Without doubt, if I lived within the city limits of Baton Rouge or New Orleans, I would send my kids to private schools. But otherwise, find a good public school district, so that your kids can truly experience diversity. Don't laugh. There ARE good public districts in this country; up here in North Texas, there are many of them. I laugh at folks who chose private schools in Plano. I want my kids to be around different types of people, and public school certainly serves that larger purpose.