Private vs. Public School: What to Consider
Understanding Key Differences Between WHPS and Public School
Over the past 25 years, I’ve been fortunate to teach and lead in wonderful schools — both public and independent — before joining WHPS, which I see as my forever home. As you explore options for your child, visiting schools in person is invaluable, but it also helps to have a clear starting point for what really matters.
By around age eight, children are not just learning reading and math — they’re forming their identity as learners, deciding whether school is a place of curiosity, confidence, and joy, or something else entirely. These years also shape whether students see their work as purposeful and gratifying, whether their voice is valued, and how they learn to handle challenges, frustrations, and social situations with confidence. It’s a stage when students should have a say in crafting their own learning goals, while parents have a window into the growth unfolding every day.
Children thrive during these years with a wide range of experiences — from music and STEM to time in nature — opportunities that spark curiosity and broaden perspective. That’s a very different picture from a classroom where school time is more focused on worksheets and sitting inside at a desk most of the day.
This isn’t about declaring one school “good” and another “bad.” Public and independent schools are built on very different foundations. What matters is how children come to see school itself — and by age eight, those views are already taking shape.
As you review our Elementary Program Overview, I also encourage you to explore our blog, where we’ve shared many short articles to help families get a deeper sense of who we are and what we value at WHPS. And of course, come for a visit — experience the program firsthand and talk with our students, who love to share their perspectives (and even their personal goals) openly and with pride.
With that perspective in mind, I’m sharing some of the key contrasts I’ve observed firsthand while working in different schools — and why they matter for your child’s future.
1. Twice the Teacher Power
Public School: It’s often one teacher with 24–30 students, sometimes supported by a shared aide.
WHPS: 20–26 students (depending on grade) with two fully qualified teachers in every classroom. Not aides, not assistants—teachers.
💡 The difference: More eyes on every child, more personal attention, and greater ability to both support and challenge each student. While our average student–teacher ratio is just under 12:1, our team-teaching model also ensures each class has a “sweet spot” size—small enough for strong relationships, yet large enough for diversity in peers and perspectives.
2. Work That Matters (Not Just Worksheets)
Public School: One-size-fits-all pacing. Worksheets. Textbooks. Work that usually stays in a folder.
WHPS Workshop Model: Students advance in areas of strength (sometimes years ahead). They create authentic work—published books, essays, and projects. Families are invited to Publishing Celebrations and other events to experience and celebrate real growth in action.
💡 The difference: Children are most motivated when their work feels meaningful and connected to what they need next. Instead of one-size-fits-all worksheets, teachers use developmental progressions to set goals with each student—ensuring every child is challenged at the right level. This approach keeps students striving toward their personal best while giving them some level of choice and autonomy. Authentic work at this stage lays the foundation for higher-order skills later on and helps children see themselves as real authors, scientists, and problem-solvers.
3. Social-Emotional Learning Every Day
Public School: SEL is often limited to an assembly or an occasional counselor visit.
WHPS: Social-emotional learning is woven into every day, every grade. Students receive direct instruction and practice in effective communication, active listening, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and resilience. Teachers use our developmental progressions to help every child understand their strengths and goals to grow even more.
💡 The difference: Students build confidence and practical tools to thrive socially and academically, preparing them for long-term success.
4. Voice, Public Speaking, and Initiative From the Start
Public School: Chances to practice public speaking or leadership are usually reserved for older or outgoing students.
WHPS: From TK on, students practice speaking in front of peers, sharing ideas, and guiding parts of class routines. As they grow, they follow a dedicated skill progression—building confidence through everything from public speaking to podcasting—while also learning age-appropriate leadership behaviors such as mentoring peers, leading assemblies, and contributing to group initiatives.
💡 The difference: Every child builds the confidence to speak up, take initiative, and lead when it counts. By the time they graduate, WHPS students are ready for middle school interviews, debates, and presentations—not just with skills, but with the poise to use them.
5. Parents as Partners
Public School: Parent involvement often limited to drop-off, pick-up, and one teacher-led conference.
WHPS: Intake conferences before school starts, student-led conferences twice yearly, daily touch points for parents and teachers, and continuous communication.
💡 The difference: Parents feel connected, and teachers understand and support the family’s hopes and goals for each child.
6. Enrichment, Built In (for ALL Students)
Public School: If offered, Visual & Performing Arts, music, or PE may only run part of the year or depend on fundraising. Technology and foreign language typically wait until middle school.
WHPS TK–5: Enrichment is built in every year, for every student, through an intentionally designed curriculum:
🎨 Visual & Performing Arts
🎼 Music (learn three instruments by 5th grade)
🏃 PE with a dedicated coach
💻 Technology & Robotics
🌎 Spanish
🐾 Animal & Nature Studies in our on-campus teaching zoo
💡 The difference: We tap into the brain’s “sampling period”—when children are primed to soak up a wide range of skills. By giving every student consistent access to enrichment from TK–5, we build confidence, creativity, and lasting passions. (More in this article on school design).
7. Safety and Space to Play
Public School: Large campuses, limited security, long hours indoors at desks.
WHPS:
Full-time campus security.
Daily outdoor learning and play in gardens, open fields, and our teaching zoo.
Active, hands-on classrooms—not just desks.
💡 The difference: A safer, healthier balance between learning, movement, and nature.
8. Everything in One Place
Public School: After-school programs are often outsourced or off-site.
WHPS: Sports, activities, and extended care (7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.) all run on campus by our staff.
💡 The difference: Families enjoy convenience and continuity, and students feel rooted in one community all day.
A Warm Invitation
Choosing the right school is a deeply personal decision. We warmly invite families—even those already in our preschool—to see TK–5th grade in action. That’s when you notice the intangibles: the joy of learning, the autonomy that motivates children, the confidence students show when speaking in front of others, and the sense that there’s almost no ceiling on what they can achieve.
And the results are validating: WHPS students consistently score above and significantly above grade level on standardized assessments—yet our true measure of success is a graduate who is confident, curious, articulate, and still loves learning. See our 2025 ERB Results »
While we are unapologetically passionate about our program, our team’s goal is to help families find the best fit for their child—whether that’s WHPS or another wonderful program that’s the true Lego-fit for your family.