Homeschool World Forum

I don't have a teenager so I can't help you there. I am bringing my 9 year old and 6 1/2 year old home to start homeschooling in the fall from public school, and the reason we are not going to a private school is because of the cost. In our area, there is a private school that costs $18,000/ year. Isn't that ridiculous?

Well, you get what you pay for. You and I find that price ridiculous, but it probably does allow the school to afford a full range of the best teachers, a low student-teacher ratio, a computer lab, science lab, etc. etc. I wouldn't pay the $18,000 anyway, but obviously someone is paying it, otherwise the school wouldn't still be alive.

As contrast, the average public school budget per student in 1994-95 was $6,084 (or as high as $9,429 for New Jersey), and I imagine it's gone up since then. I tried to find current statistics but failed. Some of the richer areas drew over $19,000 per student. The only real difference between public and private school funding is that if public schools waste money, nothing happens, while if private schools waste money, they die. Private schools generally supply a much better education for the same amount of money.

Just FYI.

I too have looked into private schools. Just let me begin by saying never, ever would I send my youngest two boys to the public school whose district we live in. My oldest 2 boys went there year before last and it was a J-O-K-E!!! My oldest 2 moved in with their dad last summer to attend public school there this year. It has been really hard; but, they seem to be doing well.

Because the school district where we live is so bad, my husband and I have considered private school. The problem is that the Christian private schools in this area are just as expensive as the secular ones if not more. I agree with Theodore that public school and private schools are pretty much set up the same way except for the amount of money that is being allocated for each student.

I have been playing around with homeschooling for the last 9 months. My son turned 5 in February and he is well ahead academically than other children his age who will be attending Kindergarten in the fall. I plan to purchase a Kindergarten Phonics program and continue with what I have been doing in math and science. I figure how much could I screw him up in one year? I am gonna give it a shot for Kindergarten and then re-assess. I am looking forward to it and if it is what you decide to do, I pray it will be a blessing for you and your children as well.

Blessings, Robin