Private vs. Public School: What to Consider
Understanding Key Differences Between WHPS and Public School
Over the past 25 years in education—including the past decade here at WHPS—I’ve had the privilege of teaching and leading in both public and independent schools. Those experiences have shown just how profoundly the right environment can shape a child’s relationship with school and learning. As you explore options for your child, visiting schools in person is invaluable—but it also helps to begin with a clear sense of what truly matters.
Between ages four and eight, children aren’t just learning reading and math—they’re forming their identity as learners. Research shows that during these years, children develop a lasting internal narrative about what it means to learn—and whether they see themselves as capable, curious, and resilient, or as passive recipients of information. The impressions formed at this stage have a monumental impact on how they approach learning for the rest of their lives.
In the best schools, skills are taught in ways that intentionally transfer to life beyond the classroom—not just to fill out the next worksheet or prepare for the next test. When school becomes a place of curiosity, confidence, and joy, children begin to see learning as something purposeful and personal. These years shape how they view their work, how their voices are heard, and how they begin to handle challenges and friendships with growing independence. It’s also the stage when children can start helping shape their own learning goals—learning how to direct their attention toward longer-term progress and reflect on their growth along the way, a habit they’ll rely on throughout life.
At WHPS, this process goes far beyond classroom charts or checklists. Each child has an active voice in setting, planning, tracking, and celebrating their own goals. It’s a practice woven into daily life—one that many schools simply aren’t structured to support—and its impact on a child’s developing sense of agency and self-efficacy can’t be overstated. When students see that their effort and focus directly influence their progress, they begin to understand themselves as capable learners with real influence over their own success. That understanding stays with them for life.
Children also thrive when their days include a wide range of experiences—music, STEM, art, foreign language, and time in nature. These moments spark curiosity, broaden perspective, and help children begin discovering their own passions and purpose. A broad foundation like this prepares them not only to learn, but to love learning—and to carry that confidence and flexibility wherever they go next.
I want to be clear, this isn’t about labeling one school “good” and another “bad.” Public and independent schools are built on different foundations. What matters most is how your child comes to see school itself—and by age eight, that view is already taking shape.
As you learn more about our program, I encourage you to explore our blog, where you’ll find short reads that reveal 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, here are some of the key contrasts I’ve observed firsthand—and why they matter for your child’s future.
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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 co-teaching model ensures every class has a “sweet spot” size—small enough for strong relationships, yet large enough for diversity in peers and perspectives.
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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, intellectually stimulating, and connected to what they need next. Instead of one-size-fits-all worksheets, teachers use Academic Skill 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.
As a teacher, this was one of my greatest frustrations in traditional settings: being required to move at a prescribed pace—not as fast or as slow as my students actually needed. Some children were ready to soar while others needed more time and support, yet the structure didn’t allow it. At WHPS, we’ve built a system that does.
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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 guided practice in effective communication, active listening, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and resilience. Teachers use SEL Developmental Progressions to help every child understand their strengths and set goals to grow even more.
💡 The difference: Students build confidence and practical tools to thrive socially and academically—skills that shape success for life.
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Public School: Opportunities to practice public speaking or leadership are usually reserved for older—or naturally outgoing—students.
WHPS: From TK onward, students practice speaking in front of peers, sharing ideas, and leading parts of class routines. As they grow, they follow a dedicated skill progression—building confidence through everything from public speaking to podcasting—while learning age-appropriate leadership behaviors such as mentoring peers, leading assemblies, and contributing to group initiatives.
💡 The difference: Every child learns to speak up, take initiative, and lead with confidence. 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.
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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 touchpoints between parents and teachers, and ongoing communication throughout the year.
💡 The difference: Parents feel connected, informed, and supported, while teachers gain deeper insight into each family’s hopes and goals for their child.
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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: EEnrichment is built in every year, for every student, through an intentionally designed curriculum that includes:
🎨 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”—a window when children are primed to soak up a wide range of skills. By giving every student consistent access to enrichment from TK–5, we nurture confidence, creativity, and lifelong curiosity. (More in this article on school design.)
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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.
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Public School: After-school programs and extended care are often outsourced or off-site and may be waitlisted.
WHPS: Sports, activities, and extended care (7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.) are all run on campus by our own staff.
💡 The difference: Families enjoy convenience and continuity, while students feel rooted in one community all day long.
A Warm Invitation
Choosing the right school is a deeply personal decision—one shaped by your family’s values, hopes, and goals, and by the kind of relationship with learning you want your child to have for life.
We warmly invite families—even those already part of our preschool—to see our TK–5th grade program in action. That’s when you notice the intangibles: the joy of learning, the autonomy that fuels curiosity, and the confidence children show when they take initiative and share their ideas.
And the results are validating. WHPS students consistently perform above—and often significantly above—even peers in other private schools (last year’s ERB results were truly off the charts). But our real measure of success is a graduate who is confident, curious, articulate—and still loves learning.
While we’re unapologetically passionate about our program, our goal is simple: to help each family find the best “Lego-fit” for their child—whether that path leads to WHPS or another wonderful local school that feels right for your family.
