DC privates educating suburban kids

[Anonymous]

I know this topic has been brought up before, but this is just one thing that continues to irk me. Don’t DC privates have some responsibility to the city and its residents especially since most (if not all) are tax exempt entities. I remember Anthony Williams wasn’t too happy about this, and now I can totally see his point. Why isn’t there a tier system that will allow for qualified city children to get in first before taking in suburban kids (I’d feel better about this if we had a commuter tax but that is a different issue all together). This about scarce resources being given to people who don’t even live here. Don’t get me wrong, most of the kids and families are great but I’m tired of seeing qualified DC children losing out on their first or second choice schools that seem to be filled with suburban kids that come from areas with already good public schools. That’s not fair.

[Anonymous]

Completele disagree. These DC private schools are not meant to be magnet schools for the area's children.

[Anonymous]

I agree with you OP. I think that city residents should get a preference in their applications.

[Anonymous]

Private schools are businesses are should not be held to any standard like that, OP. Ridiculous.

- DC Resident.

[Anonymous]

Completely disagree. Quit whining.

- Another DC resident.

[Anonymous]

The schools are private--not public--so that means they can take whomever they want. There are plenty of D.C. kids in our Maryland private schools and you don't hear us complaining. It's not our fault that you chose to live in an area that has poor public schools, that's YOUR fault. If you want better public schools, then you should move to an area that has them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I know this topic has been brought up before, but this is just one thing that continues to irk me. Don’t DC privates have some responsibility to the city and its residents especially since most (if not all) are tax exempt entities. I remember Anthony Williams wasn’t too happy about this, and now I can totally see his point. Why isn’t there a tier system that will allow for qualified city children to get in first before taking in suburban kids (I’d feel better about this if we had a commuter tax but that is a different issue all together). This about scarce resources being given to people who don’t even live here. Don’t get me wrong, most of the kids and families are great but I’m tired of seeing qualified DC children losing out on their first or second choice schools that seem to be filled with suburban kids that come from areas with already good public schools. That’s not fair.

Do any DC residents attend private or public K-12 schools and colleges not located in DC? DC residents get what tuition at UVA? Sweetie, I hate to tell you but it seems to me that many students who live in close proximity to DC privates are admitted and are less qualified than those from burbs . Burbites are held to a higher standard and often are admitted as fully formed teens .

[Anonymous]

OP I do not think you understand what private school is if this is your belief. You must not come from a family with a long tradition of private schooling. No private school owes anything to the State (or District) it resides in other than its normal law abiding duties. Its a private school and exists to educate whomever it chooses to admit, period.

-another DC resident

[Anonymous]

Sidwell's lower school is in Bethesda. Does this mean you think Sidwell should give preference to Montgomery County applicants through middle school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private schools are businesses are should not be held to any standard like that, OP. Ridiculous.

- DC Resident.

Actually, they are required to serve the public good under their tax exemption unlike a for-profit business. As a neighbor of several of them, I can tell you that I would look upon them quite differently if our child was not accepted and I would be inclined to oppose all construction projects they wish to undertake, etc. in the future. They definitely understand that they need to keep their neighbors happy, so they actually do accept the very local kids on a preferred basis. But if you live out of the immediate neighborhood, they don't care where you live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell's lower school is in Bethesda. Does this mean you think Sidwell should give preference to Montgomery County applicants through middle school?

Nice. Good point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private schools are businesses are should not be held to any standard like that, OP. Ridiculous.

- DC Resident.

Actually, they are required to serve the public good under their tax exemption unlike a for-profit business. As a neighbor of several of them, I can tell you that I would look upon them quite differently if our child was not accepted and I would be inclined to oppose all construction projects they wish to undertake, etc. in the future. They definitely understand that they need to keep their neighbors happy, so they actually do accept the very local kids on a preferred basis. But if you live out of the immediate neighborhood, they don't care where you live.

The public good that private schools serve is educating children. Period.

[Anonymous]

Born and raised in DC. That's an absurd idea.

[Anonymous]

If it will make you feel better please know that I am a DC resident and I am sending my DD to a private in MD. I really do not think it matters when it comes to private school. They take who they want, it does not matter where you live.

[Anonymous]

OP, I see your point, but this will never change b/c the schools are private. By definition, privates can accept who they want.