Here in San Diego, the educational opportunities for students are virtually limitless. There are public, private, independent, magnet, charter and online schools that vary by grade levels, academic curriculum, teaching methodology, tuition, religion, governing bodies, special education services, performance assessments and more.
Below is an overview of the three main types of schools in San Diego: public, private and independent, meant to help you choose the right educational environment for your child.
Public Schools
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), nearly 90 percent of children in the United States attend public school. In San Diego alone, there are more than 225 public educational facilities, including 45 charter schools, serving nearly 132,000 students in preschool through grade 12.
Made available to all students, public schools are tuition free, supported by taxes, administered by the government and overseen by a school board. Public school lessons taught in the classroom are determined by the state and the performance of the schools and its students are evaluated through standardized testing. The academic curriculum in public schools focuses on “core subjects,” such as math, English, reading, writing, science, history and physical education. Public schools are required by law to accept any child within specific residential boundaries, regardless of gender, race, religious affiliation, economic status, mental capacity or physical disability.
Charter schools are part of the public education system and are not permitted to charge tuition. However, in exchange for producing certain performance-based results, charter schools are not subject to many of the rules and guidelines applicable to public schools. The academic curriculum can be focused on a certain field, or on general education, and admission into charter schools is frequently determined on a lottery basis.
Private Schools
Private schools have the freedom to create specialized programs and evaluation methods, independent of their public school counterparts. Private schools are tuition-based and include both parochial and non-parochial schools. When it comes to admissions, private schools are not obligated by any laws and have the choice to be selective about students. This selectivity makes acceptance into private schools much more competitive. Prospective families must participate in an application process that may include paperwork, reference checks, letters of recommendation and in-person interviews.
The student-to-teacher ratio at private schools tends to be smaller than that at public schools. The more personalized attention is likely the reason why the NCES reports that students in private schools perform higher than students in public schools on standardized achievement tests. Graduation requirements at private schools are not subject to federal and state guidelines, but many schools choose to align themselves with national associations to determine appropriate requirements.
Independent Schools
Independent schools share many similarities to private schools, a main one being that they are both non-public schools funded by their own resources. The key difference between a private school and an independent school is the fact that an independent school is overseen by a completely independent board of trustees or directors and is self-governed and financially independent. A private school, on the other hand, can be part of a not-for-profit organization (such as a church), or a for-profit corporation. While independent schools have the flexibility to determine a mission, academic curriculum and performance assessment—free from government control or third-party interests—they are still accredited by the same regional accreditation agencies as public schools.
Independent schools serve a wide variety of students in core subjects, as well as fine and performing arts, experiential learning and travel abroad programs. In terms of academics, the National Educational Longitudinal Study, conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, showed that a larger percentage of students in independent schools are enrolled in advanced courses than their counterparts in public, parochial or other private schools.
Making the Choice
Regardless of what type of school you choose for your son or daughter, there are other factors to bear in mind, including academic reputation, class size, safety and geographic location. Once you determine what type of school is right for your family, start narrowing your choices down by these more specific criteria. The National Association of Independent Schools offers a list of questions, including those below, to help families as they review each school’s materials, and these questions are applicable regardless of whether the school is public, private or independent:
• Is the school accredited and by whom?
• Does the school’s mission and academic philosophy appeal to you?
• Does the school have a special or particular educational focus?
• Is the environment competitive? Nurturing? Are there high expectations?
• Does the school meet your child’s needs?
• How large is the school and its student body?
• Where is the school located and what are your transportation options?
• What learning experiences are available at the school, such as experiential learning and extracurricular activities?
• Does the school have a diverse student body and faculty?
• Do the school materials discuss parental involvement?
• For high schools, what are the graduation requirements? What percentage of students enter college, and what kind of colleges do they attend?
• What is the tuition and/or is tuition assistance available?
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Dr. Eileen Mullady is head of school at a nonprofit, independent middle and high school located in the North County.
