As students from John Adams or Woodrow Wilson transition to high school, they are often faced with the question– public schools or vocational schools? Anyone struggling with this question could benefit from a few tips that I’ll provide! 

  A majority of students in the U.S. attend public schools, however, that is not the only option. A vocational school is a school where students spend the majority of their school day learning specialized skills. In North Edison, there are a variety of options, however the major two are: Woodbridge Academy Magnet School and the Edison Academy Magnet School. But, other vocational schools could span anything from medicine to the arts. 

Both public school and vocational schools are great options, however it depends what you are looking for as a student. Public schools and vocational schools both have their pros and cons, and this decision depends on the student’s needs. Public schools typically have more extracurricular activities than vocational schools; this can include activities involving sports, art, and music. More extracurricular activities means a greater chance of finding something you like. Public schools also have a larger class size, which means they allow for more interaction and community building. However, larger class sizes come with drawbacks as well. Vocational schools have a smaller class size, which allows the teacher to give more attention to each student. Additionally, vocational schools offer specialized training; this allows them to go in depth for any given specific subject. Public schools offer a more broad curriculum—a little bit of everything. If you are not sure about your career, public schools allow you to explore different topics to give you a better understanding on what you like the most. 

The choice between public and vocational education differs from person to person. Still, both schools are just as good as the other. If you are a person who is set-in-stone about one field, a vocational education is a great option. On the other hand, if you are someone who is indecisive or you don’t want to commit to a field just yet, public school is the way to go. It simply depends on the person. In Edison, if you are focused on a medical field, you would clearly benefit from Woodbridge Academy, however you could be equally as capable as another person in a public school. 

So if you are faced with the question of, “public or vocational schools?”, you’ll know which way to go.