Why are private school applications still at an all time high?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Because public school class sizes are huge, there's a range of abilities that is impossible for even the most seasoned teacher to accommodate, and well behaved kids who are on or above grade level are ignored. The established private schools aren't stupid and have done a good job advertising to UMC families of solid students who are increasingly fed up. Throw in a modest merit scholarship for the ones with top grades and test scores and it's not a hard sell.

There are not merit scholarships for top grades at local independent schools

Huh? There are definitely merit scholarships for local private high schools.

Below the high school level, it's not called a merit scholarship but the FA decision is often not *solely* about need, which makes a segment of DCUM crazy but is true nonetheless. Schools use FA to keep students they want to keep, including those who boost test scores or fill out the advanced track classes.

PP. Only the Catholic schools. Which is not what most of us think of when we say the words “private school”.

You cannot name an independent school in DC/MD that hands out true merit money to smart applicants as an enticement. It’s flat out not allowed in AISGW.

Really?

Why is that?

Because most of the public would label these “catholic schools” or “parochial schools.” In the DMV. “Going private” in actual parlance with your DMV neighbor does not include “going to St. Bernadette parish school k-8.”

They have an entirely different mission than independent private schools. A different funding structure aided in most cases by a diocese.

But yes, technically catholic schools are a subset of “private” schools in that there is no by-right attendance like a public school. Technically. But the not-religious crowd doesn’t think of them that way.

So is a Quaker school with Quaker values/mission a private school? An Episcopal school situated on the grounds of a cathedral? How about a Catholic school that does not receive diocesan support?

If there’s a distinguishing factor, it’s the question of how independent a given school is from a central authority that can call the shots and assign revenue.

Stone Ridge and GP and I think Visi have been argued on DCUM to be independent. Blessed Sacrament is parochial.

The PP’s distinguishing factor is that a school is Catholic, and if it is, it isn’t private. Because…?

I am the PP. i have already said that a Catholic school in the DMV is technically “private.” Of course it is, you pay money and a gatekeeper decides if you are admitted or not.

But. Catholic schools in the DMV are not what the general public thinks of when they say “Joe sends his kids to private schools.” They just aren’t. They’d say “joe sends his kids to Catholic school” or “to Gonzaga.”

Why? I don’t know but I suspect the distinction has something to do with the amount of religious education and mandatory religious observance one finds inside the various schools. It’s not “bigoted” to point out that these features are more prominent in a Catholic school than a Quaker school. Or STA.

Some, many, parents dont view these schools as interchangeable.

You are ridiculous. Truly.

New poster. It’s isn’t ridiculous. The commentary that many don’t consider Catholic schools to be what is generally meant by private school is true with the exceptions noted - it’s about independence from a central authority and the mission of the school. Non-independent Catholic schools are a subset of private schools, as their mission is to teach the tenets and values of Catholicism alongside typical academics which can means some subjects are taught in line with what the Catholic Church proselytizes rather than with a pure scientific/academic approach. Quaker and Episcopal schools do not do this and that’s typically clear in their mission statements. Most other “religious schools” are more like Catholic schools as they have a double mission and aren’t independent from religious authority and instruction.

And most of us still lump them all under the term “private school.” I’m wondering if this need to differentiate is only at certain schools where parents need a way to feel distinct or elite.

But for many, “private” simply means “not public,” and we aren’t going to take the 2 minutes necessary to draw additional lines.

+1. I have a kid in an independent private school and I absolutely lump Catholic and other religious schools into "private" school. In fact, I and many others assume your private school is religious unless you specify otherwise, because numerically they are more common. The PP who is stuck on "what other people think of as private" is in a weird little bubble with very few others.

[Anonymous]

It is so weird when some people make a big deal about Catholic schools not being “private” schools.

Fwiw, I’m a 50 something parent of kids in catholic schools in the dc area, and I attended catholic schools k through 12 in the dc area.

I’ve heard all sorts of weird statements on this topic.

- People who think “private” schools are dramatically different/better/more prestigious than catholic schools, so you cannot lump them together.

- People who think Catholic schools are so unique that you should always use that term rather than the genetic private term.

It’s dumb. Use whatever term you like; both are correct. And anyone who takes issue with such things should ask themselves why.

[Anonymous]

By next year people will be pulling kids they won’t have jobs to pay for private school

Maga economics

[Anonymous]

Applications for admissions to most private schools in the DMV area area keep getting more competitive every year. One school we are applying to for 9th ( from our K-8) told us that applications have been up 70% this year.
I can understand why applications were up during the pandemic , but why are people still increasingly applying to privates five years later ?
Has the quality of education gone down at the public schools? Did people do well in the stock market over the past few years?
Just asking a genuine question.

Yes. Not just the DMV. I moved away to a different region and the top publics here are just considered "amazing" based on reputation, not current performance. If you go into the classroom and see the work that comes home, you can see that the state of public education is just... alarmingly bad. Test scores and student understanding nationwide has been on a steady decline for about the last decade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is so weird when some people make a big deal about Catholic schools not being “private” schools.

Fwiw, I’m a 50 something parent of kids in catholic schools in the dc area, and I attended catholic schools k through 12 in the dc area.

I’ve heard all sorts of weird statements on this topic.

- People who think “private” schools are dramatically different/better/more prestigious than catholic schools, so you cannot lump them together.

- People who think Catholic schools are so unique that you should always use that term rather than the genetic private term.

It’s dumb. Use whatever term you like; both are correct. And anyone who takes issue with such things should ask themselves why.

My kid goes to Catholic school and I call it Catholic or parochial. And yes, Catholic schools ARE different from other private/independent schools. I'm not saying they are better or worse. They DO tend to be cheaper than other private schools. I've taught and worked at various private/independent and public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is so weird when some people make a big deal about Catholic schools not being “private” schools.

Fwiw, I’m a 50 something parent of kids in catholic schools in the dc area, and I attended catholic schools k through 12 in the dc area.

I’ve heard all sorts of weird statements on this topic.

- People who think “private” schools are dramatically different/better/more prestigious than catholic schools, so you cannot lump them together.

- People who think Catholic schools are so unique that you should always use that term rather than the genetic private term.

It’s dumb. Use whatever term you like; both are correct. And anyone who takes issue with such things should ask themselves why.

What about non-Catholic Christian schools? Most people say they send their kids to a Christian school or X Episcopal School, or a "religious private". They don't just say my kid goes to private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is so weird when some people make a big deal about Catholic schools not being “private” schools.

Fwiw, I’m a 50 something parent of kids in catholic schools in the dc area, and I attended catholic schools k through 12 in the dc area.

I’ve heard all sorts of weird statements on this topic.

- People who think “private” schools are dramatically different/better/more prestigious than catholic schools, so you cannot lump them together.

- People who think Catholic schools are so unique that you should always use that term rather than the genetic private term.

It’s dumb. Use whatever term you like; both are correct. And anyone who takes issue with such things should ask themselves why.

My kid goes to Catholic school and I call it Catholic or parochial. And yes, Catholic schools ARE different from other private/independent schools. I'm not saying they are better or worse. They DO tend to be cheaper than other private schools. I've taught and worked at various private/independent and public schools.

1. You can say whatever you want. The point is it is fine to say catholic or private—both are true.

2. Parochial school is a term with meaning. No dc area catholic high schools are parochial schools (bc they aren’t attached to a parish). Not every catholic K-8 is attached to a parish either.

3. Yes, the catholic K-8 schools tend to be less expensive than some other privates…but that doesn’t make them worse (despite what some people may believe). It’s ridiculous to make that judgment.

4. Every school is different. Catholic schools tend to have some uniform foundational elements, but plenty of episcopal schools are very comparable to catholic schools (particularly high schools in the dc metro area).

5. DCUM is obsessed with the Big 3 and certain very pricey schools. They make it seem like they are magical places that are dramatically different/better than the rest. Having attended schools here, having kids in schools here, and having relatives and friends that went to schools here and have kids in schools here, I have a very long view of private schools in the area—including the benefit of decades to see where students landed and are in their 20s/30s/40s/50s/60s. I can report that every school is basically what the student makes of it. Truly remarkable kids do remarkable things regardless of their k-12 experience. (I know a lot of lackluster people who went to fancy schools and seemingly piqued in high school.)

6. There are no hard and fast rules when referencing a private school. While I have kids in catholic schools, I don’t always disclose that. Why? Because some people in Dcumlandia make assumptions about Catholics. If I’m talking to someone from the area, I typically just say the name of the school.

7. It is next-level crazy to think it’s inappropriate for a catholic school parent to say their kid goes to private school. And it’s both arrogant and delusional to believe catholic schools are subpar and thus not allowed to be referenced as private.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Public school parent here - sorry to intrude. I just saw this under "recent topics."

I beg your indulgence. FWIW, I can definitely afford private school for my kids! For better or worse, I choose not to.

If OP's facts are correct, I find the increasing demand for privates school curious, too. I'm not certain the college outcomes are that much better when you account for family wealth and education. In fact, private school outcomes might be worse when you make those accounts.

It's true that class sizes are too big in public school. There are also some unpleasant and weird kids. But tough situations teach resilience that can be useful later in life.

Just saying I'm surprised we're not at an equilibrium, and instead we are in an era of dramatically increasing demand for private school. I guess I would chalk it up to the wealthy getting wealthier.

It is all very interesting and as someone said it’s all anecdotal - but my anecdote is a good friend of mine is a teacher at a top private and said she would never send her kids there because it’s such a bubble that when they get out into the real world they don’t know how to deal with anything. To your point about the benefit of exposing your kids to tougher situations or situations where they have to navigate them and figure them out without too much hand holding.

What a crazy claim to make. I can assure you that kids that go to private schools do just fine in life. There are thousands of adults in the DMV who went to private school who are successful in the “real world.”

Let me help you with this, your teacher friend would "never send her kid to private" because your friend could never afford it. Those who can, do, send their kids to private.

Huh? You really think all of the families at Churchill Langley etc just can’t afford private and that’s why the kids are there..laughable

Yes I do actually think that. Or couldn't get a good student aid package.

You're nuts.

If I took the money I spent on private school tuition for one child (forget the add-ons and fundraising and all that), I could send my kid to langley and hand them a trust fund worth a million dollars at their high school graduation. That would grow to $5 million in inflation adjusted dollars by the time they retire. It wouldn't be enough for them to retire comfortably but they could spend their life doing whatever they want wi6thout really worrying about their income.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Public school parent here - sorry to intrude. I just saw this under "recent topics."

I beg your indulgence. FWIW, I can definitely afford private school for my kids! For better or worse, I choose not to.

If OP's facts are correct, I find the increasing demand for privates school curious, too. I'm not certain the college outcomes are that much better when you account for family wealth and education. In fact, private school outcomes might be worse when you make those accounts.

It's true that class sizes are too big in public school. There are also some unpleasant and weird kids. But tough situations teach resilience that can be useful later in life.

Just saying I'm surprised we're not at an equilibrium, and instead we are in an era of dramatically increasing demand for private school. I guess I would chalk it up to the wealthy getting wealthier.

It is all very interesting and as someone said it’s all anecdotal - but my anecdote is a good friend of mine is a teacher at a top private and said she would never send her kids there because it’s such a bubble that when they get out into the real world they don’t know how to deal with anything. To your point about the benefit of exposing your kids to tougher situations or situations where they have to navigate them and figure them out without too much hand holding.

What a crazy claim to make. I can assure you that kids that go to private schools do just fine in life. There are thousands of adults in the DMV who went to private school who are successful in the “real world.”

Let me help you with this, your teacher friend would "never send her kid to private" because your friend could never afford it. Those who can, do, send their kids to private.

Huh? You really think all of the families at Churchill Langley etc just can’t afford private and that’s why the kids are there..laughable

Reading is fundamental. PP’s friend is a teacher, at a private school where salaries are even lower than public school teacher salaries. SHE could not afford to spend $50-$60k a year after taxes on each kid. No one is talking about rando Langley tech execs

DP

Reading is fundamental. That PP also said: "Those who can, do, send their kids to private." They are effectivewly talking about langley tech execs sending their kids to public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private schools in dc are super mediocre. In Massachussets the quality is way better. The only explanation is that public schools are deteriorating, not private schools improving. On top of that private school parents are more obnoxious in dc.

I'm amazed that noone has noticed the person supposedly FROM Massachusetts can't even spell Massachusetts. Too many trips to the packie, I fear.

Also, schools and school districts in MA are typically run by the local municipalities, and are significantly smaller in total enrollment and size. So you can't compare a FCPS/MCPS here - even Boston Public Schools (the largest district) has roughly 45K total students (FCPS has 170-180K). Worcester and Springfield are roughly half that.

[Anonymous]

My husband and I went to public K-12 in drastically different parts of the US, and really wanted to believe in it for our kids. When HS came around, it was clear that our kid wasn't receiving the same education we did back in the 80s/90s, so we switched to private. Best decision we could have made.

What's crazy to me is it seemed like everyone my age, no matter where you grew up, received the same "core" education in public school. Doesn't seem to be the case anymore, sadly. Not sure if it's the standardized tests, but something really went wrong.

[Anonymous]

Public schools are atrocious. A very destructive force in America. Even the good ones in affluent areas have gotten far, far worse over the past few decades. And the merely above average ones? They turn out kids who can barely read or write.

[Anonymous]

Yes yes, many public school teachers work hard, have good intentions etc. But the results are awful. They spend more money per student than schools anywhere else in the world and get far worse results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes yes, many public school teachers work hard, have good intentions etc. But the results are awful. They spend more money per student than schools anywhere else in the world and get far worse results.

The best school by far in the DMV is a public school. The best schools in NYC are public schools. Some public schools though are terrible, as are some private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public schools are atrocious. A very destructive force in America. Even the good ones in affluent areas have gotten far, far worse over the past few decades. And the merely above average ones? They turn out kids who can barely read or write.

Far more kids who get into MIT, Stanford, Harvard, etc went to public high schools, not private high schools. So, not sure what you are saying about public schools being atrocious is correct, unless you are a bigot or a xenophobe. And how is public education for children a destructive force? Send them to coal mines instead?