Some people believe that smart academic kids do great in public even if it has a lesser curriculum. Same people believe that kids in the middle are the ones who most need private - to get their hands held. It's a strange way of looking at things. You choose a private school that has a curriculum that fits with your vision. It has nothing to do with hand holding or a needy kid. Private schools can offer amazing things that any child would get a lot from. Unfortunately publics have stretched budgets and other concerns like size. If you compare school by school you can see that it's not about the kid.