I went to public school because my parents were poor... how about you?
My parents were poor as well...but I went to school in the 1950s and 1960s...and I went to public school...my husband went to Catholic School...
When my husband and I had children, we were not rolling in money, far from it...not dirt poor, but barely making it...and by that time the public schools in Chicago had become quite horrible...we opted for private school...we could ill afford it...but we sacrificed and scrimped and the hubby took on overtime hours at work, and I took on a part time job at nite(so that my husband could watch the boys)...it was dang hard to do, some folks thought we were nuts...but we did what we thought was right for our childrens education...if we could do it, anyone can do it...
If your childrens education is paramount in importance, next to food, clothing and shelter, then put the money there...there is usually a way to find the money for such an important undertaking...