Seeking Opinions: Private or Public School (Specifically LR Green)

The Escondido school district is not great so if you can afford it find a WASC-accredited private school. Ask if they use state of CA curriculum because there is also ABEKA and you do NOT want that.

I've got both my kids in private school, one in upper elementary and one in middle school. They have always been about a year ahead of their public school friends. Also, you don't have to worry about the budget cuts in public schools. Yes, private schools are pricey, but well worth it. Especially if it's some sort of religious private school (mine are in Christian) - I think they have a much better chance of not getting into drugs, etc. At our school, just about every single student is a very good student. It's worth every penny.

Hi C.,

As a retired public elementary schoolteacher,I have seen both excellent and not great classrooms in both the private and public sector. A great teacher can make the difference in either sector, but if you want a reliable result from one grade level to the next, you'll want to look for a structure of support throughout the school or school district for teachers, their training, and the curriculum. Otherwise, it's likely hit and miss whether you find a good teacher who is willing to go the extra mile.

I am very familiar with both public and private schools especially in Escondido as I currently work at a public school in Escondido, but attended a private school my whole life in Escondido. In my opinion it truly depends on your child. If you child is a self seeker and enjoys striving to achieve more on their own, then he should be fine in public school. However, if he needs a little more encouragement or only wants to do what everyone else is doing in the classroom, then he might be better off at private school where everyone in the room tends to be achieving at a bit higher level. The standards in a private school usually tend to be a bit higher helping everyone in the classroom. Hope that helps.

Not all private schools are created equally. My suggestion is to get out there and observe schools and ask tons of questions. Talk to the moms dropping their kids off at school or picking them up.

It's a lot of work, but it's worth it.

Private schools often are smaller class sizes and in my experience really go that extra mile to take care of the individual child.

Good luck

hi-
I too go back and forth on this subject! BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS-one of my oldest friends has had her son in the escondido public school district since kinder and he is now 12.I have heard nothing but good things .Her and I attended both public and private schools growing up and socially and academicly she is very happy as to where her son goes to school.

There are two sides to this issue of private vs. public school. If your son is doing well at the public school he most likely will keep it up! From experience private school is sometimes harder accademically and sometimes the success rate isn't quite the same. I would have excelled at school if I went to a public school,and my conficence would have been higher. But private school was very hard for me. Just a little something to think about.

In talking with teachers and other parents during my own school research, I have found that the education your child will get is both school specific as well as child specific. If your son is driven, self-motivated and enjoys school, he will maximize his experiences regardless. If he needs to be kept track of and motivated, he would do better in smaller classes (generally found in private schools) and with teachers and institutions that can take the time to assist him in his endeavors so that he isn't just a student id number. He will get everything he needs out of elementary school. If you are considering moving him, I'd recommend looking at private schools for middle and high school...for what it's worth.

LR Green is a good school. I am a teacher in the Escondido Union School District and I know our district strives to achieve high standards for our students. Generally teachers in the public schools are highly qualified (many with master's degrees or higher). Some private schools do not require a college education. If you plan to go the private school route I think you need to do a lot of research yourself, ask questions, observe the schools, etc. You should also do the same for LR Green. LR Green students have always done well on the California State Tests. California standards are high, even higher than the national standards. You can bet that your child will succeed through public education. Check out the website www.greatschools.com to read more about schools you are interested. Hope this helps!

My 12 yr old daughter went to LR Green from 3rd to 5th. I will say that among the public schools in the area to go to.. I think it is top notch specifically because it is in a good economic area and is truely almost privately funded by contributions from parents and nearby businesses alone. She was tested for gate in 2nd grade and I think that also made a difference. It really does depend on the teacher.. as we struck gold with her teacher in 4th grade but had not so fond teachers in 3rd and 5th (who I might add no longer work there.) If you have any questions, just send me an email and I would love to talk to you about my experiences.