To those who struggled to send their kids to a Big 3-like school - did it turn out to be "worth it."

[Anonymous]

We did (and are) struggling to send our kids to big 3's. It's tough to tell if it's worth it because I don't know what their experience would be like at a public. However for the most part it's been a really good experience. They are surrounded by bright, hard working kids whose parents are very (maybe overly) invested in their education. I know most of the parents very well so I feel comfortable with playdates etc. The class sizes are small and no one falls through the cracks. There is a lot of individual attention. If a child is having problems academically or socially it is addressed. If a child is a big problem they will likely be asked to leave. My husband and I both went to big 3 private schools and when we tell people where we went we usually get a very positive response or "did you know so and so. " I want that for my DS. I want them to be able to be part of the DC private school group. I can't ensure they go to a good college, but at this point I can provide a "good name" private school, so I think for that reason, and others, its worth the financial struggle.

[Anonymous]

PP: "no one falls through the cracks"

In my opinion, this is what I'm paying for when paying for private. not the social life, not the bumper sticker, not the "prestige". And that has been worth it thus far - it's been a very different elementary school experience than my child's earlier years in public school. Better curriculum, better teachers in the public schools, (if that's true) just don't matter if your child is falling through the cracks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did (and are) struggling to send our kids to big 3's. It's tough to tell if it's worth it because I don't know what their experience would be like at a public. However for the most part it's been a really good experience. They are surrounded by bright, hard working kids whose parents are very (maybe overly) invested in their education. I know most of the parents very well so I feel comfortable with playdates etc. The class sizes are small and no one falls through the cracks. There is a lot of individual attention. If a child is having problems academically or socially it is addressed. If a child is a big problem they will likely be asked to leave. My husband and I both went to big 3 private schools and when we tell people where we went we usually get a very positive response or "did you know so and so. " I want that for my DS. I want them to be able to be part of the DC private school group. I can't ensure they go to a good college, but at this point I can provide a "good name" private school, so I think for that reason, and others, its worth the financial struggle.

I wonder what "big 3" you're talking about. I've seen kids fall through the cracks academically and socially at both NCS and STA.

[Anonymous]

I didn't want my kids to go to public school. Period. I didn't want them being assaulted by kids who skateboard and parents who shuffle around in Birkenstocks.

Ha, ha, well best look the other way because I love my Birks and my kid is about to enter a Big 3. Perhaps with your nose positioned that far up in the air you won't notice what's on my feet!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I didn't want my kids to go to public school. Period. I didn't want them being assaulted by kids who skateboard and parents who shuffle around in Birkenstocks.

Ha, ha, well best look the other way because I love my Birks and my kid is about to enter a Big 3. Perhaps with your nose positioned that far up in the air you won't notice what's on my feet!

yeah, and I wear mine with socks. I suppose you're going to say there's something wrong with that too?

[Anonymous]

"I want that for my DS. I want them to be able to be part of the DC private school group. I can't ensure they go to a good college, but at this point I can provide a "good name" private school, so I think for that reason, and others, its worth the financial struggle. "

Wow, I mean wow!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I want that for my DS. I want them to be able to be part of the DC private school group. I can't ensure they go to a good college, but at this point I can provide a "good name" private school, so I think for that reason, and others, its worth the financial struggle. "

Wow, I mean wow!

I thought the part just before that was even more breathtaking. It gives the poster great psychic income when someone asks "did you know so and so" and she wants her kids to be aaaable to experience that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I didn't want my kids to go to public school. Period. I didn't want them being assaulted by kids who skateboard and parents who shuffle around in Birkenstocks.

Ha, ha, well best look the other way because I love my Birks and my kid is about to enter a Big 3. Perhaps with your nose positioned that far up in the air you won't notice what's on my feet!

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry at the original comment here. My street, located within a couple blocks of at least two of the Big 3, is frequented by Big 3 kids on skateboards. My children attend at Big 3, and though I do not have Birks, I shuffle to and around school wearing far more casual gear. It's truly pathetic that you judge people by how they look rather than getting a chance to know them.

[Anonymous]

Re falling through the cracks: at the top private schools they just have a different name for it, "counseling out".

[Anonymous]

Actually, I don't see a lot of Sidwell, GDS, or Beauvoir bumper stickers. The most pervasive are those St. Patrick's discs -- they're everywhere!! How many kids could possible go to that school??. Landon is another bumper sticker-loving group with NCS and Georgetown Prep close behind.

No. no no nonoonono. It's Gonzaga, by a long shot. That gigantic 'G', that looks like it was scrawled by Elmo, is everywhere. It is certainly on every single Ford or GM large SUV for a 10-mile radius.

[Anonymous]

[No, it is not the same thing. So many great kids go unnoticed at public schools. The private schools know all of their kids and no one can be invisible because there just aren't that many kids.

quote=Anonymous]Re falling through the cracks: at the top private schools they just have a different name for it, "counseling out".

[Anonymous]

So what you mean is, teachers who notice the "quiet" kid and spend time to find his or her passion? Or maybe you mean teachers who spend time to work with the struggling kid?

This does happen at publics, maybe not quite as much, but it happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I want that for my DS. I want them to be able to be part of the DC private school group. I can't ensure they go to a good college, but at this point I can provide a "good name" private school, so I think for that reason, and others, its worth the financial struggle. "

Wow, I mean wow!

I just don't get the "wow" response. This is just a very honest poster who truly believes in the adage of "it's not what you know . . . ."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted re Sidwell and, yes, I'm a parent there. I'll stand by my statement: the US is very strong and worth every penny; MS and LS, not so much.

Did your kid(s) actually go through sidwell lower school? If so, what are the shortcomings?

Yes. Quality of teaching is inconsistent -- some burnouts; curriculum not as creative and innovative as we had expected. On the other hand, class size is a plus. Major difference among divisions: US teaching is much stronger than MS or LS.

Let me ask you this... Were your children prepared to handle (and excel within) the rigors of Sidwell upper school? Or did they find themselves struggling to catch up because of the bumpy road they had in lower school?

bump

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted re Sidwell and, yes, I'm a parent there. I'll stand by my statement: the US is very strong and worth every penny; MS and LS, not so much.

Did your kid(s) actually go through sidwell lower school? If so, what are the shortcomings?

Yes. Quality of teaching is inconsistent -- some burnouts; curriculum not as creative and innovative as we had expected. On the other hand, class size is a plus. Major difference among divisions: US teaching is much stronger than MS or LS.

Let me ask you this... Were your children prepared to handle (and excel within) the rigors of Sidwell upper school? Or did they find themselves struggling to catch up because of the bumpy road they had in lower school?

bump

My experience in our Big 3 School, and from what I've heard from others (including others outside of the Big 3), is that you need to get on the private school track early. Kids who come in later from the publics, even though generally bright, usually find themselves so far behind in terms of base of knowledge and study skills.