Why did you choose private vs. public?

[Anonymous]

Our zoned public was terrible and violent, and we didn’t get into any good charters. Moving to a good school district would have been a lot more expensive than private school with financial aid, unless we moved so far outside the city as to have a horrible commute for both parents.

Our income has increased quite a bit and we no longer get financial aid, but we’re still at the school because it’s been so wonderful and we rate that as more important than the sounder financial decision of moving to a better school zone. My spouse and I both had a terrible time in “excellent” public schools so seeing our only child have such a different experience is priceless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were worried that our bright kid would be bored in a public school. DH went to public and was rarely challenged academically. With a small class size, teachers can do more to differentiate in a private school. DC is still bored at times, but teachers have been trying to provide them with the materials that are on their level.

If your kid is really that smart, they can make it into the public magnets which is superior to privates.

I'd put my kid in private if they needed the small class sizes though.

Agreed. But there’s no an option for elementary (DC started in K), not to mention that our city doesn’t have public magnet options at all. We may need to move to where such an option exists when the DC is older if the current school is not satisfactory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were worried that our bright kid would be bored in a public school. DH went to public and was rarely challenged academically. With a small class size, teachers can do more to differentiate in a private school. DC is still bored at times, but teachers have been trying to provide them with the materials that are on their level.

If your kid is really that smart, they can make it into the public magnets which is superior to privates.

I'd put my kid in private if they needed the small class sizes though.

Agreed. But there’s no an option for elementary (DC started in K), not to mention that our city doesn’t have public magnet options at all. We may need to move to where such an option exists when the DC is older if the current school is not satisfactory.

pp here.. we purposefully moved to a school district with great magnet programs, and DC did attend them. Best thing for DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were worried that our bright kid would be bored in a public school. DH went to public and was rarely challenged academically. With a small class size, teachers can do more to differentiate in a private school. DC is still bored at times, but teachers have been trying to provide them with the materials that are on their level.

If your kid is really that smart, they can make it into the public magnets which is superior to privates.

I'd put my kid in private if they needed the small class sizes though.

DP but that’s not until middle school. Our oldest is in public K and we have a number of concerns, are considering switching for 2nd (and younger sibling), but would likely return to public for middle. DD is doing okay but it just seems like such a roll of the dice every year in our public and neighboring ones (violence, kids acting out, etc.).

[Anonymous]

My family is in education, at all levels. I wouldn’t choose private unless my children had a special need. The problems private causes are often much worse than managed public. Currently have an 11th grader in a DC charter, and I haven’t regretted my decision for a second.

[Anonymous]

Smaller class sizes. Less tech than our public in early elementary. Private (not Catholic) does a better job with teaching ethics and values. Most publics do not even try to teach ethics and values any more.

College admissions is a lottery at any school, private or public, for unhooked families like ours. So that was not a factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My family is in education, at all levels. I wouldn’t choose private unless my children had a special need. The problems private causes are often much worse than managed public. Currently have an 11th grader in a DC charter, and I haven’t regretted my decision for a second.

What a strange response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My family is in education, at all levels. I wouldn’t choose private unless my children had a special need. The problems private causes are often much worse than managed public. Currently have an 11th grader in a DC charter, and I haven’t regretted my decision for a second.

So glad your kid is doing well but what are you referring to?

[Anonymous]

We struggled with the size of the individual schools in our cohort, but the county MCPS model made things worse. Both my DH and I went to public through HS, but our town was in charge of school oversight so it felt much more connected to the families. For example, if we had a snowday it was it was actually snowing in the area by our school--not some far off part of the county. Covid and MCPS's inability to manage the massive number of students really drove home the "too big to govern" point.

We have been impressed with how our private responds to concerns and the teachers really know our kids so they are both pushed and supported. We also no longer have the disruptive kid who the teacher can't discipline problem anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private school parent here, curious to know the reasons you chose to send your child to private school over public school. What factors went into your decision making? Thanks.

Public’s are better this is not hard.

Particularly in math and science

Religious privates have a purpose to indoctrinate education should not be indoctrination

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were worried that our bright kid would be bored in a public school. DH went to public and was rarely challenged academically. With a small class size, teachers can do more to differentiate in a private school. DC is still bored at times, but teachers have been trying to provide them with the materials that are on their level.

If your kid is really that smart, they can make it into the public magnets which is superior to privates.

I'd put my kid in private if they needed the small class sizes though.

DP but that’s not until middle school. Our oldest is in public K and we have a number of concerns, are considering switching for 2nd (and younger sibling), but would likely return to public for middle. DD is doing okay but it just seems like such a roll of the dice every year in our public and neighboring ones (violence, kids acting out, etc.).

Do you mean for your specific school district or generally? Because our zoned public elementary is a magnet.

[Anonymous]

My kid is too academically advanced for public elementary and middle school. Roughly 4-5 grade levels ahead in core subjects.

[Anonymous]

Our kids, both lifers at so-called Big 3s and now in HS, have always been upset and/or sad when having to miss school due to illness, etc.

They love being there...teachers, learning, friends, all of it. We both attended very highly regarded public schools and never felt that way about the experience. It was a soulless grind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chose private because there is less drug and alcohol use amongst students and less behavioral problems in the classroom.

You are soooooo wrong about that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were worried that our bright kid would be bored in a public school. DH went to public and was rarely challenged academically. With a small class size, teachers can do more to differentiate in a private school. DC is still bored at times, but teachers have been trying to provide them with the materials that are on their level.

If your kid is really that smart, they can make it into the public magnets which is superior to privates.

I'd put my kid in private if they needed the small class sizes though.

DP but that’s not until middle school. Our oldest is in public K and we have a number of concerns, are considering switching for 2nd (and younger sibling), but would likely return to public for middle. DD is doing okay but it just seems like such a roll of the dice every year in our public and neighboring ones (violence, kids acting out, etc.).

Do you mean for your specific school district or generally? Because our zoned public elementary is a magnet.

I thought that was mostly true in general but that’s great if your district has more options.