Let me tell you a little bit about &quot;high-performing&quot; private schools.  They get to choose their students. They get to keep their class sizes as low as they want.  They have an entire different set of family life/problems than public schools, who teach everyone who comes in the door, regardless of their ability, their socioeconomic status, whether their parents read to them, or whether their parents are even able to keep the water bill paid.  <br /><br />All this said, I both graduated from and teach in Tulsa Public Schools.  While my educational opportunities differed, for certain, than my private school peers, I do not feel I was inadequately educated.  Additionally, schools aren&#39;t meant to be the only place you learn.  It was a STARTING POINT for me.  <br /><br />I could go on.  :)  I won&#39;t.  Ed&#39;s right.  TPS is the largest district in the state.  We teach everyone.  You have good and bad.  Everything is what you make of it, as well.