Preschool is your child’s first taste of school. Preschools are the foundation for many core skills for children, such as reading, writing, social skills, and so on. Many parents are faced with the dilemma of choosing between public or private preschools in Los Angeles. This is an important decision you’re about to make. Read on to understand the fundamental differences between public and private preschools.
5 Differences Between Public Preschools And Private Preschools
Costs
It is no secret that private schools are more expensive than public schools. After all, public pre-schools are federally funded to make education more accessible to children from all walks of life. A private preschool, in contrast, is an investment for parents. Naturally, this investment comes with benefits for your child in terms of their development and formation. With the price of private preschools, preschoolers enjoy different facilities, class sizes, and curricula and activities.
Admissions
As mentioned, public schools cater to all children. Private pre-schools, however, are not and they are, therefore, more selective. Private preschools adhere to specific core values that they want to impart and be reflected in their community. So, they impose their own criteria for enrollment. Private preschools typically select students based on the interests of the class or community. For instance, private preschools in Los Angeles typically restrict enrollment based on age so as to maintain a range of development within classes and avoid outliers as these will affect not just the class but also the development of the children.
Curriculum
Being funded by taxes, public preschools are tied to the mandates from the federal, state, and district level. This is one of the perks of private preschools—they have the freedom to modify the curriculum based on what they see the students need. This flexibility could make a world of a difference for some students.
Extracurricular Activities
Many private preschools in Los Angeles offer age-appropriate extracurricular activities and after-school programs. These could help facilitate the holistic formation of your child from an early age. Such activities may not be readily available in all public preschools.
Class Size
Since private preschools are more selective in their admissions process, class sizes are well regulated. Healthy teacher-to-student ratio is maintained so that the teacher is able to provide adequate attention to each student. This means more hands-on and personalized care, support, and instruction for your preschooler.
When selecting a preschool for your child, consider your child’s needs and the future you envision for them. Enroll your child at Valley School.