Sidwell to increase tuition a WHOPPING 6.7%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone willing to share the letter that explained the reasons for such a big jump? My DD is applying and this is a higher increase than at other schools she’s considering. It would be helpful to know what’s driving it.

They started at a lower price point than the other Big3 schools. STA was $51K this current year and NCS was $49K. Sidwell is just catching up.

+1

partly true. STA was higher this year. but for the lower school years this figure is much higher than other big3

STA is both more expensive and charges the same tuition for all grades, 4-12. So whatever point you’re making is wrong. STA is the most expensive school in the DMV.

NCS also changes the same tuition for all grades. It’s US tuition is cheaper by a few hundred dollars but their LS tuition is obviously significantly more expensive.

Field is as expensive as STA: Field tuition for the 2021-22 school year is $51,200.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Administrative bloat is completely out of control. Start there if you want to fix the “inflationary” burden

Counterargument - parents demand this and that and the other thing. In order to stay competitive, the school has to have all of the staff and services. What bloat is there? Be specific, what positions would you eliminate?

They won’t because they can’t.

A few easy ones: one of the middle school librarians (very little value added if any), Freshman Dean role (advisories and others can cover the core responsibilities), and the full time parent relationships coordinator (I don’t know her current title). Separately, my kids’ have had awesome teachers, a terrific and challenging learning environment, and great friends. He condescension of some members of the administration toward parents is palpable, and the narrow range of views that are viewed as acceptable, are disappointing and frustrating. But our kids have gotten terrific, open-minded and engaged teachers with a wide range of interests and backgrounds, and we couldn’t be happier. It’s really just part of the administration we are crazy about. And our kids don’t really need to deal with them and have a terrific school experience which is all that really matters to us in the end. We would take the same path again in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone willing to share the letter that explained the reasons for such a big jump? My DD is applying and this is a higher increase than at other schools she’s considering. It would be helpful to know what’s driving it.

They started at a lower price point than the other Big3 schools. STA was $51K this current year and NCS was $49K. Sidwell is just catching up.

+1

partly true. STA was higher this year. but for the lower school years this figure is much higher than other big3

STA is both more expensive and charges the same tuition for all grades, 4-12. So whatever point you’re making is wrong. STA is the most expensive school in the DMV.

NCS also changes the same tuition for all grades. It’s US tuition is cheaper by a few hundred dollars but their LS tuition is obviously significantly more expensive.

Field is as expensive as STA: Field tuition for the 2021-22 school year is $51,200.

Ah yes Field, the Sarah Lawrence College of DC privates. Perennially among the most expensive and no one really understands why.

[Anonymous]

The schools that charge the same tuition for 4-12 are really a rip-off for the younger grades. You get the max value for your dollar (by far) during high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone willing to share the letter that explained the reasons for such a big jump? My DD is applying and this is a higher increase than at other schools she’s considering. It would be helpful to know what’s driving it.

They started at a lower price point than the other Big3 schools. STA was $51K this current year and NCS was $49K. Sidwell is just catching up.

+1

partly true. STA was higher this year. but for the lower school years this figure is much higher than other big3

STA is both more expensive and charges the same tuition for all grades, 4-12. So whatever point you’re making is wrong. STA is the most expensive school in the DMV.

NCS also changes the same tuition for all grades. It’s US tuition is cheaper by a few hundred dollars but their LS tuition is obviously significantly more expensive.

prior message was not clear. I meant the PK to grade 3 years at bvr/gds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Administrative bloat is completely out of control. Start there if you want to fix the “inflationary” burden

Counterargument - parents demand this and that and the other thing. In order to stay competitive, the school has to have all of the staff and services. What bloat is there? Be specific, what positions would you eliminate?

They won’t because they can’t.

A few easy ones: one of the middle school librarians (very little value added if any), Freshman Dean role (advisories and others can cover the core responsibilities), and the full time parent relationships coordinator (I don’t know her current title). Separately, my kids’ have had awesome teachers, a terrific and challenging learning environment, and great friends. He condescension of some members of the administration toward parents is palpable, and the narrow range of views that are viewed as acceptable, are disappointing and frustrating. But our kids have gotten terrific, open-minded and engaged teachers with a wide range of interests and backgrounds, and we couldn’t be happier. It’s really just part of the administration we are crazy about. And our kids don’t really need to deal with them and have a terrific school experience which is all that really matters to us in the end. We would take the same path again in a heartbeat.

How do you square this with how little they pay teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone willing to share the letter that explained the reasons for such a big jump? My DD is applying and this is a higher increase than at other schools she’s considering. It would be helpful to know what’s driving it.

They started at a lower price point than the other Big3 schools. STA was $51K this current year and NCS was $49K. Sidwell is just catching up.

Is that what they said in the letter?

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine wanting to send my kids to a school where the average family can afford to pay this kind of tuition. What a warped upbringing to provide them.

[Anonymous]

Yawn.

[Anonymous]

Yet the prom cannot be at the hotel because of "the optics."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder what it’s like to live your life having an unhinged and unhealthy grudge against a school you voluntarily pay for your children to attend?

If you don’t like tuition costs, diversity, or the curriculum did the read the website before you applied? Basic due diligence would have determined that Sidwell probably isn’t the school for you.

But it’s not the end of the world! Don’t fall for sunk cost fallacy. There tons of schools that you could potentially transfer your kid to that could be a better fit.

If you’re unhappy with your circumstances, you can change them and the added bonus is that I’m sure there’s a kid and a family that would be absolutely thrilled to take your place. Everyone wins.

Yes, this exactly. Threads like this baffle me. The increases aren’t “unconscionable.” The curriculum isn’t deteriorating.

But if you think it is, there are a lot (A LOT!) of other schools. Attending any one private school is not a requirement in your life. And that’s the beauty of being the “consumer” in this case. You can quite literally take your money elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell pays too much on financial aid.

Percentage?

Not a percentage but the notice said the school is increasing the financial aid budget at a rate at least equal to the tuition increase and establishing a financial aid contingency owing to the inflationary environment.

Teachers deserve a raise. Increasing tuition by 6.7% for FA budget is crazy

it is especially when UMC folk like us are basically being forced out b/c we dont qualify for aid and can barely make the tuition payments. So aid for the lower class and a school full of millionaires. It's so depressing.

If the increase affects your ability to stay, talk to the FA office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't know how many Sidwell parents on this forum have or know senior students. Class of 2022 is one of the strongest but ED/EA results seem very poor this year. Most of us send our kids to SFS for quality education. Sooner or later your kids will be a senior. Parents should express our real concern and interests while paying increasing tuitions.

I don't see where the current senior class is having a poor year with colleges. Something like 25-30% got into their ED's. A bunch of kids have had positive results on EA's and ED2's are coming out over the next few weeks. It is pretty much on par with peer schools and previous years results.

-parent of a senior

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are 16 or 18 national merit semifinalists. However, the majority of top students who have taken the rigor courses have not got in. The EA/ED students are either recruited athletes, URM or those with a hook. The process is not transparent so college AO may not know who are the real top students.

This is patently false.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Administrative bloat is completely out of control. Start there if you want to fix the “inflationary” burden

Counterargument - parents demand this and that and the other thing. In order to stay competitive, the school has to have all of the staff and services. What bloat is there? Be specific, what positions would you eliminate?

They won’t because they can’t.

A few easy ones: one of the middle school librarians (very little value added if any), Freshman Dean role (advisories and others can cover the core responsibilities), and the full time parent relationships coordinator (I don’t know her current title). Separately, my kids’ have had awesome teachers, a terrific and challenging learning environment, and great friends. He condescension of some members of the administration toward parents is palpable, and the narrow range of views that are viewed as acceptable, are disappointing and frustrating. But our kids have gotten terrific, open-minded and engaged teachers with a wide range of interests and backgrounds, and we couldn’t be happier. It’s really just part of the administration we are crazy about. And our kids don’t really need to deal with them and have a terrific school experience which is all that really matters to us in the end. We would take the same path again in a heartbeat.

The three positions you mention, ya, no, you have no idea what you are talking about. Sorry, you just don't.