05/03/2004
Independent private school students, in general, participate more and achieve more than their counterparts at public schools, in both academics and the arts. These students travel more, attend concerts and exhibitions more often, and study languages earlier and longer. The National Educational Longitudinal Study, conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, has found that larger percentages of students in independent schools are enrolled in advanced courses than those in public, parochial, and other private schools, and that independent private school students do twice as much homework, watch only two-thirds as much television and are significantly more likely to participate in varsity or intramural sports.
Indeed, they seem to be happier: More are likely to agree that students and teachers get along well at their school, that the discipline is fair, and that the quality of the instruction is good.
Private school students are more likely than public school students to volunteer for community service. According to the Council for American Private Education, 42 percent of private schools require pupils to participate in community service, far higher than the 17 percent figure recorded for public schools.
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