Debating private or public

[Anonymous]

We didn’t get our first /second choice. The third choice son did get in is a lovely school but is smaller and … was always a back up. Money is not the issue but I am wondering if our public is going to be a better fit and it’s really hard to tell. We are inbound for Jackson Reed. We also could go to the new MacArthur high school supposedly & are exploring. It’s obvious this section is looked at by both public and private parents making decisions this week. Curious if anyone else is in our position and how that’s going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We didn’t get our first /second choice. The third choice son did get in is a lovely school but is smaller and … was always a back up. Money is not the issue but I am wondering if our public is going to be a better fit and it’s really hard to tell. We are inbound for Jackson Reed. We also could go to the new MacArthur high school supposedly & are exploring. It’s obvious this section is looked at by both public and private parents making decisions this week. Curious if anyone else is in our position and how that’s going.

I think it depends on the kid. My kid would get eating alive. Too big for her.

[Anonymous]

There is a reason why you applied to this school and if money isn't an issue, I would go, but research the outplacement from this school.

[Anonymous]

My child had the same thing happen two years ago. We went public in MD and it is not perfect but they are doing very well and have lots of course options that are interesting and challenging. I am glad we opted for public over the small and less rigorous options left after our first choices didn't work out. This is a very personal decision and depends greatly on what you wanted out of the privates: support? rigor? lots of special activity options? sports?
what made the first and second choice so exciting to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We didn’t get our first /second choice. The third choice son did get in is a lovely school but is smaller and … was always a back up. Money is not the issue but I am wondering if our public is going to be a better fit and it’s really hard to tell. We are inbound for Jackson Reed. We also could go to the new MacArthur high school supposedly & are exploring. It’s obvious this section is looked at by both public and private parents making decisions this week. Curious if anyone else is in our position and how that’s going.

I think it depends on the kid. My kid would get eating alive. Too big for her.

+1. We only applied to two competitive private schools and didn’t bother with a safety because we knew our child would do okay in public, it would just be somewhat suboptimal. If you feel more strongly, then you should send to your safety.

[Anonymous]

I would send your child to the private for one year and switch back to public if you don't like it.

Unless it's a microschool, then no.

[Anonymous]

We told our DC the choice was his, and reminded him that if he chose private and ultimately didn't like it, he could always transfer to JR (where 9th grade is not the strong suit anyway). On the other hand, if he passed up this chance and went to JR and didn't like it, he had no other options but to stick it out.

[Anonymous]

The only thing is that it is sort of hard to go back to public. My son is on the fence about his private school (too small) but switching back to Deal/JR will be a major shock to the system. I do wish we had started in public and then gone private but we started during COVID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We told our DC the choice was his, and reminded him that if he chose private and ultimately didn't like it, he could always transfer to JR (where 9th grade is not the strong suit anyway). On the other hand, if he passed up this chance and went to JR and didn't like it, he had no other options but to stick it out.

True, especially if they are the sort to participate in crew or another robust activity they can still join in 10th when enrolling a year after most have started- that makes an immediate friend group possible. Otherwise better to start at the beginning or stay in small private the whole time.

[Anonymous]

We have one in both. There are pros and cons to both public and private. A lot depends on the kid and his needs. Some kids need a smaller environment to thrive. Others don’t and benefit from the broader course selection in public. Only you and your child can answer which is the better fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have one in both. There are pros and cons to both public and private. A lot depends on the kid and his needs. Some kids need a smaller environment to thrive. Others don’t and benefit from the broader course selection in public. Only you and your child can answer which is the better fit.

I’ve never heard of a broader course selection in public. The private school where your DC is must be a very small school if it has fewer courses than public. Our private has many more courses to choose from than any public school in the county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have one in both. There are pros and cons to both public and private. A lot depends on the kid and his needs. Some kids need a smaller environment to thrive. Others don’t and benefit from the broader course selection in public. Only you and your child can answer which is the better fit.

I’ve never heard of a broader course selection in public. The private school where your DC is must be a very small school if it has fewer courses than public. Our private has many more courses to choose from than any public school in the county.

I don’t believe this at all and you must not have any idea how many courseware on offer at a number of DMV publics. That is simply impossible from a staffing an course management perspective. Does your private have appropriately ten social studies teachers, for example?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have one in both. There are pros and cons to both public and private. A lot depends on the kid and his needs. Some kids need a smaller environment to thrive. Others don’t and benefit from the broader course selection in public. Only you and your child can answer which is the better fit.

I’ve never heard of a broader course selection in public. The private school where your DC is must be a very small school if it has fewer courses than public. Our private has many more courses to choose from than any public school in the county.

You clearly haven’t looked at the course options of schools like Whitman. No private school can match it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would send your child to the private for one year and switch back to public if you don't like it.

+1. This lets you watch what really is happening with potential new public HS for a year. Reality is that if you turn down the backup private, that likely permanently closes any private option…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have one in both. There are pros and cons to both public and private. A lot depends on the kid and his needs. Some kids need a smaller environment to thrive. Others don’t and benefit from the broader course selection in public. Only you and your child can answer which is the better fit.

I’ve never heard of a broader course selection in public. The private school where your DC is must be a very small school if it has fewer courses than public. Our private has many more courses to choose from than any public school in the county.

You clearly haven’t looked at the course options of schools like Whitman. No private school can match it.

Exactly. Same with the other High Schools in MCPS close to DC.
The PP doesn't have a clue.
I have one at a coveted private in lower grades and a high schooler in public. I have looked online at the privates high school offerings, attended PTA meetings about school wide curricula, etc, and while impressive, the options are not nearly as many as the public my older child attends.
More teachers. More kids. More options. There are plenty of reasons one might want their child to attend a private HS but if you are zoned for a school like Churchill, Whitman or BCC, a larger course selection is not one of them.