I substituted and also taught in the public schools in Paramount, Lakewood, and Bellflower. I find the teachers are usually good, but the students do not have parent support at home in many cases (sometimes because of family structure and sometimes because of culture...not putting school work as high importance, sometimes because they don't know English and can't help the students). Therefore the teachers can not rely on homework and parent support for the students to learn rote items and the time limit in the classroom limits the education. I spent many an enjoyable hour helping my sons learn math facts and having them read to them. The teachers in public schools are stressed by the required tests that reflect on their jobs and they "teach to the test." There is not enough time therefore for growing in music, art, and other areas of culture. We ended up putting our three sons in a Christian school. Although they are not required to meet some standards, the private schools desire to and do really well. Academically they sometimes are harder than public school and more demanding. If a child is slow, they may have problems keeping up and one of my friends moved one of her daughters to public school because it wasn't as stressful and demanding. If a child is bright, they give them a good opportunity to develop and be prepared for college...(down the road). The student learns to do homework and that it is a requirement, not an option. They learn to really study, not just get by. I found the homework my children received harder and more demanding than public school and also feel the "High School exit exam" in CA is very poor...about a 6th grade not HS level test. Ask about the standard tests given in the private school and the scores. They do test them, but teacher's jobs don't ride on whether they have students with learning problems in the class.
If Parents are involved, teachers really concerned about children and open to making time for discussion, and it is easy for parents to participate in many school activities, the education is better. In the public school you have lots of working mom (it is sad that stay at homes are not the mainstream).
In private schools, children usually are pre-screened to make sure they are ready for school. One of my sons was kept back because they felt it would be best. In the public school many start early and are not ready for the fine hand coordination of writing and sitting and learning making it more difficult for the teachers.
Although I do not know the birthday of your children, but since your children are twins they may take a little longer to develop because they were tiny or early birth. (I had a premature son, who did). Make sure they are ready. Also, often twins often are very attached and sometimes have their own language between them. You may want to make sure they get opportunities to play with other children in prep for school.
Read a lot to them too:) It is a very good vocabulary and language builder and more parents need to read, read, read to their children...(sorry for the "band wagaon", it is the teacher in me:)
Finances do come into play, but you have to be willing to sacrifice for the best. Time with your twins is more important than extra toys and clothes. You can make do with a lot less and make it up with more time with them. You could consider homeschooling which is less expensive than private, but make sure you get hooked up with a school or good program (some private schools help out with home schoolers now too especially when they get in the older grades in science by supply opportunities for specific instruction.) Also these programs have opportunities for group outings for education, physical activities and friendships. The personality of you children will determine if this is a good thing to do. One of mine needed to have a teacher other than me:) I would not have been able to give him assignments without a lot of negative interaction.
I hope this may help in your decision. It is always a difficult choice, but can be changed if it isn't working out.
H.
