Can't commit. Tuition is scary.

[Anonymous]

We decided that we would never know if we did not give it a try. But if we find too many negatives next year, we're gone.
I do think it is waaay overpriced.

[Anonymous]

Comment to OP ... remember that if you are looking for negatives you will find them. Similarly, for those who have decided that ANY private school is better than any public school, if you are looking for positives, you will find them. Hard to be unbiased about these things!

[Anonymous]

I just read through this entire thread, and was really glad that I did.

Our daughter is enrolled for Pre-K at a very good (but not Big 3) private school. But we're thinking of moving to Potomac in the next 6 months. My husband prefers private school, but I think it would be so much better for us to save for retirement and collge -- instead of spending that kind of money on tuition.

So, once the Pre-K year is done (and no later), I'd like to enroll our daughter in public kindergarten in Potomac. The commute really isn't an issue. I just feel like it's wasteful to spend $25K a year when the local school will be so good.

Are there any other Potomac parents out there who made a similar decision? Did anyone regret it?

[Anonymous]

We are in a similar situation to the PP. We are planning on public in Potomac/Bethesda. Several friends and neighbors are doing public here and seem very happy with it. We were (or our DS) was accepted for a Pre-K program (one of the top schools), but yes, with commute and other issues we decided not to do it, keep him at his current school and likely do public either for K or 1st Grade. K is 1/2 day here, so not sure if that is a consideration for you or not. We may start in 1st, as 1/2 day is just too short for us and him at that point (he will be an almost 6 when K starts). Good luck in your decision. The schools here are great.


Also, I think 3rd is a good entry year to the top privates, as well as 6th. I figure we can revisit during those years, if we want to/need to. Pretty much middle school years any where are kind of the pits.

[Anonymous]

again, it really depends on how you define "good". The school may show good test scores via NCLB standardized tests, but that in of itself may not indicate that the children are being taught critical thinking skills. (there is a lot of criticism out there about the test content and what exactly test scores are capturing). the children may be well-behaved, but orderliness and sitting in rows facing a teacher who has to teach to a specified curriculum may limit what children learn and how. it can also have an impact on their interest in learning.

i am not putting down the public schools, just pointing out that the so called 'tougher standards' re: NCLB have an affect on 'good' public schools as well as 'not so good'.

it's a tough call, i know. i just hate what this administration has done.

[Anonymous]

In Virginia, teaching to a test and "higher standards" predates this administration ... standards of learning (SOLs) already in place.

[Anonymous]

true, many "tougher" standards policies were already in place. NCLB just made it worse. there is lots out there about testing and how it is at best useless (in terms of really capturing a child's progress) and at most harmful...and not only that...it has become a big corporate ticket. testing is big business!

http://www.nomoretests.com/insider.htm

another interesting read - which I believe pre-dates NCLB - is a book entitled "The Schools Our Children Deserve". the author delves into detail about "tougher standards" and testing issues. if i remember correctly, he is not completely anti-testing...just for testing that is more effective and meaningful.

on the surface standardized testing sounds like a great thing... but when you really delve into it, the flaws start jumping out left and right. and instead of moving away from it, NCLB has fanned the flames in a BIG way.

it saddens me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Comment to OP ... remember that if you are looking for negatives you will find them. Similarly, for those who have decided that ANY private school is better than any public school, if you are looking for positives, you will find them. Hard to be unbiased about these things!

I guess the issue is, if OP does not feel like there is value for money spent, then people look elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

I posted about moving to Potomac and enrolling our daughter in public school after her Pre-K year at one of the better private schools. Thanks to the poster who replied and said that 1/2 day kindergarten might be an issue.

I hadn't realized that there wasn't full-day kindergarten in Potomac. Does that mean 8-12? Is this true of all Montgomery County? If so, I guess that makes up my mind for me. Even if I were ready to do that, my child wants a longer day than that even at age 4.

[Anonymous]

I actually do not care how much it costs and how good the local public school is. To me (and lots of others I know), private school is a necessity and a good private beats a good public any day.... End of discussion. If you can scrape the money together then YES its worth it. One day your child will thank you.

[Anonymous]

To PP: I'm just curious as to why you think the private school is always better than the public school? How did you (and others you know) reach this conclusion?

[Anonymous]

I respectfully but vehemently disagree with the 15:45 poster. Putting aside the fact that many good public schools can be better than many private schools academically, and putting aside the fact that the best fit often comes down to the personality and learning style of each particular child, I would choose a good public school over a good private school whenever it is remotely feasible. I would even choose to send my child to a good public school over an outstanding private school if at all possible. One reason is because I think it's important for committed and involved parents to support the public school system. Another reason is because my husband and I value the diversity that is usually more present in a public school than a private school. I would rather my child go to a school that offers a few less AP classes than attend a school where the vast majority of her classmates come from extremely wealthy families.

Of course the primary concern of any parent should be placing her child where that particular child will get the best education -- but in our family, an education includes not just test scores, but learning about diversity and some other realities that are not as apparent in a more sheltered, socioeconomically homogenous private environment. And yes, of course I know that private schools aren't all made up of wealthy families, but the reality is that it's definitely more of the norm than at most public schools (even many of the wealthier ones).

[Anonymous]

Don't know about Potomac schools specifically, but Montgomery County schools have been moving (have moved?) to all-day kindergarten in recent years. Check your school, but the ones we looked at (Chevy Chase, Bethesda) were all full-day.

[Anonymous]

Well, that is a very good questions and kindly asked so, thank you for not flaming me. I just thought, after reading this thread for weeks, that someone with the other viewpoint should speak up. Unfortunately the answer isn't pretty. The truth is that there are some echelons of society in this world that are much more accessible to people who went to good private schools (the good part is important). I have seen it so many times. I do not think that is going away anytime soon. It just opens doors, doors that are resistant to those who went to public schools, even the best ones like Langley and Whitman and Higland Park (Dallas, TX) and Greenwich. It nevers hurts you to have gone to a good private school. There is no drawback that I am aware of all else being equal (note:highschool can, of course be awful for some regardless but, for those, its probably going to be awful regardless of where you go. College is usually where those people blossom and private helps with that, too). So, why do I care when I know its not a pretty answer? Well, I grew up in that world, its the world I am comfortable in, and its the world I want my children to be comfortable in even if they don't choose it in the end. Its really the hardest world to get "in" to so, if you think your child may want an open invitation to that world one day, then, write that check and be grateful s/he got into a good private school. It will pay off one way or the other. I just can not imagine getting your child in to a great Washington DC area private school and then turning it down. However, that is me and I do recognize and appreciate that everyone is different and has different values and desires. I just thought the other viewpoint needed to be voiced on this thread since the OP asked...

[Anonymous]

I understand the PP's point about private school bestowing entrance into "some echelons of society," but (1) I just don't buy that's true and (2) even if it is true, it's assuming that's a good thing and something to be encouraged.

If I had to choose between sending my child to a dangerous, truly subpar public school and, say, Sidwell Friends, obviously I'd choose Sidwell. But I will try my hardest to make sure that those aren't my only two options, because frankly, neither of them is very appealing to my family. If there are doors that will not be opened to my child because she doesn't have what some deem the appropriate pedigree, those are doors that I don't want her going through anyway.