What do private schools offer that public schools don't?

How can you compare private and public schools when they seem so disparate? Is it like comparing apples and oranges — two different things that can't be fairly held to the same standards? As any parent who has toured both kinds of school knows, it's not always easy to answer these questions. read more

Private schools do not receive tax revenues, so they do not have to follow the same sorts of regulations and bureaucratic processes that govern (and sometimes hinder) public schools. This allows many private schools to be highly specialized, offering differentiated learning, advanced curriculum, or programs geared toward specific religious beliefs. read more

Because private schools don’t have to follow state laws about what to teach, they can offer unique and specialized programs. For example, parochial schools can offer religion classes while special-education schools can offer remedial and counseling programs to help their students. read more

Public school districts pay for some special education services at private schools. Some private schools specialize in teaching students with learning and attention issues. Schools that don’t specialize in these areas may not offer much support for students with learning and attention issues. read more