Elite private school for typical smart kid

[Anonymous]

Do you think an unhooked smart kid is better off in public?

We know a family who sends their kid to St Albans and it seems like the mom has been rejected socially. It seems like a lot of trouble and money to attend an elite school to not be included. Parents are wealthy enough to full pay but not rich. Parents attended good schools but not ivy. I know they want their kids to go to an ivy or equivalent.

[Anonymous]

What does unhooked mean???

I keep seeing that word on this board and have no clue what it mean.

Is it something only rich white people know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does unhooked mean???

I keep seeing that word on this board and have no clue what it mean.

Is it something only rich white people know?

Unhooked means you have no advantage in college admissions. Being an alum, being an under represented minority or a recruited athlete.

An Asian or white kid who is not a recruited athlete and does not have legacy status is considered unhooked.

[Anonymous]

Is the kid happy? If yes, who cares whether the mom is happy or accepted socially -- she is not the one enrolled in school.

[Anonymous]

OP MYOB

Why do you care?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think an unhooked smart kid is better off in public?

We know a family who sends their kid to St Albans and it seems like the mom has been rejected socially. It seems like a lot of trouble and money to attend an elite school to not be included. Parents are wealthy enough to full pay but not rich. Parents attended good schools but not ivy. I know they want their kids to go to an ivy or equivalent.

I went to a NE boarding school (Andover/Exeter). I’m not at all from a super wealthy family, although not on FA. I absolutely felt included and found my people. I also was SO much more engaged in school there than in my public school (and it was a strong school district in the NYC suburbs). That’s the value of that school for me, not social connections or college admissions (although I got into both colleges I applied to).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think an unhooked smart kid is better off in public?

We know a family who sends their kid to St Albans and it seems like the mom has been rejected socially. It seems like a lot of trouble and money to attend an elite school to not be included. Parents are wealthy enough to full pay but not rich. Parents attended good schools but not ivy. I know they want their kids to go to an ivy or equivalent.

Many families that prioritize academics left public schools. So it is much easier for a smart academically minded kid to find their peeps in private. That’s part of why we go, even though financially it is very hard.

Parental inclusion? How old is DD, because after 4th it’s all drop off events and I’m not looking to make parent friends. Sure I’ll be friendly and chat when we encounter each other, but how often would that even happen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP MYOB

Why do you care?

I care because I’m in the same boat considering schools for my three children. We can afford it. We have a low seven figure income but not from family money.

I hear stories from them on how the groups are cliquey. They say kids are happy but they don’t look happy. My kids are more athletic and I’m sure they would make varsity sports teams but unlikely to be a recruited athlete. My boys are good golfers and tennis players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think an unhooked smart kid is better off in public?

We know a family who sends their kid to St Albans and it seems like the mom has been rejected socially. It seems like a lot of trouble and money to attend an elite school to not be included. Parents are wealthy enough to full pay but not rich. Parents attended good schools but not ivy. I know they want their kids to go to an ivy or equivalent.

Many families that prioritize academics left public schools. So it is much easier for a smart academically minded kid to find their peeps in private. That’s part of why we go, even though financially it is very hard.

Parental inclusion? How old is DD, because after 4th it’s all drop off events and I’m not looking to make parent friends. Sure I’ll be friendly and chat when we encounter each other, but how often would that even happen

Are you saying parents don’t prioritize education if they send their kids to public?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think an unhooked smart kid is better off in public?

We know a family who sends their kid to St Albans and it seems like the mom has been rejected socially. It seems like a lot of trouble and money to attend an elite school to not be included. Parents are wealthy enough to full pay but not rich. Parents attended good schools but not ivy. I know they want their kids to go to an ivy or equivalent.

Many families that prioritize academics left public schools. So it is much easier for a smart academically minded kid to find their peeps in private. That’s part of why we go, even though financially it is very hard.

Parental inclusion? How old is DD, because after 4th it’s all drop off events and I’m not looking to make parent friends. Sure I’ll be friendly and chat when we encounter each other, but how often would that even happen

Are you saying parents don’t prioritize education if they send their kids to public?

I’m not OP, but I’ll be honest since it’s anonymous: if you can afford an excellent private school and choose to send your kids to a public school, despite knowing it has problems (and that’s not all public schools, so that’s an important caveat), then yes — I think that shows you don’t prioritize education. Prioritizing education means sending your kids to the absolute best place you can, whether that’s public or private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think an unhooked smart kid is better off in public?

We know a family who sends their kid to St Albans and it seems like the mom has been rejected socially. It seems like a lot of trouble and money to attend an elite school to not be included. Parents are wealthy enough to full pay but not rich. Parents attended good schools but not ivy. I know they want their kids to go to an ivy or equivalent.

Many families that prioritize academics left public schools. So it is much easier for a smart academically minded kid to find their peeps in private. That’s part of why we go, even though financially it is very hard.

Parental inclusion? How old is DD, because after 4th it’s all drop off events and I’m not looking to make parent friends. Sure I’ll be friendly and chat when we encounter each other, but how often would that even happen

Are you saying parents don’t prioritize education if they send their kids to public?

I’m not OP, but I’ll be honest since it’s anonymous: if you can afford an excellent private school and choose to send your kids to a public school, despite knowing it has problems (and that’s not all public schools, so that’s an important caveat), then yes — I think that shows you don’t prioritize education. Prioritizing education means sending your kids to the absolute best place you can, whether that’s public or private.

This fool still thinks private education gives any advantage over public education. Taking out St. Albans and Sidwell, the college admissions are practically identical for public and private in the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think an unhooked smart kid is better off in public?

We know a family who sends their kid to St Albans and it seems like the mom has been rejected socially. It seems like a lot of trouble and money to attend an elite school to not be included. Parents are wealthy enough to full pay but not rich. Parents attended good schools but not ivy. I know they want their kids to go to an ivy or equivalent.

Many families that prioritize academics left public schools. So it is much easier for a smart academically minded kid to find their peeps in private. That’s part of why we go, even though financially it is very hard.

Parental inclusion? How old is DD, because after 4th it’s all drop off events and I’m not looking to make parent friends. Sure I’ll be friendly and chat when we encounter each other, but how often would that even happen

Are you saying parents don’t prioritize education if they send their kids to public?

I’m not OP, but I’ll be honest since it’s anonymous: if you can afford an excellent private school and choose to send your kids to a public school, despite knowing it has problems (and that’s not all public schools, so that’s an important caveat), then yes — I think that shows you don’t prioritize education. Prioritizing education means sending your kids to the absolute best place you can, whether that’s public or private.

We live in McLean where public schools are excellent. My kids are doing well. We can afford private but our kids are doing fine. I’m not sure fine is enough. Many people move here for the top schools, which is why we also moved here. I’m not sure if the extra commute and $50k per kid per year is worth it.

[Anonymous]

Why are you people falling for an obvious and badly done troll?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think an unhooked smart kid is better off in public?

We know a family who sends their kid to St Albans and it seems like the mom has been rejected socially. It seems like a lot of trouble and money to attend an elite school to not be included. Parents are wealthy enough to full pay but not rich. Parents attended good schools but not ivy. I know they want their kids to go to an ivy or equivalent.

I went to a NE boarding school (Andover/Exeter). I’m not at all from a super wealthy family, although not on FA. I absolutely felt included and found my people. I also was SO much more engaged in school there than in my public school (and it was a strong school district in the NYC suburbs). That’s the value of that school for me, not social connections or college admissions (although I got into both colleges I applied to).

They certainly taught delusion. Full pay at Andover/Exeter and you don't think you're wealth. You don't think there was value in admissions, but you were confident enough to only apply to two schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think an unhooked smart kid is better off in public?

We know a family who sends their kid to St Albans and it seems like the mom has been rejected socially. It seems like a lot of trouble and money to attend an elite school to not be included. Parents are wealthy enough to full pay but not rich. Parents attended good schools but not ivy. I know they want their kids to go to an ivy or equivalent.

I went to a NE boarding school (Andover/Exeter). I’m not at all from a super wealthy family, although not on FA. I absolutely felt included and found my people. I also was SO much more engaged in school there than in my public school (and it was a strong school district in the NYC suburbs). That’s the value of that school for me, not social connections or college admissions (although I got into both colleges I applied to).

Both Phillips Academy at Andover and Phillips Exeter Academy were founded on egalitarian principles & mission. Other super elite NE boarding schools--such as St.Paul's School--were founded to educate the sons and daughters of the wealthy & powerful.