Anyone change their mind and go back to public?

[Anonymous]

Our child was accepted to two schools we like, and we were 99% sure we would send him to one, but now that we are down to the wire on the decision, I am questioning it all and thinking about keeping him in public school after all. Part of the issue is that he has a sibling in public and this would mean different school holidays, spring break, etc. Not the end of the world, but one consideration. He is a quieter kid and we thought a smaller environment would be a better fit for him, and also his writing skills are not great and we think private would address that better. However, our public school is decent and we could always put money toward tutoring. Has anyone ever changed their mind last minute? For some reason I am just having a hard time pulling the trigger and committing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our child was accepted to two schools we like, and we were 99% sure we would send him to one, but now that we are down to the wire on the decision, I am questioning it all and thinking about keeping him in public school after all. Part of the issue is that he has a sibling in public and this would mean different school holidays, spring break, etc. Not the end of the world, but one consideration. He is a quieter kid and we thought a smaller environment would be a better fit for him, and also his writing skills are not great and we think private would address that better. However, our public school is decent and we could always put money toward tutoring. Has anyone ever changed their mind last minute? For some reason I am just having a hard time pulling the trigger and committing.

Of course people do. Sometimes it is because of lack of aid, changed life circumstances, or just changed minds.

[Anonymous]

Go with your gut. Some of these schools ain’t what they’re cracked up to be.

[Anonymous]

Definitely go with your gut. And if your kid already has a peer /friend group that is full of kids who are smart and hard working and make *good choices that is not something to leave without realizing it might be hard to find elsewhere easily, even at the private schools.
But you know your kid. What grade? If this is for a young kid I would say try it and then you can always go back to public. I actually know a number of people who did this. Or stay as is. Only you know.

[Anonymous]

Do what you think is best for your kid and your family.

I do not know your kid. I was the quiet not super athletic introverted kid. I would have drowned in the large classes my public would have had. I am ever so grateful that my parents sacrificed financially for me to be in private - because the smaller class sizes and smaller school size let me breathe and thrive.

No, I did not attend HYPS, but I did get into a good public university and get a useful degree.

[Anonymous]

Ask your kid

[Anonymous]

Yes, very common. In DC's top private she met some nice kids while doing admission events and three of them ended up going to public. I was surprised but then we heard it's the same everywhere. It could be aid or other factors.

[Anonymous]

We changed our mind and stayed public. We hired a tutor and the one-on-one is a game changer. It’s made a world of difference and the child is very happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go with your gut. Some of these schools ain’t what they’re cracked up to be.

1000% this

[Anonymous]

Yes we changed our minds and stayed public. Four years later and zero regrets.

[Anonymous]

I did. I pulled my middle schooler out of private because of the social dynamics. Within 6 weeks, she was begging to go back - class sizes were too large, bad behavior, fights, teachers seemed like they did not want to be there and the academics were lightweight because they were still making up for COVID. She could put in very minimal effort and still get As. But mostly lots of behavioral problems. This is in what is considered an excellent school cluster.

We ended up sending her back to private school and she's been over the moon since. And fortunately, the social dynamic in the class when she returned was better too. Because of this, I will not venture back public school for high school.

[Anonymous]

We've never changed our mind, but since travel is important to us, we would never sign up for different school break schedules. Dealbreaker right there.

[Anonymous]

Something made you go to all the effort to apply and go through the process. We’re you uncertain all the way through? It sounds like you could just be nervous about change.

[Anonymous]

For a quieter kid, one major difference in private is that he will not be over looked or fly under the radar. Private schools nudge kids to participate and get involved. For our reserved daughter that nudge to come out of her shell has been priceless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've never changed our mind, but since travel is important to us, we would never sign up for different school break schedules. Dealbreaker right there.

Thank you so much for your relevant and helpful response.