More Affordable Quality Independent School

[Anonymous]

This may be an oxymoron, but we are seeking a more affordable quality independent school. We have 3 children and have tried upper NWDC public schools, but we have reached our tipping point. And yes, our children have different needs. Our rising 5th grader will thrive in any learning environment. He’s just wired that way, loves learning and is curious. Our rising 2nd grade needs a smaller classroom size and more individual attention than we can get in a 30-student DCPS, even with the best educators. Our prek kid still naps and loves friends, snacks, imaginative play, colors and numbers.

We are on one income at $250k/year and would love a school in NWDC or not too far in MD or VA on the west side (e.g. Bethesda or Arlington)

Thank you for your help with possible schools to consider in the fall for 2024-2025 enrollment.

[Anonymous]

On the one income you need to keep your rising 5th grader in public school. It's too early to tell what your pre-k child will need, but I'd give public a try. Then you can explore options for the child who will most benefit from it.

[Anonymous]

You can’t afford it, sorry.

[Anonymous]

If you can add a second income or there is a legitimate reason one of you cannot work (like a disability- choosing to be a SAH parent doesn't count), then you'll either be able to afford it if if 2nd income is high enough, or you'll qualify for financial aid if 2nd income doesn't get you all the way there. Your other option for less tuition is catholic school which is less expensive. Class sizes will likely be a little bigger than at the NWDC privates, but might work for you. Or as PP said, you keep children 1 and 3 in public and just look for child 2 who at the moment seems to need it most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may be an oxymoron, but we are seeking a more affordable quality independent school. We have 3 children and have tried upper NWDC public schools, but we have reached our tipping point. And yes, our children have different needs. Our rising 5th grader will thrive in any learning environment. He’s just wired that way, loves learning and is curious. Our rising 2nd grade needs a smaller classroom size and more individual attention than we can get in a 30-student DCPS, even with the best educators. Our prek kid still naps and loves friends, snacks, imaginative play, colors and numbers.

We are on one income at $250k/year and would love a school in NWDC or not too far in MD or VA on the west side (e.g. Bethesda or Arlington)

Thank you for your help with possible schools to consider in the fall for 2024-2025 enrollment.

Boys or girls? You'll have to drive a bit and parochial schools may be your best bet for the $$. Places like St Stephen's & St Agnes, St Anselms, or Georgetown Visitation (for girls) are good and cheaper than the Sidwell, GDS, Marets, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may be an oxymoron, but we are seeking a more affordable quality independent school. We have 3 children and have tried upper NWDC public schools, but we have reached our tipping point. And yes, our children have different needs. Our rising 5th grader will thrive in any learning environment. He’s just wired that way, loves learning and is curious. Our rising 2nd grade needs a smaller classroom size and more individual attention than we can get in a 30-student DCPS, even with the best educators. Our prek kid still naps and loves friends, snacks, imaginative play, colors and numbers.

We are on one income at $250k/year and would love a school in NWDC or not too far in MD or VA on the west side (e.g. Bethesda or Arlington)

Thank you for your help with possible schools to consider in the fall for 2024-2025 enrollment.

Boys or girls? You'll have to drive a bit and parochial schools may be your best bet for the $$. Places like St Stephen's & St Agnes, St Anselms, or Georgetown Visitation (for girls) are good and cheaper than the Sidwell, GDS, Marets, etc.

Why drive anywhere…just go to Blessed Sacrament and SJC? My guess is that OP is not a fan of parochial which is why they specifically said independent.

Your best bet is to apply to a wide range and try to get FA. You are lucky that you have GDS, Sidwell and Beauvoir all fairly close. Clearly, you won’t be able to afford if you are full pay…and remember tuition will increase 5%-8% per year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may be an oxymoron, but we are seeking a more affordable quality independent school. We have 3 children and have tried upper NWDC public schools, but we have reached our tipping point. And yes, our children have different needs. Our rising 5th grader will thrive in any learning environment. He’s just wired that way, loves learning and is curious. Our rising 2nd grade needs a smaller classroom size and more individual attention than we can get in a 30-student DCPS, even with the best educators. Our prek kid still naps and loves friends, snacks, imaginative play, colors and numbers.

We are on one income at $250k/year and would love a school in NWDC or not too far in MD or VA on the west side (e.g. Bethesda or Arlington)

Thank you for your help with possible schools to consider in the fall for 2024-2025 enrollment.

You haven't described what is not working in public and what your priorities are for private.

My advice is to apply all three to several schools, more than you would otherwise consider. And apply for financial aid at all of them-- target schools with moderate to large endowments as those are more financially secure schools and are more likely to have resources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may be an oxymoron, but we are seeking a more affordable quality independent school. We have 3 children and have tried upper NWDC public schools, but we have reached our tipping point. And yes, our children have different needs. Our rising 5th grader will thrive in any learning environment. He’s just wired that way, loves learning and is curious. Our rising 2nd grade needs a smaller classroom size and more individual attention than we can get in a 30-student DCPS, even with the best educators. Our prek kid still naps and loves friends, snacks, imaginative play, colors and numbers.

We are on one income at $250k/year and would love a school in NWDC or not too far in MD or VA on the west side (e.g. Bethesda or Arlington)

Thank you for your help with possible schools to consider in the fall for 2024-2025 enrollment.

Boys or girls? You'll have to drive a bit and parochial schools may be your best bet for the $$. Places like St Stephen's & St Agnes, St Anselms, or Georgetown Visitation (for girls) are good and cheaper than the Sidwell, GDS, Marets, etc.

SSSAS is episcopal and Visi (and, I think, St Anselms) are not parochial (they are run by religious orders not the parish. SSSAS is not meaningfully less than Sidwell, GDS, etc. and is about $5K more expensive than Maret (at least for the upper division).

[Anonymous]

Try the Heights

[Anonymous]

Concord Hill for the younger 2 or possibly WES for all 3. Neither is "affordable" but they are less than the Sidwell/GDS set. If you're open to Montessori you could look at Oneness Montessori in Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On the one income you need to keep your rising 5th grader in public school. It's too early to tell what your pre-k child will need, but I'd give public a try. Then you can explore options for the child who will most benefit from it.

Sorry Johnny, mommy and daddy flipped coins to see who got the quality education and you lost. OP, you might be able to stretch to get all three into private, but if you do, you'll have no hope of saving enough for retirement and college. When little Johnny is applying for financial aid in college, no one will care that you decided to spend you money on private.

[Anonymous]

Sandy Spring

[Anonymous]

As someone who is almost done with going the public route in NW schools, I can tell you that I see very little difference in outcome between those of who went private v public. Unless one of the kids has true special needs, save your money, fund your retirement and/or college plans instead. The SAH parent can do a lot w/supplementing, etc.

[Anonymous]

I would speak with the independents to see what FA is likely. Most of the top tier schools have generous FA available, but much of it may already be allocated for students in the upper grades (which would affect your 2nd & 5th graders).

My understanding is many of the parochials schools are the most reasonable as far as cost. Anunciation in Upper NW would cost about 30k for all 3 of your kids (without FA) versus Sidwell/GDS at between 45k and 51k per child.

[Anonymous]

Another unicorn hunter!