Public School vs Private School Which Is the Best Option in a Recession

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The recession has taken a toll on both public schools and private schools, but in very different ways. Public schools have taken a hit from lack of funding, leading many parents to question the quality and value of the education their child is receiving. Private schools have generally maintained a certain standard of excellence, but are struggling to attract families whose own finances have taken a hit.

So which is the best option in a recession: public or private?

Public Schools in Crisis

A struggling economy has translated into lost jobs and foreclosed homes for many families. Because income and property taxes are a significant source of funding for schools, public schools all over the country email data facing million-dollar budget deficits, resulting in teacher layoffs, cuts to art, music, and athletic programs, increased class sizes, and reduced access to books, supplies, and the latest technologies. Some states, like California, have even considered shortening the school year or trimming the school week from five days to four.

"They are caught in a bind," Professor Richard Green of the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh told Reuters for a Jan. 15, 2009 article. "State and local tax revenues are way down because of the housing collapse, and demand for state and local funding is up for the same reason."

In addition to decreased tax revenues, public schools aren’t receiving adequate support from state governments, many of which are struggling with their own budget crises. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a non-partisan think-tank, 43 states are on track for budget gaps, with an estimated total shortfall exceeding $100 billion.

College and Career Guidance – Most therapeutic boarding schools offer comprehensive college and career guidance, ranging from help with researching schools and completing college applications to choosing courses and activities that further a teen’s chances of getting into their college of choice. Many private schools have impressive college admissions records. For example, at Oakley School, a co-ed college preparatory therapeutic boarding high school for teens in Utah, 100% of the seniors that applied to a four-year college last year were accepted to one of their choice schools. Oakley grads were accepted into colleges like Northwestern University, Fordham University, University of Colorado, Penn State, and many more.

There’s no question that private boarding school requires some sacrifice – but if you ask the parents of a child who attended one, you’re likely to find that it is a sacrifice worth making. Private schools promote social and emotional competence as well as academic success, nurturing students who are self-assured and well-prepared for the future. Even in tough times, a solid education continues to be one of most sound investments a parent can make in their child’s future.