In education, public vs. private can be a tough decision

Katie Sealock loves her school.

The 17-year-old senior from Wapato has experienced both public and private education. Throughout her grade school years, starting with kindergarten, Sealock attended Harrah Community Christian School, a religious school of about 50 students in preschool through eighth grade.

She loved that school, too. But when she graduated from eighth grade along with a handful of students, she was faced with a choice: Would she continue private education or venture into a public arena?

"I chose Zillah High School only because my cousins went," she says. "I was nervous because I didn't know anyone. I felt I was pretty well prepared from Harrah, but I was just used to having one teacher a day."

Though the student-teacher ratio would not quite be the same at her new school, with an enrollment of about 400 students, Sealock found success. She's ranked ninth out of 81 in her class, is cheer captain and was named Miss Zillah. To her, these accomplishments prove her move to a public institution was a good one.

"I definitely feel my school is equipping me for my future," she says, "especially with the 'Future Teachers' program I'm involved in."

That program, offered by various schools in the Yakima Valley, is designed for students preparing to be the educators of the future. And it will make it possible for Sealock to skip some core classes at Central Washington University in her goal to become an elementary school teacher.

"The only reason I would ever want to switch to a private school is to continue in my Bible classes," Sealock says.

Sealock is just one of many students in the Yakima Valley who has had to decide between public and private school. Eighteen-year-old Trent Millin of Terrace Heights can also relate. Although his experience was opposite that of Sealock, the decision was no less difficult or important.

Millin went through sixth grade at Terrace Heights Elementary School. Then he found himself in a predicament.

"I ultimately chose Riverside because I thought it would challenge me more than any other school," says Millin, a senior at Riverside Christian School. "Now that I'm here and look back on my education, I know I made the right choice."

Millin says he has grown fond of the close-knit student body at his high school: "The teachers are able to be more one-on-one with you. Not that I felt the opposite at my old school," he says. "I just feel with smaller classes, teachers have more time for me."

Millin also says he wouldn't change anything about his education: "I did all my work in elementary so I felt prepared for Riverside," he says, adding he believes he has received "a well-rounded education."

There are numerous public and private high schools in the Yakima Valley. How can students know if they are receiving the best education?

There are many factors to consider, including location and the ability to pay tuition, as well as religious affiliation or the lack thereof. Each student also has his or her own needs, preference, outlook and goals for learning.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are nearly 2,300 schools -- both private and public -- in Washington state. More than a million students are enrolled in these schools, which range from 4A schools with nearly 2,000 students, such as Yakima's Eisenhower High School, to private schools with fewer than 100 students, such as Harrah Community Christian School.

For 48-year-old Brian Nobbs, providing private education for his four children is "worth making any sacrifice necessary."

"We send our children to private school for two things primarily," says Nobbs, of Harrah. "For the atmosphere and the opportunity that our kids can get from a good Christian education."

Darci Briggs, 18, of Yakima attended Eisenhower for most of her high school career. She went to public elementary and junior high schools, and is now spending her first year at a private school as a senior. She says she made the switch mostly for religious reasons. Like Millin, she attends Riverside Christian.

"Academically, it's a lot more difficult than Ike," Briggs says. "But at the same time, the teachers here give the impression that they actually care."

She also says, "I don't think I would start over and change anything about my education. I like how everything turned out. I think that the kids at private schools are more likely to be the leaders of the future rather than the followers."

Amber Baumgarten, a 17-year-old who has attended Naches Valley public schools since the beginning of her education, says she feels completely geared to succeed.

And, "I really enjoy going to school with people from all backgrounds," she says.

Brother Jack Henderson, a science teacher at La Salle High School in Union Gap, knows both sides. The oldest of nine children, he attended public school until eighth grade, then switched to private school. Now, he teaches at a private school and praises all parts of his educational background.

"I received a tremendous education from both of my schools," he says. "The keys to a successful education are a dedication from the individual student and parent involvement."

Says Baumgarten, "If you have the financial means and you are a hands-on learner, I think you would probably enjoy a private school more. If you really enjoy learning from and watching different kinds of people, I think public school might be the best choice for you because of its diversity."

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