Private School vs Public School - How Do The Students Compare?

Summary

The Infographics Show explores the differences between private and public schools in the U.S., highlighting statistics on student demographics, funding, graduation rates, and post-graduation outcomes. It discusses the impact of school type on social mobility and future earnings, noting that while private school students tend to have higher graduation and college attendance rates, success is not solely determined by the type of school attended. The video also touches on the role of family wealth and individual talents in achieving success.

Takeaways

• 🏫 In the USA, there are 33,619 private schools with around 5.1 million students enrolled, making up almost 10% of all school students.
• 🌍 The term 'public school' in the US refers to government-run schools, which is different from the UK where it refers to private, fee-charging schools.
• 👥 Private schools in the US have a lower student-to-teacher ratio (12:1) compared to public schools (16:1).
• 🏛️ Private schools often have religious affiliations, with 79% of them being linked to a religion.
• 🌈 Public schools have a more diverse student body, including various ethnicities.
• 💵 Public schools are funded by taxes with a projected budget of $623.5 billion for 2017-18, averaging to $12,300 per student.
• 💼 Private schools are funded by tuition fees, with an average annual cost of $9,975.
• 🎓 Private school students have a higher graduation rate (95%) compared to public school students (83.2% in 2015).
• 🏛️ About 25% of Ivy League applicants come from private schools, while 60-70% are from public schools.
• 💼 Success in life and career is not strictly tied to the type of school one attended, as many successful individuals have come from both public and private schools, or even dropped out of school.
• 📊 Socioeconomic background plays a significant role in future earnings and social mobility, often more than the type of school attended.

Q & A

What is the difference between the terms 'public school' in the U.S. and the U.K.?

In the U.S., 'public school' refers to government-run schools, while in the U.K., 'public school' refers to selective institutions that require private payment, similar to what Americans would call 'private schools'.

How many private schools are there in the United States, and how many students are enrolled in them?

There are 33,619 private schools in the United States with around 5.1 million students enrolled.

What percentage of private schools in the U.S. have a religious affiliation?

As much as 79 percent of private schools in the U.S. have a religious affiliation.

How does the student-teacher ratio differ between public and private schools in the U.S.?

The student-teacher ratio in public schools is 16 students for every teacher, while in private schools, it is 12 students for one teacher.

What is the projected budget for public schools in the U.S. for the 2017-18 school year?

The projected budget for public schools in the U.S. for the 2017-18 school year is $623.5 billion.

What is the national average cost for private school tuition in the U.S. for the 2017-18 school year?

The national average cost for private school tuition in the U.S. for the 2017-18 school year is $9,975 per year.

What is the high school graduation rate for public schools, and how does it compare to private schools?

The high school graduation rate for public schools reached 83.2 percent in 2015, while 95 percent of private school students graduate.

What percentage of private school graduates attend a university, and how does this compare to public school graduates?

Just about all of the private school graduates attend a university, whereas only 49 percent of public school graduates enter further education at college.

What percentage of successful applicants to Ivy League Universities come from private schools?

Roughly 25 percent of successful applicants to Ivy League Universities come from private schools.

How do the earnings of high school dropouts compare to those who have a high school diploma or a bachelor’s degree?

People without a high school diploma earn on average $25,636 per year if in full-time employment, those with a high school diploma earn $35,256 per year, and those with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $59,124 per year.

What does the transcript suggest about the importance of attending a private school for social mobility?

The transcript suggests that attending a private school can increase the likelihood of attending university and potentially earning higher wages, contributing to social mobility, especially when combined with family wealth.

Outlines

00:00

🏫 Private vs. Public School: The Debate

This paragraph introduces the topic of the video, which is a comparison between private and public schools. It discusses the historical significance of education and how it has evolved, particularly highlighting the fact that many successful entrepreneurs did not complete formal education. The script points out that while private schools in the U.S. are often associated with wealth and privilege, public schools are more diverse and are funded by the government. Key statistics are provided, such as the number of private schools, students enrolled, and teachers, as well as the cost differences and the ethnic composition of both types of schools.

05:02

💼 Education and Social Mobility

The second paragraph delves into the impact of education on social mobility and success. It mentions that while some wealthy individuals did not complete high school, many still achieve success due to their family's resources. The paragraph also discusses the importance of higher education, as indicated by statistics showing the average earnings and unemployment rates for different educational levels. The script concludes by suggesting that attending a private school may increase the likelihood of attending university and achieving higher wages, but individual brilliance and dedication can also lead to success regardless of the type of school attended.

Keywords

💡Private School

Private schools are educational institutions that are not funded by the government but rather through tuition fees and other private sources. In the context of the video, private schools are contrasted with public schools, highlighting differences in funding, student demographics, and educational approach. The script mentions that private schools often have more resources and smaller class sizes, which may contribute to a perceived higher quality of education.

💡Public School

Public schools are government-funded educational institutions that are generally available to all students free of charge. The video discusses public schools in the U.S., emphasizing their diverse student body and the fact that they must adhere to state educational standards. Public schools are often more ethnically mixed compared to private schools, as illustrated by the statistics provided in the script.

💡Class Size

Class size refers to the number of students in a single classroom. The video script points out that private schools typically have a lower student-to-teacher ratio, which is 12:1 compared to public schools' 16:1. This is significant as smaller class sizes can lead to more individualized attention for students, potentially improving educational outcomes.

💡Ethnicity

Ethnicity pertains to the cultural and racial background of individuals. The script discusses how public schools in America have a more mixed ethnicity compared to private schools, which are described as 'virtually all-white'. This highlights a demographic difference between the two types of schools and could imply disparities in cultural exposure and diversity.

💡Funding

Funding in the context of education refers to the financial resources available for schools. The video explains that public schools are funded by taxes, with an average cost per student, while private schools rely on tuition fees. This difference in funding models affects the resources available to each type of school and can influence the quality of education they can provide.

💡Graduation Rates

Graduation rates indicate the percentage of students who complete their high school education. The script notes that private school graduation rates are higher than those of public schools. This statistic is important as it reflects one measure of success for each type of school and can impact a student's future opportunities.

💡Ivy League Universities

Ivy League Universities are a group of eight prestigious universities in the U.S. known for their academic excellence and selectivity. The video script mentions that while 25% of successful applicants to these universities come from private schools, 60-70% come from public schools. This suggests that attending a private school is not a prerequisite for gaining admission to top-tier universities.

💡Social Mobility

Social mobility refers to the ability of individuals to move between different social classes. The video implies that attending a private school may enhance social mobility due to the resources and networks available. However, it also suggests that social mobility is influenced by factors beyond education, such as family wealth and background.

💡Educational Standards

Educational standards are the criteria or benchmarks used to evaluate the quality of education. The script indicates that public schools must adhere to state standards, while private schools have more flexibility. This difference could affect the curriculum and teaching methods, potentially leading to a more diverse educational experience in private schools.

💡Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are the charges for educational instruction, especially at private schools. The video provides data on the national average for private school tuition, highlighting the financial investment required for a private school education. This cost can be a significant factor in determining accessibility and the socioeconomic background of students.

💡Autodidact

An autodidact is a self-taught individual who gains knowledge outside of traditional educational institutions. The video suggests that some individuals may be successful regardless of their educational background if they are naturally inclined to self-learning. This concept challenges the necessity of formal education for success.

Highlights

Discussion on whether the type of school you attend, private or public, impacts your future success.

Clarification about the differences in terminology between the U.S. and U.K. regarding public and private schools.

Statistics: In the U.S., 33,619 private schools enroll around 5.1 million students, accounting for 10 percent of all U.S. students.

Private schools in the U.S. tend to have a lower student-to-teacher ratio, with an average of 12 students per teacher compared to 16 students per teacher in public schools.

Public schools are more ethnically diverse than private schools, which are predominantly white, with non-white students making up only 10 percent.

Funding differences: Public schools are funded by government taxes, while private schools rely on tuition fees, with an average of $9,975 per year.

Private schools are more flexible in their curriculum, while public schools must follow state standards.

Graduation rates are higher for private schools (95 percent) compared to public schools (83.2 percent).

College attendance is nearly guaranteed for private school graduates, while only 49 percent of public school graduates attend college.

About 25 percent of Ivy League students come from private schools, while 60-70 percent come from public schools.

The report highlights notable figures, such as Bill Gates (private school) and Mark Zuckerberg (public school), emphasizing that success can come from both.

Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor show that higher education levels generally lead to higher income and lower unemployment rates.

Private school attendance may offer advantages in social mobility, especially for wealthier families.

Success stories of high school dropouts like Quentin Tarantino and David Karp demonstrate that formal education isn’t always the key to success.

The video concludes by asking viewers whether private school is worth the cost or just an unnecessary expense.

Transcripts

Do you think you got the best start in life?

Did you end-up in a school that might have resembled a zoo more than it felt like an

institution of higher learning?

Perhaps in the past, getting by without a lot of pieces of paper to defend your intelligence

may have been harder, given that nowadays we can learn so much online and that many

of the world’s leading and richest entrepreneurs dropped out of university.

Had they have dropped out of high school, that could have been a different matter, but

many great minds have not been too keen on school.

One of those minds was Albert Einstein, who famously said, “Education is what remains

after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.”

So does it matter where you go?

That’s what we’ll find out today, in this episode of the Infographics Show, Private

School vs. Public School.

Don’t forget to subscribe and click the bell button so that you can be part of our

Notification Squad.

First of all, we should say that by “public school” we mean schools that are run by

the government.

This could be confusing for Brits as when they say public school, they are not thinking

of schools run by the public sector, but selective institutions that demand private payment.

Basically, private school as Americans know it, is public school in the UK.

It’s another case of that “my tom-ate-o” and your “tom-art-o”.

We’ll base this show on the U.S. today, as covering the globe’s schools would be

impossible, and some of the things we will discuss are relevant globally.

You might be surprised to know that in the USA, according to the Council for American

Private Education, there are 33,619 private schools in the United States.

There are around 5.1 million students enrolled in these schools.

It’s said that private schools are home to almost 10 percent of all school students

in the U.S.

The same source states that there are 441,496 teachers working full-time in private schools.

As much as 79 percent of these schools have a religious affiliation.

The Washington Post reported in 2016 that these schools are “virtually all-white”,

with non-white students only making up around 10 percent of students across the country.

As for public schools, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics, 50.7 million

public school students will be studying in one of them from prekindergarten to grade

12 in fall 2017.

Teaching all those kids will be 3.2 million full-time teachers, which is a ratio of 16

students for every teacher.

The ratio in private school is 12 students for one teacher.

One of the main differences of public school is the mixed ethnicity of students.

Public schools in America are made up of 24.4 million white kids, 13.6 million Hispanic

students, 8.0 million black students, 2.8 million Asian/Pacific Islander students, 0.5

million American Indian/Alaska Native students, and 1.5 million mixed race students.

What about costs?

Well, the government pays for public schools.

In 2017-18 it’s projected that the budget for public schools will be $623.5 billion.

This means that each student will cost on average $12,300.

Taxes will pay for this.

Private schools are a different matter, and they are funded by tuition fees.

Tuition costs will change depending on the school.

For the year 2017-18, the national average for private school tuition is $9,975 per year,

which is $8,918 per year for elementary schooling and $13,524 per year for high school.

The state of Vermont had the highest average, with high school being $31,543 per year on

average.

If you are looking for cheap private schooling, head to West Virginia where the average cost

for high school is currently $5,262.

We should add that a handful of private schools cost around the $50,000 a year mark.

So, what do you get for your money besides pretty gardens and obviously top-notch facilities

at a private school, and perhaps metal detectors and patrolling policemen in some wayward public

schools?

Well, when it comes to the syllabi, public schools have to adhere to state standards

while private schools have much more flexibility.

This is seen as getting a better and more diverse education.

The good news for not so wealthy people is that high school graduation rates in public

schools has gone up recently.

It reached its highest during the Obama administration in 2015 at 83.2 percent of students graduating.

At the same time, 95 percent of private school students graduate.

According to the website College Admission, just about all of those private school grads

will attend a university, whereas only 49 percent of public school graduates will enter

further education at college.

If you want to get into an Ivy League University, there’s no reason why you can’t get in

after attending public school.

Top Tier Admissions tells us that roughly 25 percent of successful applicants to those

top universities came from private schools, and 60-70 percent from public schools.

The rest were homeschooled.

Private school does work for a lot of people.

The richest man in the world, Bill Gates, went to a private prep school…but then he

later dropped out of Harvard.

On the other hand, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg went to a public school.

When researching for how private school graduates out earn other kids in the future, most of

the stories are about the UK and how private (or public) school there seems to create most

of the UK’s millionaires.

The U.S. playing field might be a bit more level, after all, Dr. Dre didn’t go to private

school.

It seems in the U.S. if you actually get to university, it might not matter where you

studied in high school in terms of “making it”.

At the same time, studies have found that being born with a silver spoon usually means

you’ll be passing that spoon on, and poorer folks with degrees don’t usually jump up

a class.

Your background makes all the difference.

A college degree, says one report, is no great equalizer.

Why is this?

“There are a host of possibilities, from family resources during childhood and the

place where one grew up, to the colleges that low-income students attend,” said the report.

Then you have rich folks that dropped out of high school, such as the billionaire Tumblr

founder David Karp, who dropped out of high school at 15 years old.

Joining him as a high school dropout is Facebook’s former product manager Mike Hudack and filmmaker

Quentin Tarantino.

In light of the last person, success in the arts or sport probably is not related to if

you went to public or private school, but if you want “social mobility” then it’s

probably better your parents paid the cash for your education.

It also seems that the filmmaker is the only one of the three to have come from a humble

background.

You may have some unique skills, or be a natural autodidact (learn by yourself), and so school

doesn’t matter much even if you are poor.

Nonetheless, we can’t ignore some statistics.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that people without a high school diploma will

earn on average $25,636 per year if in full-time employment.

8 percent of high school dropouts are currently unemployed.

If you have a high school diploma and nothing else, the average wage is $35,256 per year

with 5.4 percent of those people currently unemployed.

If you have a bachelor’s degree, you might earn an average of $59,124 per year.

Only 2.8 percent of Americans with a bachelor’s degree are unemployed, much less than the

4.4 percent of Americans currently out of a job.

In conclusion, it’s odds on that if you went to private school then you most certainly

went to university, and with some family wealth behind you, it’s also pretty much a certainty

you fell into one of these higher wage brackets.

Then again, if you are brilliant, or spend more time reading than scrolling, then it

is likely nothing will hold you back.

So, what do you think...is private school worth the extra dough, or is it all just a

bunch of hoo-ey?

Let us know in the comments!

Also, be sure to check out our other video called Vegans vs Meat Eaters?!

Thanks for watching, and, as always, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe.

See you next time!