Going from upper NW public elementary to private

[Anonymous]

We're inbound for one of the elementary schools in UNW that's considered very good, but are considering private for fall 2023 pre-k a variety of reasons. Without getting into the overall pros/cons of public vs private, I'm curious specifically about going from these public elementary schools to private either in upper elementary years, or for 6th grade. I know it's common, but I'm nervous about going to public and either (1) realizing it's not a good fit, and then not being able to get into a top private (we're currently at a "feeder" preschool and feel pretty good about our chances if we go private for pre-k), or (2) it's a good experience, but not being able to get into a good school at 6th grade, since we don't plan to do public middle school. Any experiences/insights would be much appreciated. And because I know it will come up--we can afford tuition, but aren't so wealthy that we wouldn't notice the extra $40k+/year (and even moreso the $80k once our second is in school).

[Anonymous]

We did the same and went private for 6th grade and are returning back to public. Big disappointment and we pay nearly $40,000-not a school with a low reputation but realized it’s not an improvement from public.

[Anonymous]

You don’t say why you are considering public in the first place. What are you weighing against private?

[Anonymous]

Our kid applied to a Big3 school for 6th from a JKLM school and did not get in---out of about 15 classmates applying out to Sidwell/GDS/NCS/STA only one got a spot.
My kid did a year of public middle school (6th) and applied again for 7th and was admitted.
6th grade admissions seem to be hard from DCPS because so many kids apply. A much smaller amount apply out for 7th from DCPS so your odds of getting a spot are greater.

Remember, your child's main "competition" (for lack of a better word) are kids from their own school or district. A private is not going to take an entire class of kids from one feeder elementary. So if they only have 10 spots to start, they'll probably take 1 or 2 max from any one elementary. So when 10-15 apply most do not get in.

[Anonymous]

Granted my information is older, but I did dcps thru sixth way back when, then went to a big three. The first semester my grades weren’t great. Mix of As, abs, and Cs. But then I caught up, and by high school, once grades count, didn’t notice a difference.

Socially I hated the transition. But I liked public elementary school and was glad I was not a lifer. First, the lifers were the least nice snobbiest people, and I was glad I had nicer friends in elementary school than those girls. Second, it meant I had friends at Wilson and other privates, which provided more of a social outlet for me.

I don’t know about admissions. I know it’s harder now. But I would not spend all that money just for that reason. First, they will probably get in somewhere for middle school. Second, I felt bad for the kids who were outplaced because they weren’t a good fit for the school as they got older. Back then it meant you’d switch to Maret or Burke or boarding school. I’m not sure where those kids go now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kid applied to a Big3 school for 6th from a JKLM school and did not get in---out of about 15 classmates applying out to Sidwell/GDS/NCS/STA only one got a spot.
My kid did a year of public middle school (6th) and applied again for 7th and was admitted.
6th grade admissions seem to be hard from DCPS because so many kids apply. A much smaller amount apply out for 7th from DCPS so your odds of getting a spot are greater.

Remember, your child's main "competition" (for lack of a better word) are kids from their own school or district. A private is not going to take an entire class of kids from one feeder elementary. So if they only have 10 spots to start, they'll probably take 1 or 2 max from any one elementary. So when 10-15 apply most do not get in.

Most who would do well there don't get in at all. ten spots and 80 applicants means about 70 disappointed kids.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you considered applying out at 4th grade? That’s an admissions year for a lot of the privates and I think easier than 6th.

[Anonymous]

It’s a numbers game. You have to be realistic.

[Anonymous]

Start in public and only switch if needed, socially or academically. It’s not going to be better in all aspects though, and certainly won’t be quantifiably better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, have you considered applying out at 4th grade? That’s an admissions year for a lot of the privates and I think easier than 6th.

4th isn’t a great year to get into private from public. Worth applying because there are fewer kids applying out of public but know that several of the few available spots seem to go to kids from private schools that end in 3rd.

[Anonymous]

People are applying to privates in record numbers right now so it’s definitely helpful to apply while you have the help of feeder preschool given how competitive it is.

But there are many benefits to being in public school in elementary years. Publics seem best in lower years. Families are invested. Better socio-economic diversity and less entitlement than in privates. Neighborhood friendships can stay with you if child moves to private and provide a good balance to new school friendships. K-12 is a long time to spend at the same school with the same kids. But be prepared to apply several times before 5th grade including in off years when there might be fewer spots but less competition. Preschool head may be able to informally give input, write a letter of recommendation, or put in the good word, if you apply later from public. Also consider hiring a consultant if you apply from public. Consultants aren’t as helpful as applying out of feeder preschool or feeder private elementary.

[Anonymous]

If you really want to end up in private, just know that there are lots of folks in this area who think they can pull off the "switch from public in 4th/6th/9th" strategy. You'll be up against all of them, plus as PP said those who are apply out of schools that end in 3rd/8th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are applying to privates in record numbers right now so it’s definitely helpful to apply while you have the help of feeder preschool given how competitive it is.

But there are many benefits to being in public school in elementary years. Publics seem best in lower years. Families are invested. Better socio-economic diversity and less entitlement than in privates. Neighborhood friendships can stay with you if child moves to private and provide a good balance to new school friendships. K-12 is a long time to spend at the same school with the same kids. But be prepared to apply several times before 5th grade including in off years when there might be fewer spots but less competition. Preschool head may be able to informally give input, write a letter of recommendation, or put in the good word, if you apply later from public. Also consider hiring a consultant if you apply from public. Consultants aren’t as helpful as applying out of feeder preschool or feeder private elementary.

People will be leaving those privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, have you considered applying out at 4th grade? That’s an admissions year for a lot of the privates and I think easier than 6th.

4th isn’t a great year to get into private from public. Worth applying because there are fewer kids applying out of public but know that several of the few available spots seem to go to kids from private schools that end in 3rd.

4th is when we went from public to private. We knew enough about our public school to know what we liked/didn't like -- we weren't basing our decision on rumor or stereotypes. We knew enough about our child to have a sense of what kind of school would be appropriate. Our child was old enough to have an opinion but young enough not to have the final opinion. Several years later, we have no regrets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you really want to end up in private, just know that there are lots of folks in this area who think they can pull off the "switch from public in 4th/6th/9th" strategy. You'll be up against all of them, plus as PP said those who are apply out of schools that end in 3rd/8th.

Aside from Beauvoir, which privates end in 3rd? Isn't that a small pool?