Recently, many parents have opted to send their children to private school instead of public school. Some parents decide this for religious reasons, others for a specialized education, and others for opportunities in athletics. US News reported in 2023 that private school students collectively perform better, but how do the students themselves feel about this alternative school environment?
“My parents decided to send me to private school because the schools in my area were not the best, in their minds. They also wanted me to have a understanding of my religion and how it works,” senior JD Barrios said.
Most private schools extend through eighth grade. So, unlike public school kids, those enrolled in private schools most likely will attend the same sized school until eighth grade. This can allow students to make deeper connections, which could benefit them in the future.
“One thing I liked about private school was how close everyone was. We all had the same beliefs and did a lot of the same activities because it was private,” Barrios said. “All the boys were especially close and I’ve been friends with some of them for over 10 years.”
However, this close-knit environment may be too small for some students. Those who attend private school often jump straight from a small private school to a larger public high school. For this reason, Barrios attended St. Mary’s through sixth grade before switching to Herrick Middle School. Public middle school gives kids a chance to slowly transition into a much larger high school. Contrary to Barrios, senior Gabi Slevin attended St. Mary’s through eighth grade.
“I liked the school days being shorter than most public schools, and I liked the challenge the teachers would give us to prepare us for high school. I didn’t like how small the class sizes were, and I felt like I knew less people when I went to public high school after,” Slevin said.
Students have many differing opinions about their private school experiences, not just in elementary school, but also private high school. It is not uncommon for students to attend a private high school for athletic opportunities. Senior Sam Lehnherr attended a private school her freshman year before transferring to DGN.
“I attended Montini because I thought it was going to give me better opportunities regarding softball,” Lehnherr said. “I didn’t like the small size of it and realized I wanted a bigger school feel. I like public school better for sure. I don’t know why people still choose to go private when DGN is a great public school.”
Although private schools are rational for students who live in areas with poorly ranked schools, they may appear unnecessary in an area like Downers Grove, where the public schools are highly ranked. Some private elementary schools do offer things that public schools do not, like more advanced math and foreign language courses.
“My private school teachers really focused on pushing everyone and making things challenging, so I feel like it set me ahead when I became a freshman at DGN as I was able to handle more honors classes,” Slevin said.
According to US News, private school students outperform public school students on standardized tests like the SAT. These statistics can be enticing to parents who have high hopes for their children, but it is evident that private schools are not for every student.
“I wouldn’t change anything I did in my schooling. Being able to go to private school up to sixth grade helped me make lots of connections with people that I still talk to this day,” Barrios said. “However, moving to public school in seventh grade also benefited me as I was able to get used to larger classes and meet more people before high school.”
