I can relate to your dilemma; we are at a similar crossroads for next year (middle school at 5th grade). Is there any possibility of doing a "shadow day" at each school? Or has he done this already? If not, this could be a way of truly experiencing each environment prior to committing. He might be surprised that he likes the private better, and by experiencing it, he could make the choice and not hold a grudge about it. I know with my DS9, sometimes he thinks he knows what he wants, but his expectations end up being far from reality. The biggest draw to private for me is the smaller class size which lends to a more personal experience. We are going to do a shadow day at a potential private school but it is not so common at our public schools to allow shadow days. I am going to push for it though! Good luck with your decision!
