If you are wealthy would you send your kids to a W school over private?

[Anonymous]

I accept public speaking gets a bigger emphasis in many private schools but the rest is so subjective. Obviously wealthy well connected kids will always rise to the top but does private school itself really better prepare kids for professional settings? I particularly struggle with the idea that these kids are better prepared to be “civil, presentable, and engaging.” Not to mention, as PPs have pointed out much of this is strongly influenced by settings outside of school, such as at home.

I actually do think private has a lot of pluses but this particular argument quickly starts to get offensive imho. Not to mention it’s an area where always being surrounded by other rich people/ living in a bit of a bubble could be more of a hindrance than anything else. It’s super easy to relate to people who are like you….

We are at a private k-8 school with kid going into 8th. There are very few kids in my son's class who are "good" at public speaking. In fact, many of the kids are quirky and bad at it. I know because our last science far each had to speak and share their project. Most wouldn't look us in the eye.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We are at a private k-8 school with kid going into 8th. There are very few kids in my son's class who are "good" at public speaking. In fact, many of the kids are quirky and bad at it. I know because our last science far each had to speak and share their project. Most wouldn't look us in the eye.

When people run out of objective measure to compare public vs. private they’ll rely on intangible, ie ‘anything that’s not numbers’, whatever that means.

Another possibility is that the tuition you’re paying is not high enough, because it seems to correlate well with the level of satisfaction.

There’s no magic bullet, no private or public school will turn a mediocre student into a genius, and a lot depends on the family.

[Anonymous]

I can afford private and am open to it but have chosen to keep my kids in W cluster public. I love our neighborhood and my kids have tons of friends who share their school experience, activities, sports. It would be hard to take them away from that. Each kid has found programs in public that support their interests--arts, sports, stem. My impression of many local privates over the years is that they have been havens for kids who needed more support than public can give, whether for social, emotional, or behavioral reasons, or post covid learning loss or smaller class sizes generally. I'm all for those resources if a kid needs but it has made private generally seem less desirable. I'm also concerned that most privates would be too small and stifling for my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can afford private and am open to it but have chosen to keep my kids in W cluster public. I love our neighborhood and my kids have tons of friends who share their school experience, activities, sports. It would be hard to take them away from that. Each kid has found programs in public that support their interests--arts, sports, stem. My impression of many local privates over the years is that they have been havens for kids who needed more support than public can give, whether for social, emotional, or behavioral reasons, or post covid learning loss or smaller class sizes generally. I'm all for those resources if a kid needs but it has made private generally seem less desirable. I'm also concerned that most privates would be too small and stifling for my kids.

yea, my kids would hate the small peer groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I accept public speaking gets a bigger emphasis in many private schools but the rest is so subjective. Obviously wealthy well connected kids will always rise to the top but does private school itself really better prepare kids for professional settings? I particularly struggle with the idea that these kids are better prepared to be “civil, presentable, and engaging.” Not to mention, as PPs have pointed out much of this is strongly influenced by settings outside of school, such as at home.

I actually do think private has a lot of pluses but this particular argument quickly starts to get offensive imho. Not to mention it’s an area where always being surrounded by other rich people/ living in a bit of a bubble could be more of a hindrance than anything else. It’s super easy to relate to people who are like you….

We are at a private k-8 school with kid going into 8th. There are very few kids in my son's class who are "good" at public speaking. In fact, many of the kids are quirky and bad at it. I know because our last science far each had to speak and share their project. Most wouldn't look us in the eye.

You must not be at a very reputable school. Are you at a Catholic school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can afford private and am open to it but have chosen to keep my kids in W cluster public. I love our neighborhood and my kids have tons of friends who share their school experience, activities, sports. It would be hard to take them away from that. Each kid has found programs in public that support their interests--arts, sports, stem. My impression of many local privates over the years is that they have been havens for kids who needed more support than public can give, whether for social, emotional, or behavioral reasons, or post covid learning loss or smaller class sizes generally. I'm all for those resources if a kid needs but it has made private generally seem less desirable. I'm also concerned that most privates would be too small and stifling for my kids.

Ah, the go to when ‘W’ parents can’t afford a highly ranked private. “All of those private school kids have issues!” 😆
Whatever helps you sleep at night while people much wealthier then you make sure their kids are getting an excellent education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can afford private and am open to it but have chosen to keep my kids in W cluster public. I love our neighborhood and my kids have tons of friends who share their school experience, activities, sports. It would be hard to take them away from that. Each kid has found programs in public that support their interests--arts, sports, stem. My impression of many local privates over the years is that they have been havens for kids who needed more support than public can give, whether for social, emotional, or behavioral reasons, or post covid learning loss or smaller class sizes generally. I'm all for those resources if a kid needs but it has made private generally seem less desirable. I'm also concerned that most privates would be too small and stifling for my kids.

yea, my kids would hate the small peer groups.

Especially if your kids are behind academically and socially due to COVID public school closures. A smaller environment of highly educated, socially adept and more cultured peers would be intimidating and may affect your public school kid’s ability to adjust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can afford private and am open to it but have chosen to keep my kids in W cluster public. I love our neighborhood and my kids have tons of friends who share their school experience, activities, sports. It would be hard to take them away from that. Each kid has found programs in public that support their interests--arts, sports, stem. My impression of many local privates over the years is that they have been havens for kids who needed more support than public can give, whether for social, emotional, or behavioral reasons, or post covid learning loss or smaller class sizes generally. I'm all for those resources if a kid needs but it has made private generally seem less desirable. I'm also concerned that most privates would be too small and stifling for my kids.

yea, my kids would hate the small peer groups.

Especially if your kids are behind academically and socially due to COVID public school closures. A smaller environment of highly educated, socially adept and more cultured peers would be intimidating and may affect your public school kid’s ability to adjust.

What constitutes a “highly educated” high schooler these days? Or a “cultured” one for that matter? Your posts are making the case for avoiding private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can afford private and am open to it but have chosen to keep my kids in W cluster public. I love our neighborhood and my kids have tons of friends who share their school experience, activities, sports. It would be hard to take them away from that. Each kid has found programs in public that support their interests--arts, sports, stem. My impression of many local privates over the years is that they have been havens for kids who needed more support than public can give, whether for social, emotional, or behavioral reasons, or post covid learning loss or smaller class sizes generally. I'm all for those resources if a kid needs but it has made private generally seem less desirable. I'm also concerned that most privates would be too small and stifling for my kids.

yea, my kids would hate the small peer groups.

Especially if your kids are behind academically and socially due to COVID public school closures. A smaller environment of highly educated, socially adept and more cultured peers would be intimidating and may affect your public school kid’s ability to adjust.

What constitutes a “highly educated” high schooler these days? Or a “cultured” one for that matter? Your posts are making the case for avoiding private schools.

Lots of yogurt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can afford private and am open to it but have chosen to keep my kids in W cluster public. I love our neighborhood and my kids have tons of friends who share their school experience, activities, sports. It would be hard to take them away from that. Each kid has found programs in public that support their interests--arts, sports, stem. My impression of many local privates over the years is that they have been havens for kids who needed more support than public can give, whether for social, emotional, or behavioral reasons, or post covid learning loss or smaller class sizes generally. I'm all for those resources if a kid needs but it has made private generally seem less desirable. I'm also concerned that most privates would be too small and stifling for my kids.

yea, my kids would hate the small peer groups.

Especially if your kids are behind academically and socially due to COVID public school closures. A smaller environment of highly educated, socially adept and more cultured peers would be intimidating and may affect your public school kid’s ability to adjust.

lol.. my kids are probably ahead socially since they have to deal with the large public and all sorts of diverse kids.

As for academics, my kid was in a magnet (just graduated), 1580 SAT, 5s on all APs, 4.95 uwgpa, 4.0 wgpa, passed the UMD MVC exam easily. I think my kid is pretty advanced academically

And what the heck is "cultured peers" for teenagers? You don't think private school kids are all on tiktok watching stupid videos? You think private school kids are watching PBS documentaries? GMFAB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can afford private and am open to it but have chosen to keep my kids in W cluster public. I love our neighborhood and my kids have tons of friends who share their school experience, activities, sports. It would be hard to take them away from that. Each kid has found programs in public that support their interests--arts, sports, stem. My impression of many local privates over the years is that they have been havens for kids who needed more support than public can give, whether for social, emotional, or behavioral reasons, or post covid learning loss or smaller class sizes generally. I'm all for those resources if a kid needs but it has made private generally seem less desirable. I'm also concerned that most privates would be too small and stifling for my kids.

yea, my kids would hate the small peer groups.

Especially if your kids are behind academically and socially due to COVID public school closures. A smaller environment of highly educated, socially adept and more cultured peers would be intimidating and may affect your public school kid’s ability to adjust.

What constitutes a “highly educated” high schooler these days? Or a “cultured” one for that matter? Your posts are making the case for avoiding private schools.

Lots of yogurt?

at least their guts would be healthy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can afford private and am open to it but have chosen to keep my kids in W cluster public. I love our neighborhood and my kids have tons of friends who share their school experience, activities, sports. It would be hard to take them away from that. Each kid has found programs in public that support their interests--arts, sports, stem. My impression of many local privates over the years is that they have been havens for kids who needed more support than public can give, whether for social, emotional, or behavioral reasons, or post covid learning loss or smaller class sizes generally. I'm all for those resources if a kid needs but it has made private generally seem less desirable. I'm also concerned that most privates would be too small and stifling for my kids.

yea, my kids would hate the small peer groups.

Especially if your kids are behind academically and socially due to COVID public school closures. A smaller environment of highly educated, socially adept and more cultured peers would be intimidating and may affect your public school kid’s ability to adjust.

lol.. my kids are probably ahead socially since they have to deal with the large public and all sorts of diverse kids.

As for academics, my kid was in a magnet (just graduated), 1580 SAT, 5s on all APs, 4.95 uwgpa, 4.0 wgpa, passed the UMD MVC exam easily. I think my kid is pretty advanced academically

And what the heck is "cultured peers" for teenagers? You don't think private school kids are all on tiktok watching stupid videos? You think private school kids are watching PBS documentaries? GMFAB.

Congrats on your child’s stellar academic accomplishments; however, you do realize that wealthy people go to private schools for experiences that are beyond academic, which has already been explained ad nauseum. Your child thrived in spite of, not because of the public school he attended. Given the grade inflation in MCPS I would not brag on his GPA. And to be honest, he probably would have received an even higher SAT score had he attended private school. But anyhoo, go UMD, I guess?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can afford private and am open to it but have chosen to keep my kids in W cluster public. I love our neighborhood and my kids have tons of friends who share their school experience, activities, sports. It would be hard to take them away from that. Each kid has found programs in public that support their interests--arts, sports, stem. My impression of many local privates over the years is that they have been havens for kids who needed more support than public can give, whether for social, emotional, or behavioral reasons, or post covid learning loss or smaller class sizes generally. I'm all for those resources if a kid needs but it has made private generally seem less desirable. I'm also concerned that most privates would be too small and stifling for my kids.

yea, my kids would hate the small peer groups.

Especially if your kids are behind academically and socially due to COVID public school closures. A smaller environment of highly educated, socially adept and more cultured peers would be intimidating and may affect your public school kid’s ability to adjust.

lol.. my kids are probably ahead socially since they have to deal with the large public and all sorts of diverse kids.

As for academics, my kid was in a magnet (just graduated), 1580 SAT, 5s on all APs, 4.95 uwgpa, 4.0 wgpa, passed the UMD MVC exam easily. I think my kid is pretty advanced academically

And what the heck is "cultured peers" for teenagers? You don't think private school kids are all on tiktok watching stupid videos? You think private school kids are watching PBS documentaries? GMFAB.

Congrats on your child’s stellar academic accomplishments; however, you do realize that wealthy people go to private schools for experiences that are beyond academic, which has already been explained ad nauseum. Your child thrived in spite of, not because of the public school he attended. Given the grade inflation in MCPS I would not brag on his GPA. And to be honest, he probably would have received an even higher SAT score had he attended private school. But anyhoo, go UMD, I guess?

Yes the weighted GPAs at MCPS are a total joke lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can afford private and am open to it but have chosen to keep my kids in W cluster public. I love our neighborhood and my kids have tons of friends who share their school experience, activities, sports. It would be hard to take them away from that. Each kid has found programs in public that support their interests--arts, sports, stem. My impression of many local privates over the years is that they have been havens for kids who needed more support than public can give, whether for social, emotional, or behavioral reasons, or post covid learning loss or smaller class sizes generally. I'm all for those resources if a kid needs but it has made private generally seem less desirable. I'm also concerned that most privates would be too small and stifling for my kids.

Ah, the go to when ‘W’ parents can’t afford a highly ranked private. “All of those private school kids have issues!” 😆
Whatever helps you sleep at night while people much wealthier then you make sure their kids are getting an excellent education.

Regardless of what anyone can afford, the smaller class sizes and individual attention provide more support for kids who need it and would get lost in a big competitive public. There are also kids who thrive in the public environment because of the wide range of options and peer groups.

[Anonymous]

I think it's fantastic that all the wealthy, private-school-attending families recognize the educational and social inequities provided by the institutions they patronize, which set such good examples for public schools to follow that they must be happy to ensure a tax base great enough for those public schools to do what would be needed to reach par service levels for the non-private population.