Study Programs

Public Vs. Private Study Programs

The public versus private school debate is a tale as old as time. Probably because people have argued for years about their benefits and drawbacks. However, while both have their advantages, one isn’t necessarily better than the other. At ISSTA, we provide you with the opportunity for both.

If your child has an interest in sustainable agriculture or global food production, ISSTA offers an innovative curriculum that incorporates courses from the State of Florida's Agricultural Program in combination with some of ISSTA's own rewarding courses and opportunities. This program is part of our Public School Initiative to provide a privatized style education and lifestyle for those interested in helping save our planet at a lower cost tuition structure. Students enrolled in this program will be REQUIRED to fulfill all initiatives as they pertain to both the Diploma, an enriched Certification program..

Public Education

Nearly 50 million students enroll in public elementary and secondary schools in the United States, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Most people might assume that private schools would be hands-down better than public schools because of their unique offerings and smaller classes, but that’s not necessarily so. In fact, some public schools, like charter schools, offer the perks of private schools (flexible curriculum, regulation exemption) without the cost of tuition. Similarly, magnet schools are public schools that have high academic standards and competitive admission like private schools.

But unlike their private counterparts, public schools have larger class sizes and not much flexibility when it comes to curriculum. Plus, they are under more bureaucratic red tape when it comes to regulations and rules.

The biggest perk of attending a public school over a private school is saving money. Public schools are free—no tuition required. Also, unlike private schools, public schools have a set of standards to hold to, with teachers that are state-certified and special education programs for students that learn differently from others. And despite Niche users reporting private schools as more accepting, public schools are notably more diverse, so private schools could be measuring tolerance on a smaller, less unique scale.

Private Education

Thinking about private school? You’re not alone. According to the National Center for Education Statistics , 5 million (roughly 10 percent) of students in the U.S. attend private schools.

Students and parents may choose to go to private school for a variety of reasons, including religion, the desire for single-sex education, as well as just experiencing a more flexible curriculum, which is something private schools are known for. Because private schools are independently funded, parents and guardians of private school students pay tuition, which goes toward financing the school in addition to other amenities. But unlike public schools, private schools can design their own curriculum, which can be both an advantage and disadvantage since this independence can foster lower standards. Moreover, private schools don’t have to have certified teachers, which can also be risky, and if a child has special needs, special needs programs aren’t always available via private institutions.

However, private schools almost guarantee smaller class sizes, since they are exclusive and require special admissions. And according to Niche data on tolerance, private schools are more likely to be accepting of students from minority groups and more prepared to combat bullying with anti-bullying campaigns. Plus, private high schools are known to produce higher standardized test scores.

Public vs Private

PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRIVATE SCHOOLS

No tuition to enroll Tuition to enroll

Funded via government and taxes Funded independently through tuition, grants, alumni, and community

Must follow regulations Does not necessarily have regulations

Not much flexibility with curriculum Flexibility with curriculum

Larger classes Smaller classes

Have special education programs May not have special education programs

When it comes to public versus private schools, there isn’t a right answer to the question, “Which is better?” But given the different qualities of each type of school, there is a right answer to which one is right for a particular student.

As part of the ISSTA mission, we wanted to be able to provide BOTH opportunities to students so that each child has the ability to get the best of both worlds. Our Public High School component has students that are a part of a very rigorous agricultural and sustainable food production program, but they ALSO have the luxury of enjoying taking courses in smaller classrooms and in different modalities and subjects. In the same token, our private tuition student enrollees also have the opportunity to take some of the exciting courses our Public High School side has to offer.

Either way, at ISSTA it is affordable and yet truly the pillar of perfection in High School academic.