📝 Karsten Miller (MFVAllSportsNetwork)
- PUBLIC OR PRIVATE: PROS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL (Part 1) -10-28-2026
- PUBLIC OR PRIVATE: Which one is best for a Student-Athlete (Intro) -10-27-2026
- OLD MILL PATRIOTS CONTINUE TO GAIN GROUND IN COUNTY WINNING 21-7 OVER ANNAPOLIS – 10-24-2026
- SEVERN RUN WOLVES CLIMB BACK TO WIN IN 5TH SET SECURING AA COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOT Game Recap – 10-22-2026
- LOCKSLEY AND UMD FOOTBALL PART WAYS MEANS A GREAT TIME TO LIFT UP – 10-21-2026
Ever since entering local sports media here in the DMV, it has been the dominating debate amongst local student-athletes, parents, fans, and coaches. Where should one go to get the best opportunities for their future success? PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL?
Private schools stay dominant, just look at sports rankings and you’ll find a good amount of the top private institutions reigning in the rankings. BUT, that’s not to exclude public schools, for their voice has been heard as you see them in the same spaces.
The debate continues on and it often looks like there is no end in sight.
In this series we’re doing at MFV All Sports Network, we’ll explore the pros and cons for both public and private. The purpose is not to stamp which one is better; however we want you the parents, student-athletes, and coaches to have the best information to make a sound decision. We’re here to promote honestly both public and private.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
The writer of this article is a private school bred kid. My first time at a public place of learning was in college at the wonderful St. Mary’s College of Maryland (Div. III). Most of my time was surrounded by a private Catholic education. My elementary-middle school was at the marvelous Trinity School in Ellicott City, Md, and high school at the great Calvert Hall College High School. Sports was a thing, and was growing during those years. It was not where it is now with the explosion of exposure through social media. Film was not as huge although there might have been a parent or two recording their child on a camcorder lol.
Any hint of public school I did have was in summer school at Howard and Atholton high schools. Saying all of this to help you understand my background and context of why I’m writing: and that there’s no biased even with a majority private school’s foundation.
HOW I GOT TO A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Again, athletics was a big deal for students at private school. We loved to play sports and would try seeing who’s the baddest at what. Middle school I played basketball. I was decent at getting steals because I was not a tall kid. I think the coach used me to give our team an advantage from turnovers. By high school I didn’t match up with the guys trying out for the team and got cut. So I went and played Fresh-Soph football. Did that for a season, and even though I was encouraged to skip JV and go varsity; I was lazy.
High school was a time when Juan Dixon had left Lake Clifton and come to Calvert Hall. My father had told me about him having been his assistant principal over at the wonderful Northeast Middle School. Juan came in and made athletics exciting watching him play. Calvert Hall appeared to be moving in the direction that most private schools are doing today: looking to recruit the best talent.
Fast forwarding to the MFV startup days, my children at one point all attended a private institution. What was different was not that the kids didn’t love sports, but the school believed in more stressing academics, than really sports (that has changed as of now though). So parents and kids made decisions to go elsewhere to give their kids the best opportunity through athletics (there were other factors, not just sports). Malik Washington was one of those guys, and chose the awesome Archbishop Spalding route. Other guys like the Connelly brothers, who went the beautiful Arundel HS route. MFV has had the privilege of seeing guys blossom in athletics.
The filming of public school sports really opened my eyes to the advantages of public school. I’ve been placed in arenas where kids absolutely balled out. To film that put me on to the positive aspects of public school. Kids love sports there too. One can really thrive in public school!!!
BACK TO THE DEBATE
With a new perspective, this debate of public vs private started rising up. It was kind of annoying, because sides were seriously arguing for their side as better. Private schools the way, no public school is the way. What? Why are we fighting over this?
What’s the best option? You have to know that STUDENT ATHLETES CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AND THRIVE IN BOTH!!! The better question is which is right for you?
In Part 1 of this series, we’ll begin with the pros of playing for a public school. Have a great day and see you next time.
