Cons of private school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s an elitist environment. It’s the reason I never wanted my own kids in private school.

That a it of a broad statement. Not all schools are filled with elitists. Maybe places like GDS and Sidwell, but my child's small parochial is hardly elitist. What's wonderful about private school, is you can choose the one that suits you, and if none do, there is always public or home school. A lot better than only having public school as your option (which is the case for those who cannot afford private). Enter school choice and vouchers.

When the cost of walking in the door is half or more than what most people make in a year, yes they are full of elitists.

I know this forum likes to pretend that $500k/year is lower middle class but get real.

Like I said, not all schools are filled with elitists. AND not all schools cost "more than what most people make in a year." My daughter's school is under $10K a year. Most people make quite a bit more than that and financial aid is available for those who don't. So PP, you are wrong once again.

You say that as if $10k/year is a sum the average family can afford. Here’s a hint: it isn’t. It may not be $40k, but it’s still far out of reach if the average household.

Did you read the whole comment? See bolded above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was someone who would have never considered private, then COVID happened so l did it. I think it varies a lot by school so here are some details for context - it’s a DC School with higher end tuition, over 40K for ES. We do not get FA, we don’t have family money or a lot of assets and HHI is less than 300k so it’s a big financial sacrifice.

Pros: more agile than public, so went back in person full time during COVID much sooner; much smaller class size, the teachers really know my kid and provide more targeted personal help (this to me is the #1 pro - my kid caught up academically with one trouble subject very quickly); pretty nice kids and parents, the parents seem less likely to push their kids to be a super high achiever, less Tiger mom types than in our NWDC public; school has way more $ and staff than public so even if you volunteer it’s not a heavy lift like with auctions at public; way less standardized testing; teachers not stressed out.

Cons: very elitist but in a subtle way (they are nice to everyone at school events), like many of the lifer parents never even considered public and belong to expensive and exclusive clubs; no close neighborhood friends so lots of arranging and driving for play dates; cost!!!

This is a good point. Top privates in DC are elitist but it is subtle and not in your face.
Kids generally do pick up on it though. One of the downsides although the academics are strong

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s an elitist environment. It’s the reason I never wanted my own kids in private school.

That a it of a broad statement. Not all schools are filled with elitists. Maybe places like GDS and Sidwell, but my child's small parochial is hardly elitist. What's wonderful about private school, is you can choose the one that suits you, and if none do, there is always public or home school. A lot better than only having public school as your option (which is the case for those who cannot afford private). Enter school choice and vouchers.

When the cost of walking in the door is half or more than what most people make in a year, yes they are full of elitists.

I know this forum likes to pretend that $500k/year is lower middle class but get real.

Like I said, not all schools are filled with elitists. AND not all schools cost "more than what most people make in a year." My daughter's school is under $10K a year. Most people make quite a bit more than that and financial aid is available for those who don't. So PP, you are wrong once again.

You say that as if $10k/year is a sum the average family can afford. Here’s a hint: it isn’t. It may not be $40k, but it’s still far out of reach if the average household.

Did you read the whole comment? See bolded above.

There’s nothing bolded, Karen.

Stop trying to downplay your elitism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not typically mentioned on dcum or IRL, but private schools are often the haven for public school students who’ve had repeated discipline problems. Sending to a private school then is akin to an old fashioned reform school.

This is flat out false for any major private. The reverse is true. Any discipline problems and the kids are out. Privates have almost no discipline issues.

Lol. Come sit in my kids class anytime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Smaller classes = more limited friend group
Tendency to have events in the middle of the work day
Long holiday breaks (can be pro or con)

I know somebody will say the kids are spoiled. IME the kids aren't bratty or rude but they do tend to be assertive in ways our public school friends are not. They are encouraged to ask for what they'd like - a break, another turn - and within reason they generally get it. That may be a pro or a con depending on where you sit when they're asking.

Did you just not see or hear about the Landon kids on the metro?
Oh please private school kids are not better behaved have better morals or anything else for that matter. Absurd.

[Anonymous]

1.The reason many kids are in private are behavioral issues.
2. Private may or may not have faculty to help kids with any issues.
3. Religious privates many are sub par.

[Anonymous]

Another downside is I’m paying the price of college tuition for the school and at the moment I have two tutors - one for English grammar and one for French, and I’m looking for a third one - in Algebra.

Honestly, homeschooling would be best, but I’m not leaving my job for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s an elitist environment. It’s the reason I never wanted my own kids in private school.

That a it of a broad statement. Not all schools are filled with elitists. Maybe places like GDS and Sidwell, but my child's small parochial is hardly elitist. What's wonderful about private school, is you can choose the one that suits you, and if none do, there is always public or home school. A lot better than only having public school as your option (which is the case for those who cannot afford private). Enter school choice and vouchers.

When the cost of walking in the door is half or more than what most people make in a year, yes they are full of elitists.

I know this forum likes to pretend that $500k/year is lower middle class but get real.

Like I said, not all schools are filled with elitists. AND not all schools cost "more than what most people make in a year." My daughter's school is under $10K a year. Most people make quite a bit more than that and financial aid is available for those who don't. So PP, you are wrong once again.

You say that as if $10k/year is a sum the average family can afford. Here’s a hint: it isn’t. It may not be $40k, but it’s still far out of reach if the average household.

Did you read the whole comment? See bolded above.

There’s nothing bolded, Karen.

Stop trying to downplay your elitism.

The name is not Karen, but I forgive you. Yeah, the bolding didn't work, but what I tried to bold was this: "financial aid is available for those who don't." There were many people in my daughter's school receiving financial aid. Families with multiple children. There's obviously a sacrifice involved as well. But you keep sending your kid to failing public schools...if it makes you feel good to save a few bucks to spend on your new car or vacation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1.The reason many kids are in private are behavioral issues.
2. Private may or may not have faculty to help kids with any issues.
3. Religious privates many are sub par.

1. Wrong. Private schools generally expel or "counsel out" kids with behavior issues. Those kids end up in public school. I witnessed this happen in my daughter's school a few times.
2. Right. That's why private schools counsel out kids with those issues. They do generally have people to deal with mild learning differences though.
3. Wrong. My kid just finished 8th grade in a Catholic parochial private and is taking Algebra II with Pre-Calc in 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

The smaller class size is both a con and a pro. My daughter had a boy in her class last year that she didn't like -- very different personalities -- but she had to learn to deal with him because there were times he could not be avoided. It is easy to imagine that some students are unhappy because they can't find close friends among such a small number of options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s an elitist environment. It’s the reason I never wanted my own kids in private school.

That a it of a broad statement. Not all schools are filled with elitists. Maybe places like GDS and Sidwell, but my child's small parochial is hardly elitist. What's wonderful about private school, is you can choose the one that suits you, and if none do, there is always public or home school. A lot better than only having public school as your option (which is the case for those who cannot afford private). Enter school choice and vouchers.

When the cost of walking in the door is half or more than what most people make in a year, yes they are full of elitists.

I know this forum likes to pretend that $500k/year is lower middle class but get real.

Like I said, not all schools are filled with elitists. AND not all schools cost "more than what most people make in a year." My daughter's school is under $10K a year. Most people make quite a bit more than that and financial aid is available for those who don't. So PP, you are wrong once again.

You say that as if $10k/year is a sum the average family can afford. Here’s a hint: it isn’t. It may not be $40k, but it’s still far out of reach if the average household.

Did you read the whole comment? See bolded above.

There’s nothing bolded, Karen.

Stop trying to downplay your elitism.

The name is not Karen, but I forgive you. Yeah, the bolding didn't work, but what I tried to bold was this: "financial aid is available for those who don't." There were many people in my daughter's school receiving financial aid. Families with multiple children. There's obviously a sacrifice involved as well. But you keep sending your kid to failing public schools...if it makes you feel good to save a few bucks to spend on your new car or vacation.

So your school throws a few crumbs at The Poors and you get to feel like you’re not a rich elitist. Bully for you, Midge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1.The reason many kids are in private are behavioral issues.
2. Private may or may not have faculty to help kids with any issues.
3. Religious privates many are sub par.

1. Wrong. Private schools generally expel or "counsel out" kids with behavior issues. Those kids end up in public school. I witnessed this happen in my daughter's school a few times.
2. Right. That's why private schools counsel out kids with those issues. They do generally have people to deal with mild learning differences though.
3. Wrong. My kid just finished 8th grade in a Catholic parochial private and is taking Algebra II with Pre-Calc in 9th grade.

I am not the poster that wrote that but you are wrong.

Honestly crap.

Privates have all the kids that can not hack it in public and they very rarely expel them.
Religious privates in particular are known to do this. They don’t have staff for counseling etc either. Unless you add in the child abusers.

And for math and science education there is nothing comparative in the DMV public is better.

My kids did public and Big Three and boarding like Andover fact private has all the lovely badly behaved mommy and daddy pay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1.The reason many kids are in private are behavioral issues.
2. Private may or may not have faculty to help kids with any issues.
3. Religious privates many are sub par.

1. Wrong. Private schools generally expel or "counsel out" kids with behavior issues. Those kids end up in public school. I witnessed this happen in my daughter's school a few times.
2. Right. That's why private schools counsel out kids with those issues. They do generally have people to deal with mild learning differences though.
3. Wrong. My kid just finished 8th grade in a Catholic parochial private and is taking Algebra II with Pre-Calc in 9th grade.

I am not the poster that wrote that but you are wrong.

Honestly crap.

Privates have all the kids that can not hack it in public and they very rarely expel them.
Religious privates in particular are known to do this. They don’t have staff for counseling etc either. Unless you add in the child abusers.

And for math and science education there is nothing comparative in the DMV public is better.

My kids did public and Big Three and boarding like Andover fact private has all the lovely badly behaved mommy and daddy pay

Put down the wine, Amy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not typically mentioned on dcum or IRL, but private schools are often the haven for public school students who’ve had repeated discipline problems. Sending to a private school then is akin to an old fashioned reform school.

This is flat out false for any major private. The reverse is true. Any discipline problems and the kids are out. Privates have almost no discipline issues.

Lol. If you only knew. I had kids in 2 different private schools. We left one of the schools because the behavior problems were so bad. It was truly shocking. I still have one kid in an amazing private but the other is now in public school and the difference in behavior between schools is night and day. The supposed nurturing school attracted lots of kids with issues that the parents hoped the school would help address.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s an elitist environment. It’s the reason I never wanted my own kids in private school.

That a it of a broad statement. Not all schools are filled with elitists. Maybe places like GDS and Sidwell, but my child's small parochial is hardly elitist. What's wonderful about private school, is you can choose the one that suits you, and if none do, there is always public or home school. A lot better than only having public school as your option (which is the case for those who cannot afford private). Enter school choice and vouchers.

When the cost of walking in the door is half or more than what most people make in a year, yes they are full of elitists.

I know this forum likes to pretend that $500k/year is lower middle class but get real.

Like I said, not all schools are filled with elitists. AND not all schools cost "more than what most people make in a year." My daughter's school is under $10K a year. Most people make quite a bit more than that and financial aid is available for those who don't. So PP, you are wrong once again.

As I said , not like I said. Please use correct grammar.