I am a product of 11 years of public education and 2 years of private. How can that be you ask, the numbers add up to 13. When my mother received our class ranks in the middle of my junior year found out I had less than a 2.0 and ranked exactly 300 out of 600 she decided something had to be done. She pulled me out of public school placed me in private school and made me repeat my junior year.
I can honestly say that it was the biggest monetary sacrifice she had to make as a single mother (over $8000/year) and to this day everyone involved agrees that it was the best decision she ever made. I would have never been accepted at a 4 year institution without it. What she found out when they tested me to enter the private school that my grades were more likely a result of my being bored in class (not challenged) than that I couldn't do the work. The public school was treating me as if I couldn't cut it and didn't take the time to see if there might have been a reason. As soon as I entered I was making honor role every semester. And I scored well above the national average on the SAT.
My private school had a 0 drop out percentage and 99.9% of the graduating went on to 4 year colleges. Junior College was discouraged at this institution as well.
From my experience alone I will strive to send my future children to private school, and I will defenitely be checking out any and all schools carefully (for the criteria I feel is important) before I enroll my children.
***sorry so long this topic just hit home
***
Stepping off soap box now...