The national educational sector for young children and teenagers is represented by a network of public and private schools, where modern American children can receive their elementary and secondary education, develop their social skills and achieve personal and academic progress. Both public and private schools have certain advantages and disadvantages, but, undoubtedly, both types of these educational establishments have a lot of programs and courses to offer. When making a decision about the type of the school which can work best for every particular child, it is essential to be aware about the differences between today’s private and public schools in a variety of perspectives.

Such factors as the cost of education and admission can be considered among the most significant differences between public and private schools in our country. Since all public schools are funded through national and federal tax systems, parents do not have to pay for the education of their children in public schools. Besides, all American children without exception should be admitted to a public school. In contrast to that, private educational sector is funded through the fees for tuition and various donations, that is why the parents have to pay for their child’s education in a private school. In addition to that, private schools are selective and may not accept every child.

Budget and academic curriculum are other key differences between the establishments of public and private educational sector. Usually, there are more effective fund-raising opportunities for private schools. They are not limited by only tuition fees or donations and also include grants from various foundations and organizations, development activities and so on. In contrast to this, budgets of public schools and their funding opportunities are comparatively smaller. As to academic curriculum, in all public schools throughout the country it is almost the same and standard. However, private schools are generally more flexible about the curriculum and can offer some special programs or disciplines.

Besides, in the context of the differences between public and private schools, it is possible to name such factors as class size and, actually, the student population. Generally, in public schools there are more students in the class since public schools must accept every student who applied. In private schools, the number of the students in the class is usually smaller and can be as small as 12-16 children. Again, since private schools are selective as to the students, communities in such schools tend to be more homogenous than those of public schools. Therefore, it can be easier to find a common language, common goals and interests for the children who study in private sector.

Comparing teaching and teachers’ attitude toward their work in public and private schools we can notice more differences. In public schools, teachers are usually better paid and are provided with such benefits as good pension and health costs. Therefore they tend to spend more efforts in their work and be more tolerant to behavioral or other issues. In contrast to that, in private schools teachers generally can not enjoy such financial advantages. At the same time, the administrations of private schools are very strict about the teachers’ qualification and, as a result of higher competition, only the most qualified, competent and experienced educators receive an opportunity to work in private schools.

There is no need in mentioning the significance of education and proper training for modern children and teenagers. It is very important for today’s parents to choose an effective school for their children. Undoubtedly, there is no a clear conclusion or an answer to the question, which schools are better, public or private. Some children can be successful and develop their talents in a private school, and some children may find the environment of public schools better for their education and personal development. Therefore, in order to make a good choice, it is necessary to consider all possible factors, starting from the specifics of the child’s personality and ending with the most attractive financial conditions.