It’s never an easy decision to choose the right school for your child. Factors like cost, transportation, education level, special needs, and much more need to be considered before making your final selection. Many parents find themselves struggling with whether to stick with public schooling or move their child into a private school, especially with curriculum differences. In this informative blog post, we’ll take a closer look at some distinct differences between Catholic school and public school curriculums and teaching styles.
Teaching Styles and Instructor Availability
The first big difference that you can see between public schools and private, Catholic schools is the sheer number of students. Public schools see much bigger classes and groups of students, which can pose a challenge for a student who learns best with one-on-one, example-based teaching. Catholic schools, on the other hand, often break up students into smaller classes, ensuring that each student gets the attention they need, whether that be asking extra questions or getting additional tutoring on the side.
Community Service and Awareness
Local service is a key focus in private, Catholic education, both inside and outside the school walls. According to the Federal Nutrition Program, 45% of Catholic schools in the United States participate in Federal Nutrition Programs, which provide over 270,000 free meals to children daily. Additionally, the Catholic school curriculum often requires community service hours, promoting social cohesion past the borders of education. Most public schools have no such requirements for students, keeping learning confined to the classroom.
College Preparedness
While both public and private schools may put an emphasis on preparing students for college, higher education, or the workforce, Catholic schools provide promising statistics to back up this goal. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 99% of students who attend Catholic high school graduate. Of those, 86% attend 4-year colleges. These statistics alone are one of the key reasons why parents choose Catholic education over public school.
Are you thinking about enrolling your child in a Catholic school, but need more information first? Are you curious if your child could apply for a scholarship so you can save on tuition? Contact your local school today.