Private schools themselves vary widely in terms of offerings, quality, culture, and cost. But private schools in Miami, also differ from public education in factors such as accountability, selectiveness, independence, and funding. Here are some of the main differences between these two types of education.

Accountability

One thing about private schools is that they’re not accountable to the state for educational outcomes. Instead, private schools are accountable to the students’ parents. In this case, schools aren’t shackled by bureaucracy and educators have the freedom to use the teaching styles they believe in. Tuition-paying parents are able to know what’s being taught and to speak up if they are unhappy with some aspect of the curriculum. Many private schools seek out accreditation to validate that their curriculum is up to standard.

Selectiveness

Private schools can be selective in which students they accept as they’re not required by law to serve all students, in contrast to public schools. This means that parents must complete an application to enroll their children in a private school. Families and students must meet certain criteria to be accepted. Such as a student’s track record, scholastic achievements, community involvement, etc.

Independence

In public schools, decisions about the curriculum are made at the state and district levels in accordance with state education standards. This means that parents, teachers, and administrators have little to no say over the curriculum. Private schools, on the other hand, retain educational independence. Teachers usually have a say in which textbooks the school chooses as well as a great deal of freedom in how they teach, as long as they get the outcomes that parents want. Teachers in private schools in Miami are not legally required to be state-certified, though many schools require it anyway as uncertified teachers could lower the quality of education.

Funding

Public schools never charge tuition to parents as they are funded by state and local taxes and sometimes title grants. Private schools receive little or no money from local, state, or federal government. They are parent-funded for the most part.

Finding the perfect school is tough and takes time. But getting informed about differences in public and private schools in Miami helps get a clear picture of what you are looking for and what’s best for your child.