Was Private Worth the Money if DC Didn’t Get into a “good” University?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Obviously college matriculation isn’t everything, but I feel as if I have talked to parents who wish they had kept their kids in public had they known their kids were going to go to a subpar university. I have seen quite a few threads talking about grade deflation at ‘top whatever’ schools, and having concerns that it is negatively impacting their child’s admissions, then what exactly is the point of a top private school? Sure the quality of education in high school is important, but arguably you make most of your connections and zone in on your career path in college. Do you regret spending tens of thousands of dollars every year for private school?

I’ve posted before but the majority of private school families don’t even feel the pain of tuition. It’s mind boggling.

+1. So many UMC families shut out. Between buying a house and paying off student loans it just seems so irresponsible to spend the money that we can finally invest in private. This year we made just under $500K, but childcare, preschools, and buying a second car killed us along with our PITI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably should have kept my child in PGCPS. They likely would have gotten better outplacement results, given the huge desparities and socioeconomic backgrounds that do not exist in independent schools.

The dirty little secret is the above--if you are a family that WOULD choose private, but keep your child in public--particularly from DC or a more economically diverse area like PG, you are going to get a lot of 'uniqueness' points if your kid is a high flyer in public. Our kid got into a reach school because of this. I am NOT saying our child got a better HS education, just more access to college choices. Bear in mind, it can be a blessing and a curse to get into a 'reach school' if you are not prepared. Research and drop out rates bear this out.

Lots of food for thought!

That’s why we moved abroad to a much smaller country for senior year of high school. There was only one american school in the entire country, and DC stood out for the geographic diversity points for college.

For real, you win “parent of the year” for moving to Port Au Prince to boost DC’s college application profile.

The gangs, violence, and lack of potable water was worth it though! Larlo was able to write an amazing essay to Colby about getting cholera!

eh, i would still rather apply out of Port Au Prince then DC. Bet they get 1 kid from Haiti every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Obviously college matriculation isn’t everything, but I feel as if I have talked to parents who wish they had kept their kids in public had they known their kids were going to go to a subpar university. I have seen quite a few threads talking about grade deflation at ‘top whatever’ schools, and having concerns that it is negatively impacting their child’s admissions, then what exactly is the point of a top private school? Sure the quality of education in high school is important, but arguably you make most of your connections and zone in on your career path in college. Do you regret spending tens of thousands of dollars every year for private school?

I’ve posted before but the majority of private school families don’t even feel the pain of tuition. It’s mind boggling.

+1. So many UMC families shut out. Between buying a house and paying off student loans it just seems so irresponsible to spend the money that we can finally invest in private. This year we made just under $500K, but childcare, preschools, and buying a second car killed us along with our PITI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in a pretty good district (our high school offers around 25 AP classes) and we don't have infinite resources, so yes, I would be a little salty if I spent $50k per year on private and our kid didn't get into a top college. We are considering sending our oldest to boarding school in a few years because it might be a good academic fit plus he could play a sport that isn't very competitive in the area. I would not feel good about this decision if he doesn't end up playing that sport at the D3 level at a good college because tuition represents a significant amount of money. We can afford it, but there would be tradeoffs. These are just the undeniable facts of our situation.

this statement is accurate.

[Anonymous]

I think I’ve seen it all over the years. Excellent public school, mediocre (loud, chaotic, crowded) public school, local private school and as of next year, boarding school. So far, I can say that private school (even the local one) has transformed DC’s lives. It is so worth it for the following reasons: these are transformative years - they are receiving an excellent education. In addition to learning facts (they learned those at public too), they are learning to think deeper, encouraged to participate on a more meaningful level; arts education can’t be compared. Public had no materials and the teachers didn’t care. They learn how to present themselves in front of adults (projects they present in front of parents, teachers). But most important: they actually teach, not just present materials. If a DC doesn’t know how, they show or explain. DC had top grades in public but was never taught. It remained a superficial experience. So IMO, every cent is worth it. I have no clue where they’ll go to college, but this education will serve them a lifetime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably should have kept my child in PGCPS. They likely would have gotten better outplacement results, given the huge desparities and socioeconomic backgrounds that do not exist in independent schools.

The dirty little secret is the above--if you are a family that WOULD choose private, but keep your child in public--particularly from DC or a more economically diverse area like PG, you are going to get a lot of 'uniqueness' points if your kid is a high flyer in public. Our kid got into a reach school because of this. I am NOT saying our child got a better HS education, just more access to college choices. Bear in mind, it can be a blessing and a curse to get into a 'reach school' if you are not prepared. Research and drop out rates bear this out.

Lots of food for thought!

That’s why we moved abroad to a much smaller country for senior year of high school. There was only one american school in the entire country, and DC stood out for the geographic diversity points for college.

This takes guts to move your kid as a senior especially abroad but I did the same thing with my HS c/o 2021…kid was on board and already had solid recs, essays, and ECs so lack of leadership positions and involvement at new HS were easily explained away on CA section

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I’ve seen it all over the years. Excellent public school, mediocre (loud, chaotic, crowded) public school, local private school and as of next year, boarding school. So far, I can say that private school (even the local one) has transformed DC’s lives. It is so worth it for the following reasons: these are transformative years - they are receiving an excellent education. In addition to learning facts (they learned those at public too), they are learning to think deeper, encouraged to participate on a more meaningful level; arts education can’t be compared. Public had no materials and the teachers didn’t care. They learn how to present themselves in front of adults (projects they present in front of parents, teachers). But most important: they actually teach, not just present materials. If a DC doesn’t know how, they show or explain. DC had top grades in public but was never taught. It remained a superficial experience. So IMO, every cent is worth it. I have no clue where they’ll go to college, but this education will serve them a lifetime.

Thank you, poster. This is exactly why we are leaving public and heading to private next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I’ve seen it all over the years. Excellent public school, mediocre (loud, chaotic, crowded) public school, local private school and as of next year, boarding school. So far, I can say that private school (even the local one) has transformed DC’s lives. It is so worth it for the following reasons: these are transformative years - they are receiving an excellent education. In addition to learning facts (they learned those at public too), they are learning to think deeper, encouraged to participate on a more meaningful level; arts education can’t be compared. Public had no materials and the teachers didn’t care. They learn how to present themselves in front of adults (projects they present in front of parents, teachers). But most important: they actually teach, not just present materials. If a DC doesn’t know how, they show or explain. DC had top grades in public but was never taught. It remained a superficial experience. So IMO, every cent is worth it. I have no clue where they’ll go to college, but this education will serve them a lifetime.

Thank you, poster. This is exactly why we are leaving public and heading to private next year.

You won’t regret it. I often think that poster who say that parents regret having spent tuition on private school because their kids didn’t get into Ivies are disgruntled public school parents or don’t understand the first thing about education (versus mere job training).

[Anonymous]

Of course there are parents who view private as an investment down a specific path and are frustrated if that path doesn't lead to the end result they'd thought it would.

The take away is, don't give too much weight to college admissions when deciding whether or not to send your kid to private school. You might be dreadfully disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP how many threads on this have you started??

Different poster here and I started a similar thread in recent weeks but not this one. I do think it's a subject on many peoples' minds.

I’m also a different poster and I started a somewhat similar thread but worded it differently. I asked if it was harder for non connected non URMs. I didn’t get a very positive response. I’m still undecided if we will send our kids to private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course there are parents who view private as an investment down a specific path and are frustrated if that path doesn't lead to the end result they'd thought it would.

The take away is, don't give too much weight to college admissions when deciding whether or not to send your kid to private school. You might be dreadfully disappointed.

Heard this before until it happened to "their" kid! Than the whole world was at fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I’ve seen it all over the years. Excellent public school, mediocre (loud, chaotic, crowded) public school, local private school and as of next year, boarding school. So far, I can say that private school (even the local one) has transformed DC’s lives. It is so worth it for the following reasons: these are transformative years - they are receiving an excellent education. In addition to learning facts (they learned those at public too), they are learning to think deeper, encouraged to participate on a more meaningful level; arts education can’t be compared. Public had no materials and the teachers didn’t care. They learn how to present themselves in front of adults (projects they present in front of parents, teachers). But most important: they actually teach, not just present materials. If a DC doesn’t know how, they show or explain. DC had top grades in public but was never taught. It remained a superficial experience. So IMO, every cent is worth it. I have no clue where they’ll go to college, but this education will serve them a lifetime.

Thank you, poster. This is exactly why we are leaving public and heading to private next year.

You won’t regret it. I often think that poster who say that parents regret having spent tuition on private school because their kids didn’t get into Ivies are disgruntled public school parents or don’t understand the first thing about education (versus mere job training).

The purpose of education is to enlighten, teach people how to go about learning, inspire self reflection and ultimately prepare them for the future. People question tuition cost,especially in this area when it’s not inexpensive, because they understand this and also that there is more to education and preparation for future life than just school. They wonder, if all kids require education, doesn’t making it free and mandatory for all makes sense? And if yes, then why do some pay for it? And if paying for it vs not, what is the measure that it was worthwhile? Why if they have an neurotypical child and the outcomes of private school kids and public school kids are going to be the same, why the expense? And many who are questioning the expense are factoring if the money would be better used for retirement, college/grad school cost, vacation, future homes, etc.


For some people in certain situations this is easy. In other situations this answer is not as easy. Pretending that people asking these question are irrational or don’t understand education says more about you than them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably should have kept my child in PGCPS. They likely would have gotten better outplacement results, given the huge desparities and socioeconomic backgrounds that do not exist in independent schools.

The dirty little secret is the above--if you are a family that WOULD choose private, but keep your child in public--particularly from DC or a more economically diverse area like PG, you are going to get a lot of 'uniqueness' points if your kid is a high flyer in public. Our kid got into a reach school because of this. I am NOT saying our child got a better HS education, just more access to college choices. Bear in mind, it can be a blessing and a curse to get into a 'reach school' if you are not prepared. Research and drop out rates bear this out.

Lots of food for thought!

Lol. That is less a “dirty little secret” and more “a super obvious thing everyone knows”. If all you care about is admission to a prestigious school, send your kid to the worst public you can.

Of course, if you are concerned with the actual education your kid receives for 13 formative years of their lives, the calculus might be different.

Yes, but this can also be achieved with a good public. As we did.

[Anonymous]

My public school kid is headed to UCLA and my eldest graduated from Brown. Thank you for the ride DCPS. It was bumpy sometimes but we did it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to be extraordinarily lucky to fall into the right circles in college if you don’t have an in from high school already

That’s what rush is for!