school for nerdy, not super-rich kids?

[Anonymous]

Sorry if this has been asked before and I couldn't find it. We're in Arlington and very new to considering private school, because public isn't rigorous enough. We're poor by private school standards (upper 400s HHI), and I hate the thought of my daughters feeling "less than" or wanting designer clothes/cars/etc. to fit in. Catholic school wouldn't be ideal, because I think one of my kids is gay. Are there any schools you'd recommend with a nerdy, quirky, non-1%ter dominated vibe? Or resources you'd recommend for doing my own research? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

None of the private schools in the DMV are for the super-rich. That happens more in NYC, LA, etc. You would fit in at any of them.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. You’re fine. We have one kid and HHI of $175k. She’s never been treated as or felt like she is “less than”. She uses a Camelbak water bottle and no one makes fun of her for not having a Stanley or whatever it is you think is going to happen to your “poor” girls.

[Anonymous]

Omg you are NOT poor. Give me a break. We have 3 kids in, HHI $350k. Please do not go to a school and apologize for your vacations that only cost $25k rather than $40k. So obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

In Arlington, the public option schools may meet your needs:

For middle school consider the HB lottery for 6th.

For public high school in Arlington you have rigorous option programs like IB @ WL. If anything parents complain it may be too rigorous. Also, due to enrollment imbalances, transfers between certain high schools are fairly easy this year.

You could also enter into the HB lottery for 9th grade. Or look into Arlington Tech for 9th—it’s a great and very unique program.

For progressive private schools, maybe look into GDS (Georgetown Day School). Or Edmund Burke School. The highly regarded Emerson Institute might have been a good fit but sadly they shut down during the pandemic.

Arlington parents have also paid tuition to DCPS in the past for the Duke Ellington School for the Arts. Of course there is an application process and auditions.

[Anonymous]

I was ready to offer some suggestions until I read that OP is “poor” making in the upper $400s. 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry if this has been asked before and I couldn't find it. We're in Arlington and very new to considering private school, because public isn't rigorous enough. We're poor by private school standards (upper 400s HHI), and I hate the thought of my daughters feeling "less than" or wanting designer clothes/cars/etc. to fit in. Catholic school wouldn't be ideal, because I think one of my kids is gay. Are there any schools you'd recommend with a nerdy, quirky, non-1%ter dominated vibe? Or resources you'd recommend for doing my own research? Thank you!

BIM

[Anonymous]

OP. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend by bringing up income. I didn't go to private school (obviously) and I formed that impression of typical class dynamics from a different post on this forum. I'd still value recs for schools with a nerdy, quirky vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend by bringing up income. I didn't go to private school (obviously) and I formed that impression of typical class dynamics from a different post on this forum. I'd still value recs for schools with a nerdy, quirky vibe.

There’s your mistake. Don’t form your opinions on much, but particularly class dynamics, from posts on the forum.

At 400k, you will be in the middle 50% of income at every school in the DC area, except *maybe* Madeira and Foxcroft. You wouldn’t even be the “poorest” full pay boarding family in the NE boarding schools. And these schools aren’t status symbol obsessed like this board. It will be the same scene, or maybe slightly improved, as UMC public’s when it comes to material possessions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of the private schools in the DMV are for the super-rich. That happens more in NYC, LA, etc. You would fit in at any of them.

Also in the 400k-range HHI with one child in a DC private school. I agree that it's not quite like NY or LA, but our daughter is definitely in the lower half of the family income range. The average student in her school has at least one biglaw partner (or equivalent) parent, and as a very rough ballpark, I'd guess that the median HHI in her school is 750K. Not a lot of "super rich," but definitely a good number of kids who have nice summer homes and the like. It's not a huge deal for her, but she's certainly ended up more friendly with the kids who are not from the richest families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend by bringing up income. I didn't go to private school (obviously) and I formed that impression of typical class dynamics from a different post on this forum. I'd still value recs for schools with a nerdy, quirky vibe.

There’s your mistake. Don’t form your opinions on much, but particularly class dynamics, from posts on the forum.

At 400k, you will be in the middle 50% of income at every school in the DC area, except *maybe* Madeira and Foxcroft. You wouldn’t even be the “poorest” full pay boarding family in the NE boarding schools. And these schools aren’t status symbol obsessed like this board. It will be the same scene, or maybe slightly improved, as UMC public’s when it comes to material possessions.

Not true at the Big3. We have kids at two of them and we are definitely, 100% in the bottom quartile of income with a HHI of $400K.

So much so that we receive aid. So clearly the schools themselves agree that we are in their lower income bracket. I know that people think that the aid famlies at these school are making $75K a year but no, most of us are making $200-400K.
We are the "poor" (who are not poor by any other standard).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend by bringing up income. I didn't go to private school (obviously) and I formed that impression of typical class dynamics from a different post on this forum. I'd still value recs for schools with a nerdy, quirky vibe.

I’ll add a little more info to what I wrote above. For private: Edmund Burke School (grades 6-12) or Georgetown Day School (pre-k through high school). Both are in NW D.C. I don’t think you’ll like the all-girls schools like NCS (National Cathedral School) or Holton Arms but you may want to at least research those schools. NCS has a coordinate program with STA (St Albans), the all boys school next door and there are some co-ed classes and sports.

For a strong, academically rigorous public education in Arlington, for grades 6-12, I’d strongly recommend HB Woodlawn, an option school. Since it is very popular, admission is by lottery, so you’ll need to enquire with APS (Arlington Public Schools) regarding admission. It is a small school with strong academics, and a quirky, hippie reputation. You may have seen the building. It’s the unique school building with cascading rooftop terraces designed by an architect out of Denmark.

For high school, I’d recommend applying for the IB program at Washington-Liberty (grades 9-12). It is very rigorous academically, and admission is by application, an essay, and certain academic prerequisites. There is a waitlist since there are more qualified applicants than there are spots.

Also for high school, I’d consider applying to Arlington Tech, the newest of the public school option programs. It is a STEM focused program, and there is a lottery admission since there are limited spots. The new campus is currently under construction, but will be stunning when complete.

[Anonymous]

How about Nysmith?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend by bringing up income. I didn't go to private school (obviously) and I formed that impression of typical class dynamics from a different post on this forum. I'd still value recs for schools with a nerdy, quirky vibe.

There’s your mistake. Don’t form your opinions on much, but particularly class dynamics, from posts on the forum.

At 400k, you will be in the middle 50% of income at every school in the DC area, except *maybe* Madeira and Foxcroft. You wouldn’t even be the “poorest” full pay boarding family in the NE boarding schools. And these schools aren’t status symbol obsessed like this board. It will be the same scene, or maybe slightly improved, as UMC public’s when it comes to material possessions.

Not true at the Big3. We have kids at two of them and we are definitely, 100% in the bottom quartile of income with a HHI of $400K.

So much so that we receive aid. So clearly the schools themselves agree that we are in their lower income bracket. I know that people think that the aid famlies at these school are making $75K a year but no, most of us are making $200-400K.
We are the "poor" (who are not poor by any other standard).

I was going to suggest OP apply for FA. Don’t think it’s there for actual poor people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend by bringing up income. I didn't go to private school (obviously) and I formed that impression of typical class dynamics from a different post on this forum. I'd still value recs for schools with a nerdy, quirky vibe.

There’s your mistake. Don’t form your opinions on much, but particularly class dynamics, from posts on the forum.

At 400k, you will be in the middle 50% of income at every school in the DC area, except *maybe* Madeira and Foxcroft. You wouldn’t even be the “poorest” full pay boarding family in the NE boarding schools. And these schools aren’t status symbol obsessed like this board. It will be the same scene, or maybe slightly improved, as UMC public’s when it comes to material possessions.

Not true at the Big3. We have kids at two of them and we are definitely, 100% in the bottom quartile of income with a HHI of $400K.

So much so that we receive aid. So clearly the schools themselves agree that we are in their lower income bracket. I know that people think that the aid famlies at these school are making $75K a year but no, most of us are making $200-400K.
We are the "poor" (who are not poor by any other standard).

This is why I no longer want to donate to financial aid fundraisers. Id like my money to go to those who truly struggle rather than middle class families who want all their kids in private.