How far do you drive to school?

Arghhhh!

We are trying to decide where to send DD to school next year.

We are deciding between a private christian school that goes from prep to year 10, that is run in association with our church (this is our preferred school. It has about just under 200 students, and has a strong community feel and a big focus on our christian faith) and a small public school.


The public school is lovely and only about 6km from home, and is also on our way to and from work.

The private school is about 10km from home, but in the opposite direction from work.

I would say for the most part, I will only be working about 3 days a week at the most.'

Fee wise, the private school will cost about $45 a week. Every other child gets cheaper.

So, my question is how far do you drive to school and does it bother you???

My kids go to a school 5 minutes' drive from our house, on the way to work :)

I've only got a 5 minute drive, but there are heaps of families at my dds' school that travel 20 - 30 minutes to get to school. ( i know they love school holidays lol ) If you really love the Christian School, I'd say go for it. Who knows, you may make friends their who live near you - and you could do some car pooling.

when I was a kid Mum used to drive us about 15 minutes to catch the school bus which would then take us the rest of the way. So I think that a 20 km return trip is nothing personally.

I suppose the way that I would look at it is - if you love the school then what sacrifices are you willing to make to send your child there? Is the extra time in the car worth it to you? I also think that once you are in the car it is realistically only about and extra 20 minutes a day which in the grand scheme of things isn't a huge amount.

I think from your post that you would align better with the private school as it would be the same as your belief system and if religious education is important to you, then you would probably be a bit dissappointed in what the public school has to offer in that regard kwim? So for the extra few km's each day I think it would be worth it in the long run.

I think from your post that you would align better with the private school as it would be the same as your belief system and if religious education is important to you, then you would probably be a bit dissappointed in what the public school has to offer in that regard kwim? So for the extra few km's each day I think it would be worth it in the long run.

I used to drive my kids about 10k to school. It never really bothered me. There was also school bus they could catch but it left too early for us to be ready so I'd drive them.

I think it would really depend on the school in which you prefer. Distance wouldn't really matter.
For us it's a 36k drive to the high school, we're just lucky we have a bus that comes to the gates, so we only have to drive 3k's. There is another high school about 25 k's away but I didn't think it was as good as the one we choose for the girls. Hmm not at all what you asked was it LOL.

OUr school is about a 15 min drive. Can be 25 mins if its raining...:rolleyes:
Like you we had the dilema of 'what school?'////// , we have a public school 2 streets away from our home - we could walk there. Or we had the choice of a private school (catholic school). We ummed and ahhed a lot this time last year when we had to make the decision....even though both are different schools essentially in their teachings, distance DID come into our decision making process. It cuts into a lot of your day, it effects wear and tear on car, etc.
We decided to travel the distance, and send our children to the catholic school.

Only negative i can see evolving....her little friends dont live anywhere near us - they live 20 mins away. Not a major problem i guess. I guess i always remember walking home with my school friends, or going over to their homes 1 street away. I guess our children wont have that....but you cant have it all i suppose...

Good luck .

I agree with Trillian, it sounds like the private school would suit you better.

we are going through this discussion at the moment.
There is a public p-12 school 3 streets away from us, and DH wants to send DS1 there.
I want to send him to a private p-12 school thats a 20 minute drive away.
There is also a bus that comes to our estate for the school, this would be a 3 minute drive to the bus stop, but Im funny about DS1 getting the bus so young, even though its a school run bus, I'd want DH to drive him.
I think we will still be arguing about it right up til enrolment.

According to google maps, I drive 8.3kms to take my DD to school. I have to admit some days I really hate it and wish there was a bus she could take... but ultimately this is the school we chose for her and she loves it. The very annoying thing is we live directly opposite a great school but I wouldn't change my daughter because she loves her school and only has a few more months left before she goes to high school.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your input!

The more I think about it, and pray about it the private one is sounding better and the like the right choice to me.

I am not keen on the high schools around here, and if she went to this school during primary, it would guarantee her place there for secondary school too.

I drive about 25 minutes to get my kids to the private school they attend. They used to go to the local public school which is 6 houses away, but they just weren't up to the task.

For us, it is totally worth me driving for just under 2 hours per day for the kids to go to that school. It's p-12, small, good values, good academics. Blimmin expensive (about $100 per child per week), but totally worth it.

Go with your gut.