how and why people made the decision to send their kids to private schools instead of public!

Thanks!

Re: Why do you send your kids to private or Catholic school?

Initially I started in the Catholic School that we send our kids to because I was not impressed with our local public school. Now, even if we moved to a better school district I would not pull them out.

I love the building of faith every day. I love that they are taught about respect- every day. I love that it has a family feel. I love that they wear a uniform. I love that they have an open door policy. I can stroll in and chat with the principal at any time... no appointment necessary. Same with any of the teachers.

Re: Why do you send your kids to private or Catholic school?

Message edited 5/3/2012 6:50:13 PM.

Re: Why do you send your kids to private or Catholic school?

Were you both products of Catholic School?

DH and I were both educated in Public School, I had no intention of sending DSs to catholic school. But some things led us here and I am super excited about alot of what you both posted.
DS will have about 15 kids (maybe more but right now the K classes are at that #) with 1 teacher and 1 aide and I love that.

I have met a few parents now (strangers at the park etc) and have not heard 1 bad thing.

I obviously wont have to make this decision for a year but I was just curious as to what makes other choose catholic (or any private school) for their kids.

THanks for your insight!

Re: Why do you send your kids to private or Catholic school?

Its definitely a personal choice.
*I love the strong sense of faith,both daily religion class & weekly mass.
*No arguing over clothes in the morning,you wear your uniform.
*Its a tight knit community, I know everyones parents & siblings.
*The parent involvement is incredible from Home School Association to CYO to volunteering at school.
*Virtus training, a mandatory course for any parent volunteer & teachers,etc.
*Teachers/Principal/Pastor readily available at virtually all times.
*Every Child greeted ( by name ) every morning at the door by our Pastor.
*small class size

I went to Catholic school & I want that for my children. The public school has never even crossed my mind,be it in Whitestone or in the Herricks School district where we are moving to. Thats not to say that you don't get a wonderful education in public schools, this is just MY preference.

Re: Why do you send your kids to private or Catholic school?

DH and I can't afford it at the moment but we always planned on sending DD (and any other children we have) to private school once high school rolls around.

We are in a school district that is way bigger than the one DH and I went to so we'd like the kiddos to go to a smaller school where parents are more involved.

Re: Why do you send your kids to private or Catholic school?

I am a public school kid and so is DH. I ALWAYS wanted to go to Catholic School though... but my parents never had the money for it. And we moved from Queens to LI so I COULD go to public school.

Re: Why do you send your kids to private or Catholic school?

For us, it was a combo of a way too big public school district that was once one of the best in the state and now is struggle and seeing very deep cuts combined with the values and strong ethics, respect, disciple taugh in a catholic school. My oldest is in 1st grade and his school is wonderful! He went to public Kindergarten and in my particular district it is night and day as far as what is tolerated behaviour in the classroom and the high level of work they are doing. I love that they are teaching him to be responsible for his actions and if the rules are not followed discipline will be the result. Totally not that way in the public school. Plus, small class sizes and a great small community feel.

Also, here in OH they break out the schools by age and every year you get mixed in with different kids. So all the K and 1st grade is in one building, 2-5, etc etc. So I much prefere that the kids he goes to school with now will be the same ones he enters each grade with.

I much prefer the cost of public school though!

Overall, its about the enviroment and the level of education for me.

Message edited 5/4/2012 9:00:46 AM.

Re: Why do you send your kids to private or Catholic school?

I live in a very desirable LI school district, and yet when it came time to enroll my oldest in kindergarten, I kind of surprised myself and decided to go the Catholic school route.

Honestly, there's nothing wrong with our school district-- it's highly regarded. I attended the parent orientation, the new student orientation, the screening, and all of it went fine. However, having sent my oldest to our local Catholic school for both nursery and pre-K, I just couldn't help comparing the two schools, and the Catholic school won on each point.

I love everything about it-- the values that are woven into the everyday lives of the students, the respect and discipline, the uniforms, the excellent academics. There's a close-knit community feel to it that many others have described in this thread.

Do I wish it were free, like public school? Sure! Do I think every penny of tuition there is well spent? 100% YES.

ETA-- Another factor, while not a deciding one for me, is the state of public school budgets right now. I know many people who teach on LI, and with budget cuts/caps, both present and slated for the future, I did want a little more control over my children's education.

Message edited 5/4/2012 10:02:21 AM.

Re: Why do you send your kids to private or Catholic school?

I always planned on sending my children to Catholic School.

I wanted a small school, a loving family environment away from home. I wanted to be more involved, I feel you can do that more when it's private.

However, I couldn't find a school near me that I liked. My son is a super active, hyper kid. Catholic schools just aren't into that. Lol. If he needed any extra help they would have to bus him to public school, during class. I knew that was a possibility for him. Public school also offered more, music, art, gym every day, etc...

I chose to send him to public school. I went for a tour of our school and it seemed like a nice little school. We're in a smaller district too.

I will admit that I liked our private preschool 100X more than public kindergarten.

I'll be honest, I'm still not sure I made the "right" choice. I'm still considering sending him to private next year. Whatever choice you make I'm sure you can't go wrong.

Re: Why do you send your kids to private or Catholic school?

I wanted my children to go the Catholic School route, but the one affiliated with our parish will close after this school year, so we are heading to public schools. We do live in a good district though.