Parents want the best for their children especially when it
comes to education. Is it best to send your children to a private secondary
school or a public high school? This is the choice that faces many Toronto
parents. There are advantages to both and ultimately families must choose the
option that works best for them, but it’s difficult to know how to begin
evaluating the advantages and disadvantages. The following are areas to help
you contrast and compare the two options:
Cost
Public school is, of course, government funded with taxpayer
dollars and has no cost associated with attending. Private secondary schools in
Toronto can cost anywhere from $5,000 per year upward to $30,000 per year, with
most Toronto private school fees ranging from $15,000 - $20,000. However, many
private secondary schools offer tuition assistance programs or scholarships and
parents are often surprised by the fact that a portion of school fees may be
tax-deductible. Also, private schools usually provide free instruction for
activities that other parents have to pay extra for. This may include tutoring, music lessons,
organized sports, dance, and before and/or after-school care.
Academics
Private secondary school students consistently score higher
on standardized academic tests. Private schools put a great emphasis on
creating a culture of achievement, which is one of the prime motivating factors
for students to excel. Expectations and standards are often much higher at
private secondary schools where critical thinking and a good work ethic are
required in order to complete the class work.
Both public and private schools require that teachers be
credentialed, however private schools prefer to hire teachers with advanced
degrees. Since private schools depend on maintaining their reputations in order
to attract new students, the best private schools make sure that their academic
programs are first-rate.
Private schools have more latitude with which to create
courses, allowing them to offer advanced courses using university-level
material and teaching techniques. These classes challenge motivated students
and fully prepare them for post-secondary education.
Discipline
The best private schools have strict admission policies,
with behavioural issues playing a deciding factor in the acceptance of certain
students. If discipline issues do arise, they are quickly addressed by faculty,
with expulsion being a very real possibility for any infraction of the rules,
as set out in the contract that is signed between the students, parents and the
school.
Class Size
Leading educators recommend that classes should contain
fewer than twenty students for optimum learning to occur. This allows teachers
to lead productive discussions, assign more complex homework and spend
one-on-one time with students. Private school classes are smaller than those in
the public system.
Making the Decision
With such a wide variety of options available to parents and
students, the choice for private secondary school in Torontohas never been so rich and exciting. When choosing private secondary schools,
the most critical factor is finding a school that will provide a solid
educational foundation that will set the student up for post-secondary and
future career success. A school that emphasizes well-qualified teachers and
smaller class sizes will cater best to students’ unique academic and personal
needs.