從去年底到今年初，辦理讓學生去美國私立中學的家長人數猛增.這些家長的目標是想要尋找美國的重點私立中學，卻忽視了這些學校是否能滿足學生的需求.怎樣選擇公立和私立學校呢？對很多沒有去過美國的中國家長來說確實是一個難題.下面將公立中學和私立中學做一個對比供我們中國的家長參考。

學費

Public schools cannot charge tuition. They are funded through federal, state and local taxes. When you pay your taxes, you are paying for your child's education and the education of other children in your community.公立學校是不收學費的.但是國內的交流項目收取大概10萬左右人民幣作為服務費用.學生拿到1年的J-1簽證.1年之后必須回國.而可選擇的學校面非常窄.由于中美兩國教育體制并不完全銜接，所以學生回國后反而面臨諸多困難.

Private schools cost money. Private schools do not receive tax revenues, but instead are funded through tuition, fundraising, donations and private grants. According to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the median tuition for their member private day schools in 2005-2006 in the United States was close to $14,000 for grades 1 to 3, $15,000 for grades 6 to 8 and $16,600 for grades 9 to 12. The median tuition for their member boarding schools was close to $29,000 for grades 1 to 3, $32,000 for grades 6 to 12. Note that of the 28,384 private schools in the United States, about 1,058 are affiliated with NAIS. The Digest of Education Statistics 2005 from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that for the 1999-2000 school year, the average private school tuition was about $4,700. 2005-2006年私立中學6-12年級(小學6年級到高三)年平均學費在$32,000.從07年開始，在北京櫻知葉辦理留學的學生年齡小到13歲大到17歲，大部分家長不在意學校的費用，更在意學校的排名＼錄取率＼AP課程＼入學考試要求＼SAT平均分.雖然美國中學留學這個市場還處于培育階段，但我們的家長通過各種渠道對美國私立寄宿中學的理解可以說是在不斷的加深.對大部分中國學生而言，除了基本的學費以外，可能還要申請ESL語言課程，每學年可能要另加2000--5000美金不等.這里特別要說明的是，美國私立中學收取國際學生學費和本土學生是一樣的.所以僅僅能付得起學費不是入學的唯一保障.學校對國際學生收取的申請費50-200美金不等.

錄取

Public schools admit all children. By law, public schools must educate all children, including students with special needs. To enroll in a public school you simply register your child by filling out the necessary paperwork.公立學校根據法律錄取所有學生，原則類似北京現在施行的就近入學原則.

Private schools are selective. They are not obligated to accept every child, and in many private schools admission is very competitive.私立學校入學競爭十分激烈.美國頂尖和一流私立中學要求9-10年級托福和SSAT;11-12年級托福和PSAT或者SAT.

美國二三流中學要求托福或者SSAT成績，托福考試難報名現象至今還在，SSAT目前只有上海一個考點，考試時間很有局限性，這個時候家長可以考慮在北京櫻知葉參加SLEP測試而該成績可以代替托福成績.除以上成績外，大部分學校還要求學生參加英文面試.

也有部分美國中學理解中國的考試難問題，不要求學生提供以上成績，但是要求學生必須參加英文面試，反而對學生的要求更高，一旦面試砸了，很難被錄取.

私立中學錄取有點類似大學錄取.頂尖高中截止日期在1-1日.這類高中比申請進哈佛還難.中國大陸學生很少有能夠滿足申請條件的.光考試成績的要求就把無數優秀學子拒之門外了.

其它學校截止日期分別為1-15日；2-1日；2-15日；3-1日；4-1日；還有一些是滾動錄取，額滿為止.我的建議是高中越早申請越好.中國的家長和學生等不起.第一輪申請的錄取通知大概在3-10日發出來，學生在4-10日前要給學校一個答復.沒有招滿的學校接下來才會考慮第二輪申請.

管理

Public schools must follow all federal, state and local laws in educating children. Such laws usually include specifics about funding, program development and curriculum.公立學校根據聯邦或者州法律管理學校.

Private schools are not subject to as many state and federal regulations as public schools. Since private schools are funded independently, they are not subject to the limitations of state education budgets and have more freedom in designing curriculum and instruction.私立學校管理模式自由.還可以根據需求自行設置課程.

課程

Public schools offer a general program, designed for all children, which usually includes math, English, reading, writing, science, history and physical education. In addition to these key subjects, many public schools offer programs in music and art. In a public school, the substance of what children learn is mandated by the state and learning is measured through state standardized tests.公立學校提供常規課程.

NOTE: The charter school movement is picking up momentum in many states; these schools are public, but many offer specialized programs and smaller classes.

Private schools have the flexibility to create a specialized program for students. For example, private schools may use art or science in all classes, or take children on extended outdoor trips that blend lessons across the curriculum. Private schools can create their own curriculum and assessment systems, although many also choose to use standardized tests.私立學校課程種類豐富多樣，還可以根據學生特點定制創新課程.通常一所私立中學提供的課程種類涵蓋幾十個類別二三百門課程.為孩子德智體美勞的全面發展提供最大的平臺.例如女校的藝術課程＼馬術課程＼禮儀課程非常流行和受歡迎.

教師

Public schools: All teachers in a public school are usually state certified or, at a minimum, working toward certification. Certification ensures that a teacher has gone through the training required by the state, which includes student teaching and coursework.公立學校老師必須有教師證才能上崗.

Private schools: Teachers in private schools may not be required to have certification, and instead often have subject area expertise and an undergraduate or graduate degree in the subject they teach.私立學校老師更多的是某個領域的專家或學者.很多教師擁有美國牛校的博士學位.

學生

Public schools: The children at most public schools usually reflect the community. Students may be split up based on ability or interests, but in many public schools, there is a diversity of student backgrounds.學生主要來自同一個社區，不論貧富.

NOTE: In many states, if you are not satisfied with your assigned school, you may be able to send your child to another public school in the area.

Private schools: The student population at a private school is determined through a selection process; all students must apply and be accepted in order to attend. Although students may be from different neighborhoods, they will probably have similar goals and interests. This tends to create a fairly homogenous student body.因為學校對學生有篩選的一個過程，所以學生有比較相似的目標和興趣.且學生來自五湖四海，多數寄宿中學對來自各個地區＼國家的學生有名額限制，以保證學校做到真正的多元化.

特殊需求

Public schools: Due to special education laws, public schools must educate all children, and provide the necessary programs to meet their special needs. This means that most public schools have special education programs and teachers who are trained to work with students who have particular needs.根據特殊教育法，公立學校提供特殊服務給有需求的學生.

Private schools: Private schools do not have to accept children with special needs, and many choose not to (although there are a small number of private schools specifically designed for special needs children). As a result, most private schools do not have special education programs or teachers trained to work with students with severe special needs. Private schools will try to help all the students they admit, but extra resources may also come at an additional cost.大部分私立學校不提供服務給特殊需求的學生，但也有小部分學校會有個別可能，但要取額外費用.

班級規模

Public schools: Many states recognize the value of small classes and have provided funding to keep class sizes small in grades K-3. As students become older, class size tends to get bigger in public schools, especially in large school districts and urban schools.班級人數較多.

Private schools: Private schools are generally committed to providing small classes and individual attention to students. Many parents choose private schools for this reason.平均人數在12人.因為私立學校致力于提供小班授課，也是家長選擇私立學校的一個理由.

The Bottom Line

There are a few fundamental differences between public and private schools, but here's the bottom line: There are great private schools and there are great public schools. The trick is finding the school that best fits your child's needs. You may also want to consider public charter schools or homeschooling. It's a good idea to research the schools that interest you and, to get a true picture of the school, visit in person.

雖然有很多優秀的私立學校和公立學校.但對我們中國大陸家長來說，關鍵是選擇適合你的孩子的學校.不要以為多交了學費自己有可以隨意挑選學校.從08年的申請情況看，學校篩選學生越來越嚴格，競爭更加激烈.適合中國大陸學生就讀的美國私立中學數量有限.美國的家長可能選擇小班教學但帶有公立學校性質的charter schools或者家庭學校，但這些都不適合中國的學生.　

來源:搜狐