There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to teach at a private school or public school. Given that salaries tend to be lower at private schools, are there benefits that can negate a difference in salary? This article will consider some of the many benefits of teaching at a private school, examining some of the differences over teaching at a public school.
Achievement and Selection of Students
Most teachers enjoy working with high achieving students, and therefore one of the draws of teaching at a private school is that students from private schools tend to have higher graduation rates and better acceptance rates into college. Standardized testing scores as a rule are higher for students in private schools. Public schools accept all students, but because private schools are allowed to have selective admission, the level of academic achievement can be emphasized in the entrance criteria. Also, private schools tend to have more pressure and oversight by parents upon their children’s performance, since they are paying for the education, and this leads to higher academic achievement. Although students are charged tuition at a private school, scholarships can be used to recruit and help well-qualified students.
Curriculum
Because of fewer state restrictions, private schools often have more leeway with curriculum than public schools. Therefore, teachers have greater opportunities to explore more specialized topics of interest.
Impact of the Economy
During tough economic times, state legislatures often make cuts in public education, but private schools are not necessarily affected. Of course, if the state cuts are in response to overall economic difficulties, private schools may be affected in the sense that fewer families can afford to send their children to private schools. Funding for the Arts and sports often receive cuts in public education, but there is less likelihood of this happening in private schools.
Class Sizes
Private schools tend to have smaller class sizes than public schools. The resulting individualized attention facilitates better learning for students, and teachers can have a better quality of interaction with their students.
Sponsoring Organizations
In the United States, private schools are often operated by religious organizations (for many years the majority were Catholic), though there are exceptions such as Montessori schools. When considering teaching in a religious-based school, you should check whether the doctrine is compatible with your own personal beliefs.
Qualification of Teachers
Differences between private and public schools in the quality of teachers are debatable. Public school teachers are required to have certification for teaching, whereas private school teachers are not necessarily required to have the same level of certification. On the other hand, someone with a doctorate but no teaching certificate could teach in a private school and thereby offer a highly specialized level of expertise to the students. In fact, private school teachers are twice as likely as their public counterparts to hold Ph.D.’s, and this creates opportunities for teachers with advanced degrees who wish to bypass the steps necessary for obtaining teaching licensure.
Salary
On a national level, the average salary for a public school teacher is about $50,000, while that for a private school teacher is about $36,000. There are a couple reasons that salaries tend to be lower at private schools. On one hand, this economic condition may be due to a supply and demand situation: with increased licensure requirements, public school positions have more openings with fewer qualified candidates. And another factor may be that with better working conditions (smaller class sizes, etc.), teachers are willing to accept lower salaries at private schools.
Conclusion
As detailed in this article, there are many benefits to teaching in a private school. The quality of public schools varies widely across different locations, and in some areas the quality may be comparable to that offered in private schools. In any case, one must weigh the level of salary against the many benefits that private schools have to offer. Private schools certainly present a viable option when seeking employment in the field of education.