Schools accepting late apps

[Anonymous]

The public schools are offering the same class size as our expensive private schools.

[Anonymous]

Look, if class size is the only thing that drew you to private school in the first place, then in that case send your children to public school. My daughter is going to Norwood this fall, and 16 kids, 18 kids, whatever, I have no doubt that this is a better choice for us at this point than our local public school. The art and music program are fabulous, the academic program is excellent, and they have wonderful, flexible aftercare problems that don't leave me scrambling for part-time nannies or classes or feeling that she's been warehoused somewhere. We're willing to pay for the whole package even if the class size is not particularly small or if they use the same curriculum as other public schools.

Down the road we may switch to public school. Some of the things I value at Norwood now may not be as important in four or five years. We may find that public schools are better in some areas or for some ages. We may change jobs and find that we can no longer afford the tuition. The point is that the decision between this particular private school and this particular public school is very individual and involves many factors, so at the end of the, while I find it informative to know that some public schools have classes that are just as small as those private schools, I don't think it makes sense to fixate on it.

[Anonymous]

...art and music programs
...aftercare programs
...at the end of the day

sigh

[Anonymous]

and there're more...

sigh sigh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look, if class size is the only thing that drew you to private school in the first place, then in that case send your children to public school. My daughter is going to Norwood this fall, and 16 kids, 18 kids, whatever, I have no doubt that this is a better choice for us at this point than our local public school. The art and music program are fabulous, the academic program is excellent, and they have wonderful, flexible aftercare problems that don't leave me scrambling for part-time nannies or classes or feeling that she's been warehoused somewhere. We're willing to pay for the whole package even if the class size is not particularly small or if they use the same curriculum as other public schools.

Down the road we may switch to public school. Some of the things I value at Norwood now may not be as important in four or five years. We may find that public schools are better in some areas or for some ages. We may change jobs and find that we can no longer afford the tuition. The point is that the decision between this particular private school and this particular public school is very individual and involves many factors, so at the end of the, while I find it informative to know that some public schools have classes that are just as small as those private schools, I don't think it makes sense to fixate on it.

Class size is a real issue. For some people, the tuition is one week's pay. For us it is three month's pay. So I will ask questions. And at the end of the day, the privates should be expected to do better than the public schools. Also, PT nannies and private art, music lessons are cheaper than most private schools. Consumers have every right to ask any questions.
We talk ourselves into believing that private is best, but the arguments are getting very difficult for me, a private school advocate, to make.

[Anonymous]

Of course you can ask questions. I just wouldn't get stuck on a single indicator on class size.

And yes, classes and part-time nannies may be cheaper strictly in dollar terms, but oh the headaches...

[Anonymous]

Working hard to pay tuition is also a headache.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, if class size is the only thing that drew you to private school in the first place, then in that case send your children to public school. My daughter is going to Norwood this fall, and 16 kids, 18 kids, whatever, I have no doubt that this is a better choice for us at this point than our local public school. The art and music program are fabulous, the academic program is excellent, and they have wonderful, flexible aftercare problems that don't leave me scrambling for part-time nannies or classes or feeling that she's been warehoused somewhere. We're willing to pay for the whole package even if the class size is not particularly small or if they use the same curriculum as other public schools.

Down the road we may switch to public school. Some of the things I value at Norwood now may not be as important in four or five years. We may find that public schools are better in some areas or for some ages. We may change jobs and find that we can no longer afford the tuition. The point is that the decision between this particular private school and this particular public school is very individual and involves many factors, so at the end of the, while I find it informative to know that some public schools have classes that are just as small as those private schools, I don't think it makes sense to fixate on it.

Class size is a real issue. For some people, the tuition is one week's pay. For us it is three month's pay. So I will ask questions. And at the end of the day, the privates should be expected to do better than the public schools. Also, PT nannies and private art, music lessons are cheaper than most private schools. Consumers have every right to ask any questions.
We talk ourselves into believing that private is best, but the arguments are getting very difficult for me, a private school advocate, to make.

I don't understand what your arguing. Was your child admitted to Norwood? If so and you don't like the class size, then withdraw. What kind of convincing are you lookin for? If you didn't even apply to Norwood or another independent school yet, then don't. Everyone has their own reasons for doing what they do. No one is asking you to justify your decisions and it is not fair for you to ask schools to justify themselves. If you don't like the school - don't apply or leave. What's the big deal????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The public schools are offering the same class size as our expensive private schools.

Not the case. Our public in Bethesda is projecting K classes of 25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The public schools are offering the same class size as our expensive private schools.

Not the case. Our public in Bethesda is projecting K classes of 25.

MC sees Bethesda as too affluent for small classes. Anywhere else in the county, the classes are smaller. If you keep testing well, you get nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, if class size is the only thing that drew you to private school in the first place, then in that case send your children to public school. My daughter is going to Norwood this fall, and 16 kids, 18 kids, whatever, I have no doubt that this is a better choice for us at this point than our local public school. The art and music program are fabulous, the academic program is excellent, and they have wonderful, flexible aftercare problems that don't leave me scrambling for part-time nannies or classes or feeling that she's been warehoused somewhere. We're willing to pay for the whole package even if the class size is not particularly small or if they use the same curriculum as other public schools.

Down the road we may switch to public school. Some of the things I value at Norwood now may not be as important in four or five years. We may find that public schools are better in some areas or for some ages. We may change jobs and find that we can no longer afford the tuition. The point is that the decision between this particular private school and this particular public school is very individual and involves many factors, so at the end of the, while I find it informative to know that some public schools have classes that are just as small as those private schools, I don't think it makes sense to fixate on it.

Class size is a real issue. For some people, the tuition is one week's pay. For us it is three month's pay. So I will ask questions. And at the end of the day, the privates should be expected to do better than the public schools. Also, PT nannies and private art, music lessons are cheaper than most private schools. Consumers have every right to ask any questions.
We talk ourselves into believing that private is best, but the arguments are getting very difficult for me, a private school advocate, to make.

I don't understand what your arguing. Was your child admitted to Norwood? If so and you don't like the class size, then withdraw. What kind of convincing are you lookin for? If you didn't even apply to Norwood or another independent school yet, then don't. Everyone has their own reasons for doing what they do. No one is asking you to justify your decisions and it is not fair for you to ask schools to justify themselves. If you don't like the school - don't apply or leave. What's the big deal????

All parents have the right to ask the schools to justify themselves. We have choices of many schools. I just want information, so do others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All parents have the right to ask the schools to justify themselves. We have choices of many schools. I just want information, so do others.

Justify? I don't think so. You're asking for your child to be ADMITTED into an independent school. Either you like what the school has to offer and you apply, or you don't like what the school has to offer and you don't apply. Key point is that they've put their cards on the table (i.e., website, tours, information sessions, etc.) and you as the parent have to do your homework to understand if what they've put on the table is what you want. If it is, then you HOPE that they want you and your child. This attitude that they must justify themselves will get you and your child waitlisted/rejected.

[Anonymous]

We will continue to ask questions. It's our money. If they are not careful, just like any other "business", enough snooping by the right people could spell trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We will continue to ask questions. It's our money. If they are not careful, just like any other "business", enough snooping by the right people could spell trouble.

Definitely, you should ask questions. But there is a difference between asking questions and requesting justification. I don't think any of these schools have any smoking guns that any amount of snooping would uncover.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The public schools are offering the same class size as our expensive private schools.

Not the case. Our public in Bethesda is projecting K classes of 25.

MC sees Bethesda as too affluent for small classes. Anywhere else in the county, the classes are smaller. If you keep testing well, you get nothing.

Which is most unfortunate. Our children would benefit from small class size as well. The figures reporting in today's Post are quite misleading. Some MC schools have their K-2 class size capped in the mid/upper-teens, but most in our area are projecting in the low to mid-20's for K. I would add that we certainly pay a fair share of property tax.