Anyone not rich enough for private HS and fretting about what to do after MS?

[Anonymous]

DS went from public to private in elementary, and has only one more year of our (somewhat) affordable private. There is no way we can afford private HS. Our local is FCPS, and our experience with their elementary was not great. When DS went to private, he was so far behind that he struggled just to pass basic subjects (he did well in fcps). There is just no comparison in terms of how much better the curriculum is and how much more he is learning. I'm really unhappy about having to send him to public high school, and our high school is ok but not even one of the really desirable ones like Mclean. Anyone else in this position?

[Anonymous]

Which High School, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS went from public to private in elementary, and has only one more year of our (somewhat) affordable private. There is no way we can afford private HS. Our local is FCPS, and our experience with their elementary was not great. When DS went to private, he was so far behind that he struggled just to pass basic subjects (he did well in fcps). There is just no comparison in terms of how much better the curriculum is and how much more he is learning. I'm really unhappy about having to send him to public high school, and our high school is ok but not even one of the really desirable ones like Mclean. Anyone else in this position?

doesn't dc have an elite public HS

[Anonymous]

Yes, we’ll apply to a few HS and FA but if FA doesn’t work out child will go to public.

[Anonymous]

Move to Falls Church or pay tution to go to Meridian (apparently this is a thing). That is an amazing public school. Falls Church just serves Falls Church. Kinda like the way Mclean should because all the Mclean money goes elsewher so their schools are about as close to private as one you could hope. So that would be a start. Also, maybe you could get FA at a private-you never know until you ask so apply broadly. My next step would be something like O'Connel or Paul VI-cheaper than independent but still good and they do not care if you are not Catholic.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure what you're looking for, but a fairly consistent view of FCPS is that it is or can be more rigorous in the upper grades compared to elementary school, where many parents find the curriculum less than rigorous.

Perhaps it cannot be said for every high school in FCPS, but certainly most of them graduate students who have had access to challenging courses and can more than hold their own academically with private school graduates.

[Anonymous]

FCPS has some of the best high schools in the state. If you are districted for a weak high school, I'd recommend moving to an area with a strong high school like Robinson or Lake Braddock.

[Anonymous]

We prefer MCPS to private, and moved when DS was little to be in bounds for a good ES. Then they placed him in their GT/LD program, which supports 2e children and gives them access to advanced courses. DS will take a total of 10 AP exams. Otherwise the magnets in MCPS are excellent, it’s just a lottery to enter now, sadly. Not enough seats.

With the money we saved, we can afford better college options and help beyond.

[Anonymous]

I believe the top FCPS high schools are pretty good. We plan to do K-8 private and then FCPS for high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has some of the best high schools in the state. If you are districted for a weak high school, I'd recommend moving to an area with a strong high school like Robinson or Lake Braddock.

OP here - we are in Robinson. I haven't seen anything so far to make me think it's any better than our ES was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Move to Falls Church or pay tution to go to Meridian (apparently this is a thing). That is an amazing public school. Falls Church just serves Falls Church. Kinda like the way Mclean should because all the Mclean money goes elsewher so their schools are about as close to private as one you could hope. So that would be a start. Also, maybe you could get FA at a private-you never know until you ask so apply broadly. My next step would be something like O'Connel or Paul VI-cheaper than independent but still good and they do not care if you are not Catholic.

Pay to go to Meridian. Is this truly a thing? For real? I love the idea. But would think they would end up with a lot more kids. They do publish their equivalent tuition, found it somewhere one time in the last year. Had honestly just thought about renting our house out and then renting within the Falls Church limits to have DC go.

[Anonymous]

DD applied to an MCPS magnet and was accepted. This was before they switched to the new acceptance protocol. She is having an amazing time in a smaller cohort. And it is free!!

[Anonymous]

Apply to a bunch of different schools and apply for financial aid. I would be surprised if you can’t find a school with a similar tuition to your current school. It may not be the most popular school but there must be options if you are already used to paying tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has some of the best high schools in the state. If you are districted for a weak high school, I'd recommend moving to an area with a strong high school like Robinson or Lake Braddock.

OP here - we are in Robinson. I haven't seen anything so far to make me think it's any better than our ES was.

Oh my goodness, OP, Robinson is wonderful! You will love it! The students are lovely, the courses are appropriately rigorous, the admin really has their …s… together, and the extra curricular activities are top notch. Give it a shot! Go into it with an open mind and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

[Anonymous]

Robinson is a fine high school, OP.