Why do so many folks pay for private school in this area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The short version is I used to be a public school teacher. If I thought I weren’t getting my money’s worth, I wouldn’t do it.

This. Some of the best teachers at my kids’ private left public school for private to focus on things that have been sacrificed by public..such as essay writing and tests with open ended questions

lol sure...
private schools pay less than public schools. I don't buy it.

They offer one very lucrative benefit that public cannot match, tuition remission.

Wait, what - publics require teachers to pay for heir kids education?? I would jump ship too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm another one who switched my kid from public to private this year. The pandemic and failure of virtual school was the last straw, but I was contemplating a change before that due to his experience in our Title 1 school, where he was basically left to his own devices at "stations" or doing "choice board" activities at his seat while the teacher understandably spent most of the time focused on teaching kids below grade level. There was a constant cycle of testing, it seemed every other month, and my kid said he always finished quickly and had to entertain himself the rest of the time, leading to many wasted days. I was skeptical he was actually learning anything, and I was dismayed by his increasingly negative attitude toward school. This is a kid who is not super motivated anyway, so happy to sit in the back and chat with friends, not doing any work. He is not the type to volunteer for special projects or seek his own enrichment.

This year in private has been night and day. With only 15 kids in a class, no longer can he skirt by under the radar. He has to participate, and is pushed to do more. The learning is more engaging and for the first time ever, he says school is fun and looks forward to going! That alone, to me, is worth the money. I also agree with other posts that the arts, music, foreign language, and sports opportunities are better - and they are built into the curriculum, so it's not like he can opt out (I had previously tried to get him to sign up for band in public but he refused to do anything "extra").

Now, if your super smart kid is motivated and takes initiative, I definitely think they can and will succeed in a large public school. But for average kids who could get lost in the shuffle and become disengaged, I think sometimes a smaller environment with more individual attention could be just the right thing to keep them on track, especially through the delicate middle-early high school period where they are going through a lot developmentally and trying to figure out who they are. We can't get that at our local public, so that is why we pay for private.

Not at the cost of paying for private with not getting instruction for what we pay for. I know how instruction was because of virtual and it wasn’t what I was paying for. Would’ve thought the same as you if I would not have heard first hand what and how the instruction was going. I know public virtual was bad, but I also know my nearly $40 grand wasn’t head and shoulders better. Worse in some core subjects.

I think it's fair to say that virtual learning has been a failure across the board at most schools, with varying degrees of bad. I understand your sentiment that it's painful to pay the tuition rates for bad, even if a relatively better bad. I think that schools are also aware that virtual learning has increased parent awareness/visibility in the sausage-making, so to speak. it's showing up in fundraising challenges, as an example.

This, and seeing how AP results compare equally to publics, is making those struggling to shellout $50k wonder a bit. Those who don’t care and have lots of discretionary, it doesn’t matter. But those who like to or need to consider value are reassessing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm another one who switched my kid from public to private this year. The pandemic and failure of virtual school was the last straw, but I was contemplating a change before that due to his experience in our Title 1 school, where he was basically left to his own devices at "stations" or doing "choice board" activities at his seat while the teacher understandably spent most of the time focused on teaching kids below grade level. There was a constant cycle of testing, it seemed every other month, and my kid said he always finished quickly and had to entertain himself the rest of the time, leading to many wasted days. I was skeptical he was actually learning anything, and I was dismayed by his increasingly negative attitude toward school. This is a kid who is not super motivated anyway, so happy to sit in the back and chat with friends, not doing any work. He is not the type to volunteer for special projects or seek his own enrichment.

This year in private has been night and day. With only 15 kids in a class, no longer can he skirt by under the radar. He has to participate, and is pushed to do more. The learning is more engaging and for the first time ever, he says school is fun and looks forward to going! That alone, to me, is worth the money. I also agree with other posts that the arts, music, foreign language, and sports opportunities are better - and they are built into the curriculum, so it's not like he can opt out (I had previously tried to get him to sign up for band in public but he refused to do anything "extra").

Now, if your super smart kid is motivated and takes initiative, I definitely think they can and will succeed in a large public school. But for average kids who could get lost in the shuffle and become disengaged, I think sometimes a smaller environment with more individual attention could be just the right thing to
keep them on track, especially through the delicate middle-early high school period where they are going through a lot developmentally and trying to figure out who they are. We can't get that at our local public, so that is why we pay for private.

What bothers me most is the promises of what would be covered in the curicullum that did not happen. My child had full school day of virtual-no different hours than in person so it wasn’t a time constraint. It’s happening again this year with important items not covered and I’m ver confident this was happening before and will continue. Just parents aren’t privy to what’s happening in school with not being present. It was only because of the virtual last year that I was made aware of that happening.

Not at the cost of paying for private with not getting instruction for what we pay for. I know how instruction was because of virtual and it wasn’t what I was paying for. Would’ve thought the same as you if I would not have heard first hand what and how the instruction was going. I know public virtual was bad, but I also know my nearly $40 grand wasn’t head and shoulders better. Worse in some core subjects.

I think it's fair to say that virtual learning has been a failure across the board at most schools, with varying degrees of bad. I understand your sentiment that it's painful to pay the tuition rates for bad, even if a relatively better bad. I think that schools are also aware that virtual learning has increased parent awareness/visibility in the sausage-making, so to speak. it's showing up in fundraising challenges, as an example.

What bother me most is the promise of the curicullum. My child’s school was virtual full day-same as in person hours. Therefore, time constraints was not a factor of topics getting missed. It’s happened omg again this year and I am convinced has always been this way and will continue. Only because of virtual was I made aware and I suspect most parents don’t know.m because they aren’t privy normally to hearing what’s happening in school first hand. Like myself, I believe many assume it would be better and don’t question it or ignore it. One assumes that the the tuition you pay for fixes what private can’t do. I feel foolish and know better now. English is the most that I expected to be better and has actually been the worst. Disappointing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The short version is I used to be a public school teacher. If I thought I weren’t getting my money’s worth, I wouldn’t do it.

Are you at a Catholic or independent school? Our private middle school does almost zero worksheets and has a very strong focus on writing and critical thinking. We have essay assignments in both social studies and language arts every week. They have speech and debate where they have to choose a topic, do research and present. They do a to of science labs. They have 15 kids per class get a lot of one-on-one attention. The experience is vastly different from public school.

My child is at one of the top ones in DC without giving away too much info. Its not coed and is known for rigor and no, it’s not St. Albans. Only focus in English is grammar and essay after reading novel. No instruction at all with writing. No sentence fluency lesson, no critical thinking assignments, no paragraph practice, or anything else that that I’m missing that would lend to gaining better writing knowledge. They write in many classes, but for general purposes and not to get better at it. Again, the class targeted for this (English) has no writing instruction. No science labs this year and in fact one thing that occurred last year-I heard teacher promise on virtual with my own ears that they would get to do a lab. Teacher bailed when the kids were told the teacher wanted to give more notes on new topic before final. This was a huge disappointment to my son as it would’ve been and should’ve been a priority considering they would have done labs in a normal year. Teacher certainly could have done it-the kids were attending school at hybrid at that point. And a lab experiment would have been better for learning than more giving notes for the sake of giving more notes. This school has some good but is in desperate need
of an overhaul. I’ve tried to get answers and brought up the topic of what is in curicullum is not getting passed down, I get the vibe of “how dare I question it” and some BS answer. It just gets brushed under the rug.
Glad however that your child is receiving all that he/she should. Like I said, some things are good with the school, but many are being fooled and I really think the school believes grammar lessons are more important than writing instruction. I’m not knocking grammar lessons but not at the exclusion of writing lessons. Major overhaul needed but it won’t happen, long tradition and would have to get rid of the older major decision makers. Anyone who would try to make changes have their hands tied with the older decision makers controlling everything.

Ah the only non-coed top private (school known for rigor) in DC that isn’t STA is NCS. So your DD at NCS….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So curious, as this area is recognized as a top 10 public school system in the nation. In this climate of social change, where as diversity / inclusion / anti-privilege is more driving change, why subject yourself to the perception (whether right or wrong) of privilege, especially when AOs are now pivoting towards more socially well-rounded experiences and stories of struggle / perseverance. Is it worth the price, stress, dealing with the Jones, etc?

Never apologize for being wealthy if you earned your money legally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's just another symptom of the competitiveness of the area and the guilt and insecurity of the parents. It's sad, really.

If you are rich, why not do private? Give your kids every advantage you can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just another symptom of the competitiveness of the area and the guilt and insecurity of the parents. It's sad, really.

If you are rich, why not do private? Give your kids every advantage you can.

Because what I have learned is that private is not always better. It has not proven to be an advantage at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just another symptom of the competitiveness of the area and the guilt and insecurity of the parents. It's sad, really.

If you are rich, why not do private? Give your kids every advantage you can.

Because what I have learned is that private is not always better. It has not proven to be an advantage at all.

By what metric do you say it’s no advantage at all? Are you assuming that everyone gauges the advantages by the same metric? Our student is much more engaged academically, is more calm, and socially confident in private school than she was in public. The advantage for her mental health is enormous.

[Anonymous]

Great elementary school, ok middle school, high school was going downhill and growing larger—-we switched to private for high school after k-8 public and kids and parents are incredibly happy. Kids are thriving and engaged after boredom in public.

Also, Covid really did a number on our public. Standards based learning on the horizon and teaching to lowest common denominator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just another symptom of the competitiveness of the area and the guilt and insecurity of the parents. It's sad, really.

If you are rich, why not do private? Give your kids every advantage you can.

Because what I have learned is that private is not always better. It has not proven to be an advantage at all.

So you should not pay for it. And those who do find value should.

Unless you have appointed yourself the grand poobah of valuation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just another symptom of the competitiveness of the area and the guilt and insecurity of the parents. It's sad, really.

If you are rich, why not do private? Give your kids every advantage you can.

Because what I have learned is that private is not always better. It has not proven to be an advantage at all.

So you should not pay for it. And those who do find value should.

Unless you have appointed yourself the grand poobah of valuation.

What an odd comment. The poster asked a question and followed up with the assumption that private is an advantage. Private does not equate to advantage always. Im afraid you beat me to appointing yourself grand poobah first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just another symptom of the competitiveness of the area and the guilt and insecurity of the parents. It's sad, really.

If you are rich, why not do private? Give your kids every advantage you can.

Because what I have learned is that private is not always better. It has not proven to be an advantage at all.

By what metric do you say it’s no advantage at all? Are you assuming that everyone gauges the advantages by the same metric? Our student is much more engaged academically, is more calm, and socially confident in private school than she was in public. The advantage for her mental health is enormous.

You can say that they are ______, but how can you say they are more ______? You can’t compare as they only know one way. And your $200k says you need to say this to justify your decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The short version is I used to be a public school teacher. If I thought I weren’t getting my money’s worth, I wouldn’t do it.

This. Some of the best teachers at my kids’ private left public school for private to focus on things that have been sacrificed by public..such as essay writing and tests with open ended questions

My child’s private school does no writing instruction whatsoever or critical thinking exercises. Just dated grammar lessons in English class that has not and does not help with writing. I would say it actually hurts advancing in writing because it excludes all writing instruction. But boy, do we know many types of pronouns. I’m not against grammar instruction, but not at the exclusion of writing instruction. Essays are done (again with no lessons leading up to it) but they are also done at what would be our public home school as well. I suppose the private thinks it’s just learned through osmosis. Did our due diligence and met with school, talked about curicullum, read the curicullum which does state what to expect each year to be taught, but at least for this class it has not happen and isn’t being taught now. It’s been disappointing and brought up, but brushed under the rug. Told that essays are done. Yes, but where’s the instruction to progress-that’s what school is set up for-to teach. Actually, had a mom whose child already went through our grade warn us that this class for this grade was underwhelming and hyper focused on grammar and a weak spot in the school. She was not wrong.
I’m not saying private is not worth it for those who value it, but for what we pay, it has not been head and shoulders over public. Not even close. Feels like a bait and switch in a way. Some things are good but for what we pay and how they portray themselves-its been a disappointment. This is a school with a great reputation. Couldn’t find any negatives before committing but should’ve listened to the small part of me that felt it seemed too good to be true. It’s turned out to be just that.
If you want private, go for it, I think it’s anyone’s choice. However, for those who think private is inherently superior, I wouldn’t count on it as a sure thing. I was suckered.

That’s too bad our k-8 has an amazing writing program as part of its curriculum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The short version is I used to be a public school teacher. If I thought I weren’t getting my money’s worth, I wouldn’t do it.

This. Some of the best teachers at my kids’ private left public school for private to focus on things that have been sacrificed by public..such as essay writing and tests with open ended questions

My child’s private school does no writing instruction whatsoever or critical thinking exercises. Just dated grammar lessons in English class that has not and does not help with writing. I would say it actually hurts advancing in writing because it excludes all writing instruction. But boy, do we know many types of pronouns. I’m not against grammar instruction, but not at the exclusion of writing instruction. Essays are done (again with no lessons leading up to it) but they are also done at what would be our public home school as well. I suppose the private thinks it’s just learned through osmosis. Did our due diligence and met with school, talked about curicullum, read the curicullum which does state what to expect each year to be taught, but at least for this class it has not happen and isn’t being taught now. It’s been disappointing and brought up, but brushed under the rug. Told that essays are done. Yes, but where’s the instruction to progress-that’s what school is set up for-to teach. Actually, had a mom whose child already went through our grade warn us that this class for this grade was underwhelming and hyper focused on grammar and a weak spot in the school. She was not wrong.
I’m not saying private is not worth it for those who value it, but for what we pay, it has not been head and shoulders over public. Not even close. Feels like a bait and switch in a way. Some things are good but for what we pay and how they portray themselves-its been a disappointment. This is a school with a great reputation. Couldn’t find any negatives before committing but should’ve listened to the small part of me that felt it seemed too good to be true. It’s turned out to be just that.
If you want private, go for it, I think it’s anyone’s choice. However, for those who think private is inherently superior, I wouldn’t count on it as a sure thing. I was suckered.

That’s too bad our k-8 has an amazing writing program as part of its curriculum

Unfortunately, I agree with the other poster as our program was not as advertised. But they had a glossy brochure that said otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just another symptom of the competitiveness of the area and the guilt and insecurity of the parents. It's sad, really.

If you are rich, why not do private? Give your kids every advantage you can.

Because what I have learned is that private is not always better. It has not proven to be an advantage at all.

By what metric do you say it’s no advantage at all? Are you assuming that everyone gauges the advantages by the same metric? Our student is much more engaged academically, is more calm, and socially confident in private school than she was in public. The advantage for her mental health is enormous.

My metrics are not based on the generalities you stated. No, not all gauges advantages by the same metric, however, academics would be up there. My child’s school is not providing any writing instruction and has other deficiencies that they were not truthful about. As I said, I had the fortunate or unfortunate opportunity to witness this first hand. Am I getting what I paid for? Definitely not and has not proven to be an advantage. Mental health has not been an issue in public or private, so I wouldn’t say that has been an advantage at private for my child. If anything, it has been a disadvantage because homework load is very heavy and school lacks a balance in that regard.