Many parents ponder the important decision of sending their children to the local public school or paying the extra tuition to help them achieve a prestigious, private education that will give them the opportunity to go above the norm and fully engage in their learning.

While students learn many of the same subjects and have similar opportunities in both public and private high schools, a private education allows teenagers to have a more personalized approach to their education. With smaller classes, both accelerated and concepts tracks, and often a more comfortable learning environment, private education encourages students to fully engage in the classroom setting.

In private schools, curriculums tend to be flexible and designed according to each individual class’ (or even student’s) needs. Whether the pace needs to be slower or faster, the material needs to be altered, or the class wants to take a subject further, there is usually enough freedom in the curriculum to allow these changes. The lesson plans are often geared toward essential questions with deeper meanings, and teachers are often more than happy to stray off of their lesson plan for a bit if the students are going above and beyond in a class discussion. However, in a public school setting, most curriculums are set in stone for the year and cannot accommodate the needs of the thousands of high schoolers involved. There are many more students, and it is not logical for teachers to revise their lesson plans with so many students affected.

Not only can a private school’s curriculum often be modified, but it is often centered around a particular worldview, teaching students to approach every aspect of their lives from that viewpoint. Many Christian high schools not only offer a Bible class but also encourage students to make connections to their faith in every subject they take.

In addition, private schools tend to have a tighter knit community. Students often feel more comfortable asking questions and participating in discussions when there are smaller classes and familiar teachers. Also, parents are often more involved with their children’s school events and education, as they are paying for it and want success for their children.

And most importantly, students in private schools are more likely to perform better in both high school and further education. In 2002, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) completed a study on education in private schools and, on average, found that students in private high schools performed higher on standardized achievement tests than their peers in public schools. These students are also more likely to complete a bachelor’s or advanced degree by their mid-20s. A report released by NCES in 2014 proved that sophomores in private schools were almost twice as likely to obtain a bachelor’s degree by 2012 than students at public high schools.

Overall, students who attend private high schools are given the opportunity to dig deeper by creating relationships with teachers, growing in knowledge, and relating their classes with the world around them. While many parents struggle financially and cannot afford to pay an expensive yearly tuition for multiple children, they should make every effort to find a reasonable private education, giving their kids the chance to not only succeed but also to exceed.