One of the main reasons people move from the city to the suburbs is to begin raising a family. The suburbs are a great place to settle down with your significant other and raise a family for various reasons. Not only are you surrounded by others with the same intentions in mind, not only will you be living in a quiet and peaceful environment, but the education system is usually fantastic. And, if there’s one thing children should have, it’s a solid education.
But who’s to say that a suburban school is any better than an urban school? Generally, suburban schools are seen as higher-class and “better” for the simple reason of having more money. Because suburban schools have more funds, there’s more benefits that can be provided to students to give them the best education possible.
Suburbs are much wealthier than cities. With the beginning of the suburban movement in the late ’40s and early ’50s, Americans moved out of the city in droves, mainly because they had the money to do so. They therefore created neighborhoods and communities of wealth. Suburban living was of a higher quality and social class than city living, and the expenses mirrored this. The cost of living in suburbs is much higher than the cost of city living, which includes taxes. Because of higher property values and income levels, suburban taxes are higher than city taxes.
But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A good portion of those taxes is used towards education. The higher the taxes, the more money there is that can be used towards the local schools your children will be going to. Hence, more money is available for suburban schools than is available for urban schools.
And with this money comes numerous benefits. Suburban schools have less crowding and more teachers. While city schools are usually jam-packed with students in each classroom, suburban schools can afford to hire more teachers, meaning classroom sizes are much more proportional. Smaller classes (with less students in each class) makes for better and easier learning. Not only will the children be more comfortable, but the teachers will be able to have more one-on-one time with each student, allowing for better learning.
Other benefits can also be found in suburban schools. Luxuries like air conditioning, new and updated text books, white boards, swimming pools/playgrounds, and a larger course selection can be found in suburban schools. Bond money could be available for school renovations. Since schools will most likely be located in the neighborhood, kids could easily walk to school, while bus routes will easily be available.
You’re children will also be going to school with other neighborhood kids. In the city, your children could be going to school with kids they’ve never seen before, who live nowhere near you. That’s definitely a big downside to city schooling – it’s harder to make friends and be social with kids that you don’t live by. In a suburb, living is quaint and friendly. Your children can easily play or hang out with classmates in the neighborhood.
While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with going to school in the city, it must be said that suburban schools do have luxuries and benefits that city schools simply can’t offer. While our public education system is suffering all around, it’s a better idea to send your kids to a suburban school for a better education. City living is a great and unique experience, but when it comes to raising a family, I highly suggest living in the suburbs.
