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What is the Difference Between a Public school and a Christian School?

March 06, 2024
By Bayshore Christian School

The top differences between Public and Christian schools in Tampa FL

There are a lot of differences between public schools and Christian schools. One of the main things that all Christian schools have, including Tampa FL Christian schools, that public schools do not have is the freedom to incorporate God and Christianity into their lessons. Other differences include curriculum, class sizes and cost. 
 

Freedom to talk about God
 

The biggest difference between public schools and Christian schools is the ability for teachers to teach about God in their lessons. In public schools, teachers are not allowed to teach using their own religious beliefs. However, in private Christian schools, they are allowed and even encouraged to teach about God in the classroom. 
 

Freedom to choose a different curriculum
 

Public schools are required to teach using a curriculum mandated by the department of education. There are certain lesson objectives and topics that every public school has to cover, and teachers have little freedom to deviate from those topics or how to teach them. Each private Christian school, however, has the freedom and autonomy to choose what curriculum they teach. Not every Christian school in Tampa FL uses the same curriculum or uses the same teaching style. They are able to deviate from each other, as well as from the required public school lessons and topics.
 

Tuition and fees
 

Public schools do not require a tuition payment and only have small fees for things like extracurricular activities. This is because they are funded by the government and receive tax money. Christian schools are private, and therefore do not receive any support from the government. Because of this, students who enroll pay tuition and fees. 
 

Inclusion of character education
 

Throughout childhood and adolescence, children are learning not only about subjects like math and English, but they are also learning about who they are and what kind of person they want to be. Christian schools have the freedom to aid in that development. Many private school curriculums will incorporate character development into their lessons to help students learn about things like creating good habits and using manners.  
 

Smaller class sizes
 

The average public school in Florida has 25 students per class. This is usually per one teacher, and sometimes the schools are so overcrowded that they have to add more students. In contrast, Tampa FL Christian schools have an average class size of 19 students, and sometimes there is more than one teacher in the classroom.
 

A more personalized education
 

Christian schools are able to provide a more personalized education because of the smaller class size. Teachers are able to get to know students on a deeper level in order to aid students in areas that they need. Students are also able to get to know their peers better and create stronger connections in Christian schools compared to in public schools. 
 

Christian schools in Tampa FL
 

Are you looking to enroll your child in a private Christian school in Tampa FL? We might be the school for you! Bayshore Christian school has programs for grades pre-K to 12th grade. 
 

Contact us, today, if you have any more questions about the difference between public schools and Christian schools, or if you are interested in enrolling your student at Bayshore!

Why Do Private Schools Cost So Much?

February 20, 2024
By Bayshore Christian School

One of the most noticeable differences between public schools and private schools is the cost to attend.

 

One of the most noticeable differences between public schools and private schools is the cost to attend. For public schools, there are no tuition payments, and you typically only pay fees if your child participates in extracurricular activities. In contrast, private schools have a required tuition and fees for each student enrolled.

This is because private schools are responsible for directly paying all of their teachers, faculty and administrative staff, unlike public schools who receive funding from the government and tax-money. Whether you’re looking for a private preschool in South Tampa or a South Tampa middle school, it is important to know how your money is being spent.

Tuition

One thing private schools have in common is that most of their proceeds go towards payroll of teachers. Public school teachers are paid by the government, so the schools are not directly responsible for paying their staff. Private schools, on the other hand, are required to pay their staff and do not receive funding or tax money from the government. Therefore, they require a tuition payment from students to cover teacher salaries.

Fees

Private schools are also responsible for paying other faculty and administrative staff. The fees that you pay for your child when they are enrolled help pay these employees. Some of these fees that you might be required to pay are:

  1. Admission fees
  2. Application fees
  3. Acceptance fees
  4. Testing fees
  5. Extracurricular activity fees: these fees are only for students who participate in these activities such as athletic fees and performing arts fees
  6. Curriculum fees
  7. Other: fees for other services, such as before and after school care and field trips, that are optional.
     

Additional funding

Though most of the money you pay to send your child to private school goes towards paying the staff, it is used in other areas as well. Some of these things include:

  • Campus improvement. When areas on campus need to be fixed or upgraded, such as classrooms or playground equipment, private schools are directly responsible for coming up with the money to fund these improvements because they do not receive tax money.
  • School provided technology. Many public South Tampa middle schools and high schools have devices, such as laptops or tablets, available that students can borrow for the day or share with their peers. In contrast, most private schools provide students with their own devices that they can use and take home while they are a student enrolled at the school. Technology is expensive, and therefore some of the fees that you are paying will go towards those items.
  • Profit. Bayshore Christian school is a nonprofit Tampa FL Christian school. However, other private schools may be for profit. This is something that we recommend you look for and consider when deciding what private school is best for your child and your family.

Private Christian Schools in Tampa FL

Bayshore Christian School is a Tampa FL Christian school that provides education to students grades pre-K to 12th grade. If you are looking for a nonprofit, fairly inexpensive Christian private school, we may be the school for you.

Contact us, today, if you have any additional questions about our tuition and fees, or if you would like to enroll your student and join our community.

Are Private Schools Safer?

February 07, 2024
By Bayshore Christian School

Safety at private high schools in Tampa FL

Safety is an important factor to take into consideration when deciding where to send your child to school. As school disturbances become more prevalent in the U.S., safety at school is a primary concern. If you are looking for a private Christian school in Tampa FL, you might be wondering if private schools are safer than public schools. In terms of campus security, they are about the same. However, we believe that there are other features of private schools that create a safer environment for the students, faculty and staff.

Campus security

In terms of campus security, public and private schools are usually about the same when it comes to safety. Both take the similar precautions, which include:

  • The use of security cameras
  • Locking the gates during school hours
  • Limiting visitors and requiring them to check in before they enter campus

Sometimes, public schools and private schools also have resource officers. However, this is not true of all schools and varies based on location and availability.

Safety in smaller schools

As a private Christian school in Tampa FL, we believe private schools are safer in the way that teachers at private schools tend to be are more aware about what is going on throughout the school. This is because class sizes are smaller, as is the student population as a whole. Students tend to have a better relationship with their teachers at private schools because of the smaller class sizes. On account of these differences, it is easier for teachers to recognize when a student is acting different, due to factors such as mental health and drug use.

Furthermore, the closeness of the teachers and the student body creates a community that allows everyone to be noticed. Often times, we see dangerous situations play out on school campuses that are influenced by a child feeling like an outcast or unnoticed by their peers. By making each child feel seen, private schools have the ability to greatly reduce these scenarios.

Private high schools in Tampa FL

Safety is a great concern in schools, especially in high schools. Bayshore Christian School is a Pre-K through 12th grade private Christian school, and the safety of our students is one of our top priorities. If you are looking for a private high school in Tampa FL, we may be the school for you.

Contact us, today, if you have more questions about safety in our school, or if you are interested in enrolling your student into one of our programs. We would love to welcome you and your family into our community!

Why Do Private Schools Have Uniforms?

January 17, 2024
By Bayshore Christian School


School uniforms are often associated with private schools. Though they are a component seen among private schools, there are other schools that require them as well. More public schools have begun to implement uniforms on their campuses in recent years. So why is this dress code used? At Bayshore schools, we view uniforms as an equalizer for the students that creates a sense of unity and support.

Uniforms act as an equalizer

 

A lot of people view uniforms as a restrictive requirement that limits expression and individuality. Though students have less creative freedom with what they can wear, uniforms can actually create a more positive environment by taking the focus off of a student’s clothes and placing it on the student themselves.

Clothing has the power to make students feel better or worse about themselves. Showing off higher end, new clothes often results in those students being looked at as more elevated and better than their peers. The opposite can be true for students who do not have access to these types of clothes. They may feel inferior or even get bullied for the clothes that they wear. This is commonly seen among children from low-income families who cannot afford new or more expensive clothing. Wearing uniforms helps to diminish this gap and in turn may even boost a student’s confidence about what they look like at school because they are not being compared to their peers.

Uniforms create unity

 

Another reason private schools have uniforms is because they create unity. Uniforms signify that students are all on the same team and that they are at school for the same purpose. This sense of community can help students bond and feel closer to one another.

This community atmosphere can be especially beneficial for middle school students. Middle school is a tough time for many kids that usually revolves around trying to fit in and make friends. If you are looking for a school in Tampa for your middle schooler, consider looking into private middle schools in Tampa FL. Though there are many reasons why attending a private school could be beneficial for your child, not having to worry about what clothes they wear and how it compares to their peers may make their middle school experience more enjoyable.

Private middle schools in Tampa FL

 

Bayshore schools offer preschool through high school education. If you are looking for private schools for your child, including private middle schools in Tampa FL, we may be the right school for you! If you have any questions about our school or curriculum, please visit our website or contact us. We would be happy to talk with you!

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