Final Paper

Dana Ford

Professor Yerks

Comp 106-019

23 April 2010

Final Research Paper

Private Schools Serve a Better Education for Students

At the age of thirteen or fourteen students often make difficult decisions. Choosing the right school for high school is among a top priority. Parents alike need to determine the right educational path for their child for the next four years. There are many options for selecting the right schooling: public with a co-educational experience or private with a same sex education. Instead of debating between the two look deeper and see that a private school with a same sex education for a high school student is far more beneficial than a public school with a co-educational experience.

Most same sex schools are private schools. Parents should consider private schools because they foster academic excellence and high achievement. They provide children with a values-based setting, and prepare them for success. If parents are looking for a safe and secure environment that challenges students to exceed in academics then a private school and ultimately a same sex school education is a perfect fit. Private schools typically have more demanding graduation requirements than do public high schools. This insures that the student is well prepared for college. Statistics are shown in Private Schools: A Brief Report that students are more likely to complete a bachelor’s or advanced degree by their mid-20s by attending a private school than public (27).

Academics in same sex schools are more generally more prestigious and beneficial because boys and girls learn differently. In these types of schooling, faculty’s learning styles adapt to the learning styles of specific students. The article Why Private Schools discusses some of these benefits stating that “small classes allow the teachers to have a better sense of who your child is, and what his or her specific strengths and weaknesses are. Your child will also have more opportunities to speak up and participate in class discussions” (1). These schools deal with more advanced topics and subjects than a co-educational experience. Also, having this type of education will have students more prepared for college.

Public schools also encounter more serious issues that take away from the learning experience. The Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), which is published by the National Center for Education Statistics, shows that 17% of students are disrespectful to teachers, 30% of students come to class unprepared to learn, and there is 24% lack of parent involvement. These problems all contribute to a lower lever of excellence for each child to progress in their education. Also, reports from the College Board show that same sex schools SAT scores are above average. The strict rules help pupils to strive and get higher test scores than public school students (NCEA 23).

Co-educational schooling may offer a more diverse environment and a chance to learn to socialize with the opposite sex. Also, when in a career path, co-ed students will excel because they have the proper socialization skills whereas same sex schooling students did not have such an opportunity. However, in a same sex school there are far less stereotypes and cliques than in a public school.

In the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics, 8% of students reported to being bullied at school, 12.7% said they have been a target of hate-related words at school, and 21.6% of students said that street gang members were present in public schools. There is much more safety in a private school. The State of Our Nation’s Youth, which is a report on safety and security in high schools, stated that 64% of private schooled students feel same in their school and 57% of private schooled students feel that teachers and administrators have taken all necessary precautions to ensure security and safety in school. Private schools have more of a chance to bond and build strong, healthy, and long-lasting friendships with fellow classmates. Same sex schools also have more of an opportunity to join unique clubs and religious retreats (NCES 23).

In same sex schools there are far less distractions from the opposite sex and less pressure to fit in. Everyone can be themselves and there is no need to impress. A little competition can be a good thing, especially when it comes to having students more involved in school. Private School Review expresses that “government [put] regulations on public schools prevent them from spending more than a certain percentage of school funds on the Arts. Private schools, however, are not subject to the same regulations, and they have more freedom to develop and expand these programs as they wish” (1). Same sex schools give boys a more competitive edge and get involved more into extracurricular activities without worrying about what a girl would think. For example, boys tend to take orchestra or poetry classes in same sex schools. Students in this setting break out of the stereotypical roles, are encourages to be fearless, and are enthusiastic about school. They become more of an individual, instead of in a co-educational school where students are more inclined to try to fit into a clique to feel a sense of belonging.

Sports are also a valuable element to a same sex school learning experience. Girls tend to be more outgoing and take more risks. They also are more competitive and play male traditional sports such as field hockey and soccer, without feeling like a tom boy. Co-ed schools seem more favorable because they have a traditional football and cheerleading team and private schools do not. On the other hand, same sex schools do offer more creative sports such as an equestrian team, bowing, and ice hockey that build leadership just as a football team would. Public schools appear to have more school spirit because of pep rallies; nevertheless same sex schools have just as much school spirit if not more. They have far greater bonding time for example spiritual retreats such as Kairos and field trips.

Private schools focus more on values and morals. Many private schools require students to participate in a community service project. These projects help students to learn respect for various cultures while opening an opportunity to grow and find their inner spirit. They provide students with a healthy background to have a complete and proper upbringing. The Schools and Staffing Survey asked principals of public and private schools to rate their top goals that are important to school’s success. The most important goal to a public school principal was basic literacy. Conversely, a private school principal’s most important goals was academic excellence, religious and spiritual life, and basic literacy. Private schools put academics foremost, but also believe religion and morals are highly important to students (NCES 23).

After looking at the positives and negatives it is very clear to see why a private school with a same sex education is more beneficial than a public school with a co-educational experience. Same sex schooling students are far more prestigious and have higher ACT/SAT scores for college. They are prepared more and receive a higher educational experience. These students go through fewer stereotypes and become individuals with great leadership skills. Students who attend private schools are more competitive to play the sports they love without feeling judged. A co-educational experience cannot get you the same perks. Students and parents choose private schools for a prestigious and well-rounded high school experience.























Works Cited

“Private schools: A Brief Portrait.” Private schools: A Brief Portrait. (2002).

<http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/2002013.pdf>. 6 December 2009.

“National Center for Educational Statistics.” Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS).

(2002). <http://nces.ed.gov/pubs99/199907.pdf>. 6 December 2009.

"Why Private School." Private School Review. Private School Review, 7 Dec 2007. 18

Apr 2010. <http://www.privateschoolreview.com/articles/1>.