Just as many (likely more) smart, motivated kids in NOVA as DC and MD, so why the VA private school contempt?

[Anonymous]

These kids have to go to private school somewhere. Most families do not want to schlep across the bridge to DC or MD. That leaves a small handful of private high schools for these kids. So why are Potomac, Madeira, Episcopal, etc always either dismissed or treated with disdain? These schools have incredible facilities, academics and college placement.

What's up with the MD and DC snobbery?

And don't tell me they're all in FCPS, because that is just not true. FCPS is just as bad as MCPS or DCPS.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]These kids have to go to private school somewhere. Most families do not want to schlep across the bridge to DC or MD. That leaves a small handful of private high schools for these kids. So why are Potomac, Madeira, Episcopal, etc always either dismissed or treated with disdain? These schools have incredible facilities, academics and college placement.

What's up with the MD and DC snobbery?

And don't tell me they're all in FCPS, because that is just not true. FCPS is just as bad as MCPS or DCPS.

They do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These kids have to go to private school somewhere. Most families do not want to schlep across the bridge to DC or MD. That leaves a small handful of private high schools for these kids. So why are Potomac, Madeira, Episcopal, etc always either dismissed or treated with disdain? These schools have incredible facilities, academics and college placement.

What's up with the MD and DC snobbery?

And don't tell me they're all in FCPS, because that is just not true. FCPS is just as bad as MCPS or DCPS.

Sorry, your premise is wrong. FCPS is not “just as bad” as DCPS for academic kids.

There is exactly one (1) section of post-AP math in all of DCPS.

So yes, DC kids are much more likely to go private for purely academic reasons than Fairfax kids. Which makes the north-of-the-Potomac privates academically stronger.

[Anonymous]

OP, I have a kid in a NoVA K-8 and there are no good high school options near me. The privates in NoVA are fewer and literally farther between. I don't disdain Potomac but I'm not going to have my kid commute there: we'll do FCPS instead, despite its flaws.

I do think there could be increased demand for additional private schools now. But historically, FCPS has been strong enough to suppress that demand.

Plus people recommend what they're familiar with, which is what's nearby to them. DC and MD folks don't visit us outvgere, lol.

[Anonymous]

I don't think Potomac is viewed that way. Episcopal and Madeira, I agree, are great schools, but their rigor and results are not at the same level as the DC schools and Potomac. They should not be held in disdain, but the facts are the facts.

[Anonymous]

A lot of people have a weird hang up about crossing the river, in either direction, mostly because of traffic issues and let's face it, public transportation in our area is not great- many years ago commuting from Alexandria to upper NW DC, it was faster to drive despite my living near a blue line stop and working at a red line stop. VA people seem more willing to do DC/MD schools because a parent may already be commuting that direction for work.

[Anonymous]

We wanted a Jesuit high school. NoVA doesn’t have one.

[Anonymous]

The really smart kids in NoVa are at TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We wanted a Jesuit high school. NoVA doesn’t have one.

NoVA has massive catholic high schools. The space for a Jesuit school to thrive is narrow- catholic parents who prefer it to avoid schools (and pay far more to do so) under the diocese or non-catholic parents who want a jesuit school. To the extent these parents exist, they are already sending their kids to Jesuit high schools in DC

[Anonymous]

VA is southern and the schools in the south are generally ( not all) terrible OP. And now that you have a red governor, they will get worse. Potomac is the only good private school in NOVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These kids have to go to private school somewhere. Most families do not want to schlep across the bridge to DC or MD. That leaves a small handful of private high schools for these kids. So why are Potomac, Madeira, Episcopal, etc always either dismissed or treated with disdain? These schools have incredible facilities, academics and college placement.

What's up with the MD and DC snobbery?

And don't tell me they're all in FCPS, because that is just not true. FCPS is just as bad as MCPS or DCPS.

Because you can say that the sole reason you are going to private school from DCPS is academics with a straight face. Traditionally, it's a lot harder to say the same thing coming from NoVA or MoCo. The Virginia schools are great ways for wealthy parents to send their kids to a school where they will mingle with other kids who have wealthy parents, but highest level academics are at the public schools.

[Anonymous]

Wait, a private school parent (and one can assume at Madeira/Potomac/Episcopal) complaining about snobbery?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These kids have to go to private school somewhere. Most families do not want to schlep across the bridge to DC or MD. That leaves a small handful of private high schools for these kids. So why are Potomac, Madeira, Episcopal, etc always either dismissed or treated with disdain? These schools have incredible facilities, academics and college placement.

What's up with the MD and DC snobbery?

And don't tell me they're all in FCPS, because that is just not true. FCPS is just as bad as MCPS or DCPS.

Sorry, your premise is wrong. FCPS has its flaws but it’s better overall than DCPS and MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The really smart kids in NoVa are at TJ.

Well, that was historically true anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think Potomac is viewed that way. Episcopal and Madeira, I agree, are great schools, but their rigor and results are not at the same level as the DC schools and Potomac. They should not be held in disdain, but the facts are the facts.

If you are sending your kid to a private school primarily for what people here would describe as "rigor" and "results", you aren't doing it right.