[kelceesmom]

If you had the chance would you send your child to Catholic school? Any why?

[redbonec]

It would depend on the school. I taught in Catholic school for 4 years, in public school for 4 years. Really depends on the teachers and the staff, and parents too, and not just if it is a Catholic school or not. Within Catholic schools, some have more resources, others do not.

I did go to Catholic school for 12 years. I liked it. I felt a security having home, friends, school, and church all together. And now when I visit my parents and go to church there, sometimes I see old classmates, or we are in the school building for some reason and it's neat to see it.

Where we live now, there is one Catholic school 15 minutes away, the next closest is probably an hour's drive. I do know people who send their children there. In the next couple years, I will probably look into it. I do not know if could afford it, it may not be possible.

One thing I really like about our public school district here is the smaller class sizes. In the elementary level, they keep the classes around 18 or less in each of the 5 schools. Last year I knew families whose children's classes had 13, 14, 15 children in the class. That would be great! Much better than the 22 maximum where I taught at Catholic school.

I don't know! It would just depend. How about you?

[finallyamom0310]

I agree, it depends on where we are at the time. We are thinking of moving before DD starts kindergarden and if we don't get into the school district we like, then I am seriously considering catholic school. I just think they are a bit more structured than public but also feel that a child is more well rounded after public school.

[jennifer1150]

I send my niece to a Catholic School and believe that the sacrifices that I make to pay for it are well worth it. We live in a big city and I am a teacher in the public school system and feel that the structure and "calmness" of a catholic school are well worth it.

[maricela]

Hi Denise, I went to Catholic School for 12 years. I wanted to send Manny to the local Catholic School but I had a very bad experience with the principal and decided against sending him there (long story). We ended up sending him to a Lutheran School and I LOVED it. I have got to say that I LOVED the private school atmosphere. It had a sense of "family". The class sizes where Manny went were VERY small. His class had an average of 10 - 14 kids from K to 6th grade. We had to pull him out of the school and last year was the 1st year at a public school. I was terrified but he did SO WELL!!! He loves it there also! I do not like that I don't know everyone there like I did at the private school. It's definitly different but I see that it's been a good change for Manny.

We are sending Daniella to the local public school for Kindergarten. There, she will get weekly speech therapy. They do not offer these services at either the local Catholic or Lutheran school.

[binkybear]

We're hoping our (future) kids will attend our parish's school. I attended Catholic Grade School and know at the time the curriculum was steps ahead of the public schools in our area (we're considered one of the best public districts... best in sports, best new state of the art buildings, some of the best salaries, but sadly lacking in best nurturing of learning imo). I like that Catholic School today will nurture our kids relationship with God and community. I like that uniforms take the pressure off of younger kids (and parents) to dress to impress everyday. I really like that our local schools 2008 class saw over $200,000 in highschool scholarships!! (That's AWESOME!!)

[lovemy2boys]

I know I'm late jumping in here (been on vacation)...

My boys go to Catholic school (just starting 4 y.o. preschool and 1st grade) and I wouldn't change a thing!!

The public schools in our area are garbage - and I'm not exaggerating...We were considering sending the boys to a neighboring district (we have school of choice here) but the neighboring schools weren't much better...

We sort of "fell" into Catholic schools while sending AJ to preschools - we belonged to a neighboring church without a school, and never thought we'd be able to afford tuition beyong preschool...but after the welcoming, nurturing, heartwarming experience we had the first year, we just knew it was the right place for our boys. We eventually switched parishes (very sad for us) so we could be members of the church as well as the school.

Tuition isn't bad, but all the "extras" do "hurt" at times - but we make sacrifices in other area, and truth be told, I feel much more at peace writing out our tuition check than I do some of the other things in our budget - lol.

The only negative I can think of (and it really is a negative) is that the school doesn't have very much ethnic diversity. Our neighborhood does, though, so that is a good thing.

[jackiesbooks]

Depends on the school and the child. I went 12yrs to Catholic school. My one son went to Catholic primary school. My middle child started, but do the lack of speical education classes, I put him in public school.
The Catholic schools in our arear had NO speech classes that my son needed. If you child has no special needs, then Catholic schools are great! If you child needs additional or specialized classes, MOST Catholic schools do not have the resources for the additional help.

[lovemy2boys]

Jackie,

Good point - not all private schools cater to those who have special needs (meaning those who are above and below the average, as well as those who need a bit of help in areas such as speech). Both my boys needed speech as well. The local public school would send the speech teacher to our school for all the kids that needed it.

I am on the school committee, and that is one of our focuses this year...to pull in programs for children who are both excelling and struggling...

[Kat-L]

I would love to send the girls to Catholic school-but the tuition is $6,000 for one school and $5900 for the other. It's just too much for me, as a single mom, to spend at this time. I'm hoping I can get Maire-Kate into Catholic school for 6th grade so I don't have to send her to a public middle school. I still don't know how I'll swing the tuition, though. And there is no bussing or after school care programs-so that will be an issue, too.

[jackiesbooks]

Love my 2 boys -

Sent the teacher to the Catholic school - that is great. I had to take my son in the middle of the day to the public school for speech and then back to the Catholic school. At that point, I decided his education was being impacted, so we changed to the public school. I have to add that the public school in my little town is very good and we have no real issues.

[millie58]

My mother went to Catholic school and had bad experiences. Where I live, there is do diversity in Catholic school and the public schools aren't that bad. Plus, the public schools offer before and after school activities and resources. However, I'd LOVE for my kids to wear uniforms. My cousin went to a public school and the dress code was white shirt and gray pants. My school district voted down uniforms!!

[lovemy2boys]

milllie - I have to say, uniforms are wonderful! I wouldn't have it any other way...and jeans day are really special for my kids...They look forward to them.

I know what you are saying about your mom having a bad experience - catholic schools were much different years ago - My Dad said the nuns were awful...but he was a Polish immigrant, and that's where they felt a sense of community - the Polish school/church, so that's all he knew.

It seems like alot of the Catholic schools don't have as many programs as the public schools, so I should thank my lucky stars. I can't believe how many wonderful programs ours has.

Lack of diversity is the one and only downfall for us. There is no diversity in the boys' school. Fortunately, our neighborhood is relatively diverse, and where I work is wonderfully diverse - and the kids get to spend time there because we have an amazing clubhouse/pool...So they've met alot of great people that they otherwise wouldn't have!

[KansasMomToBe]

I teach in a Catholic School and I plan on sending our children there. I've been very impressed with all of the teachers that I work with. Also, the fact that in our Diocese there is no tuition (it is based on stewardship) makes it affordable for DH and I.

[Vogi2002]

I would if they did it like they do in Wichita, KS where if you tithe you don't pay tuition. I believe that is the only way to be fair & allow all Catholic's to have thier children attend, not just the "well-er" off ones (not that ALL are well off...but well from what I see in TX they are either well off, or not Catholic). I grew up with families that would NEVER have been able to afford for thier kids to go there...tithing plus tuition would have been too much, but they were able to go there, and I believe this makes a huge difference not only in the schools themselves but the atmosphere. The reason it works is that people are way more likely to tithe if they see thier money in action at the schools. It is the only fair way to go IMO.

Also - I would have to take into account diversity. Catholic Schools here have few if none AA students, for one reason or another. I don't want my kid being the only black kid in school KWIM?