It’s a common misconception that private school is “better” than public school. Parents send their children to private school because the non-exclusive principle of public education may scare them. The idea of a varied student body often is cause for concern from parents, who perhaps believe that paying $14,000 for high school tuition will protect their children from the outside world or give them better opportunities. As somebody who has attended both types of schools, I’ve found these beliefs to be untrue. So, what is the real difference between public and private school?

As a transfer from La Salle Academy freshmen year, I noticed no difference in the character of the student body at North Kingstown High School. Both the size and the diversity of students were about the same at both schools. La Salle has a total of 1478 students, where NKHS has a total of 1425. If anything, students at NKHS are more welcoming and friendly. Even though the student bodies at each school are relatively the same, the private school students have a sense of privilege and entitlement that students at NKHS just don’t seem to have.

La Salle Academy is a competitive school, especially sports-wise. At La Salle, I noticed an aggressive competitiveness that I haven’t found in NKHS. Students are fearful or even discouraged in trying out for sports because of the high level of intensity promoted by the school.

I found a pattern of strict uniformity at La Salle, especially through religious education. Students of all grades take a religion class based around Catholicism. It is a required core class, despite the varying religions that La Salle students practice. From attending Catholic school, I’ve formed the opinion that religion shouldn’t be taught. It should be a personal choice and a free practice, rather than a core subject you are tested and graded on. In addition to this, students attend mass regularly during the school day.

Another obvious difference was uniforms. La Salle has a strict uniform policy that discourages students to modify or personalize what they wore to school each day. I understand that the concept of uniforms is to minimize distractions and make the student body more orderly, but an obsession over what students wear does not seem like it should be a priority. In no way have I found a uniform relevant to education. The non-uniform policy at NKHS encourages independence and expressiveness in its students-a change I have embraced and found refreshingly positive.

The schedule at North Kingstown High School is also a positive change. I remember the availability of electives at La Salle Academy being slim to none. Electives were not even an option for freshmen or sophomores at La Salle. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I had a choice of three electives for my schedule last year when I transferred. Again, I find that this choice given to students encourages creativity and individualism.

Initially, I decided to go to La Salle because I was uncomfortable with the idea of public school. Having gone to private school my whole life, La Salle Academy seemed like a comfortable, more sheltered option for high school. Despite the inconvenience of paying an expensive tuition and taking an hour-long bus ride to the city every morning, I made the decision to deal with it. After having a year of public school to compare, I wish I’d started with public school to begin with. I find the environment more encouraging and don’t miss anything about private school, nor do I find a difference in the quality of education, the students, or the opportunities. As somebody who before thought public school was inferior to private school, I now have an opinion that is the complete opposite.