text: are parachial schools better than public schools? parachial (catholic) schools have a reputation for being better than public schools. they teach mostly the same curricula - but is the main difference that they don't tolerate unruly children in the class room?  public school teachers have to put up with more disruptions, bad behavior, etc. - and this leads to all the students (even the good ones) getting less time learning. is this accurate and worth paying the extra money? in general, yes, your statements are pretty accurate. however, in specific cases, it's not necessarily true.   for example, many top-end magnet schools or specialized public schools outscore parochial schools consistently. i went to the high school for the engineering professions in houston, and we consistently creamed parochial schools in many academic competitions.  jesuit schools tend to be on the top-end of parochial schools, and may be worth the money. before choosing a parochial school, check out any magnet, special, or charter schools in your area.