Private schools vs. Public schools?

Question

Is it true that private schools are year ahead of public schools, or not?

I'm in 8th grade at an all-girls private school and here is my schedule:

Algebra I (Algebra II is for honors and accelerated girls haha), American History, Chemistry, Biology, Latin II, French III, Spanish II, English (we are reading Brave New World, A Separate Peace, As You Like It, and Romeo and Juliet)

I have to play 3 sports (Field Hockey, Squash, Lacrosse) and do 100+ hours of community service per year.

Whereas my friend who is going to public school this year is reading all of the same books we have already read and analyzed in 5th grade (Fever 1792, The Giver, Walk two Moons, and a Midsummer's Nights Dream)

Answer 1

Ick private school sounds like a drag.  

Answer 2

pff no

most are on grade level

some are slightly ahead

some are WAY behind

my old school was about two years behind. I could be in 10th grade, but since i passed 4th with a 2nd grade education, i'm only in 9th now (i'm smart, and cought up quickly through a homeschooling program)

And, reading books like that doesn't have anything to do with grade level. i was in 8th last year and did romeo and juliet, but i have to do it again this year (new school). I'm also in HIGHSCHOOL french 2, that's my fifth year of  the course.

it doesn't matter much, the graduation requirements are all the same

Answer 3

Well, often they are.

But you can't base that on what books you read. Romeo and Juliet isn't any more advanced than Midsummer's Nights Dream. She'll probably be analysing it in a whole lot more depth than you did in 5th grade. And she's probably already read books that you haven't analyzed yet.

Answer 4

No.  It is absolutely not true that private schools are one year ahead of public schools.  

The books that schools choose to read are different no matter where you go.  I am in 10th grade and I go to college prep high school in Los Angeles.  I read Fever in 8th grade, The Giver in 6th grade, and I personally read A Midsummer Night's Dream in 4th grade.  However, I am reading Brave New World now because I feel like it, I read A Seperate Piece in 7th grade, I read As You Like It in 5th grade and I am currently performing it, and I read Romeo and Juliet when I was 8.  

So no.....books do not define the level of learning.  You are obviously farther than me in foreign language because I am currently about to take French II, but I took geometry in my 8th grade.

Answer 5

yeah, you're curriculum is more advanced than mine. (I go to a public school)...we don't take that many world languages

Answer 6

Hey! I'm in 8th grade too, taking all the same classes as you (except chemistry and spanish) and I'm playing field hockey, squash, and lacrosse! That's really cool! :)

As for your question, yes, private schools are usually more advanced than public schools. (But not THAT much.)

Answer 7

I'm in the 7th grade at a coed private school and we did all the things in your schedule in 7th grade (everything in the 2nd paragraph) - we read those books in 4th grade!! ( Fever 1792, The Giver, Walk two Moons, and a Midsummer's Nights Dream). The public school around here dont even teach algebra til high school

Answer 8

Well I'm going into 9th grade public school and a average student takes

Algebra 1

English

Spanish French or Latin 2

earth science

World geography.

But advanced students do what you do minus the extra languages. Your friends school sounds easy we did that in 6th grade.

I guess it depends on the individual school.

Answer 9

it really depends on the public school and private school in some areas the public schools are horrible but then again sometimes the private ones are too. there are some really awesome public schools too that offer similar workloads to what you just described....it all depends on what you are comparing.

for the most part though i'd say that they are a little bit more advanced than public schools

Answer 10

They're usually more advanced because your parents are paying extra, so they can get better teachers and supplies and all that.

Answer 11

It really depends on the particular school district.  Some districts are not accredited (meaning they must pass strict academic guidelines) and may not be up to par with private schools.

Most accredited schools are just as "advanced" as private schools.  My district offers advanced placement starting at the middle school level, and because public schools generally have more funding, they can offer more extracurriculars as well.

Answer 12

It helps that private schools usually don't have to waste time and resources teaching a lot of "immigrant" kids how to speak/write English while other children are ready to advance.