Families who can afford private but go public, why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe in public education. I want to support the societal mission of public education.

Michael Moore said on the topic of why his kids go to private school: “I won’t allow my kids be a social experiment.”

I agree with that, but coming from an Uber-liberal such as Michael Moore, that’s highly ironic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:, but give me a break. Either you're intentionally creating a false dichotomy or you're not very bright.

Public schools, regardless of their neighborhood, are required to educate every student. Some of us - even those who went to fancy privates, like I did - don't want an environment where a bunch of snooty holier-than-thou elitists pick and choose which families may sit at their table. Elitism is ugly.

Well, when a public school actually does what it’s required to do, call me at my elitist bubble. Because they are not doing what their required to do if they have less than 90% kids achieve grade level in reading, math and science. And how many schools do you know that have 90% kids test on grade level?

I can’t blame the schools for this either. Because you can’t fix the culture or family failures.

Average FCPS pass rates across all the schools, across subjects are at around 85% (varies year to year and by subject, so maybe 81-86% is a more accurate representation). So there are quite a few that are at 90+. And given that public schools have to accept everyone that comes their way, and FCPS has a significant population of ELL and FARMS that's more of an achievement than at a private that can more carefully cull who they want to include.

That's a point of pride for fcps but irrelevant to an English speaking family with money to spare.

It speaks to stronger instruction in my opinion and thus relevant to me (an English speaking family with money to spare).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe in public education. I want to support the societal mission of public education.

Michael Moore said on the topic of why his kids go to private school: “I won’t allow my kids be a social experiment.”

I agree with that, but coming from an Uber-liberal such as Michael Moore, that’s highly ironic.

I know! I’m not his biggest fan and remember thinking what a hypocrite watching the interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Because my private school education did not prepare me to face the world, in terms of street smarts and how the average person lives.

I do not want that for my children, and I actually think the public school cluster I bought into is academically a better idea than most privates, particularly in science and math. Writing-based classes, not so much, but we're trying to remedy that.

OK. Just clicked on this thread, haven't read anything else and agree x 1,000. DH and I both went to private (in NJ and NC) and believe our VA public schools offer a better/more useful education than that which our parents scrimped and saved to give to us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:- We really want a neighborhood school and school friends who are close by / involved in other nearby activities. This is the most important factor.

- A big diverse school has more opportunities to find your "niche" which helps protect against suicide, drug use, etc.

- Nearby private school options not very impressive.

- I went to private K-12 and saw many weaknesses. Other than my high school being single sex (which was positive) I have little good to say and don't think I got a great education.

These first two reasons are our main reasons. Our third is being uncomfortable with our kids growing up with peers at the level of wealth seen at these schools and them thinking this is normal. To be blunt, we have a lot of money (although neither of us grew up with money) and are at a level of wealth where our family would fit in to this scene. I have friends and close relatives in this scene. I don’t want my kids growing up like that and one of the several ways our lifestyle is more “normal” is public school.

me too!

[Anonymous]

Since we're talking VA public schools vs. private, I just want to point out in this area, we live in a bubble of high expectations. I have overheard so many conversations while living here of parents who lived in CA, NJ, NY, FL, SC, and TX and moving to this area and finding out that their kid isn't in AAP/gifted and is in the lowest of the regular classes or is failing.

And of course I know that's not all of the states, nor does it include MA, but let's be clear: we already have high expectations for our kids already. Our public schools do reflect that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since we're talking VA public schools vs. private, I just want to point out in this area, we live in a bubble of high expectations. I have overheard so many conversations while living here of parents who lived in CA, NJ, NY, FL, SC, and TX and moving to this area and finding out that their kid isn't in AAP/gifted and is in the lowest of the regular classes or is failing.

And of course I know that's not all of the states, nor does it include MA, but let's be clear: we already have high expectations for our kids already. Our public schools do reflect that.

Meh, I think it’s typical east coast mindset. Out here half of every classroom is “gifted”, because their parents nag the admin for the designation. As for math and science, I think it’s the more recent obsession with STEM that has parents using that as a metric. Our parents didn’t care as much as that’s why we had ancient textbooks and old equipment. Anyway, depending on how much you paid for your house, your “public” high school is functionally private anyway, if it’s so expensive that only advantaged well off kids from well resourced college educated families go there. Yorktown, for example. Langley. A real public high school, in my book, has a large contingent of kids who don’t plan on going to college.

[Anonymous]

My child is already very privileged and very coddled. I don’t want to send them to an environment where all day long they are essentially given the message that they are special just by virtue of being in a financially well-off family. Our public school is full of pretty well off kids, too, it’s true, but there will be more of a mix. A larger school like our public will also afford more options for electives and extracurriculars. Finally, while we can afford, it we are not billionaires and we would prefer to put that money either towards college, retirement, or a nest egg for our child when they are a young adult. I’m sure public school would be a nice experience in many ways, but I’m not sure if it’s worth the price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe in public education. I want to support the societal mission of public education.

Michael Moore said on the topic of why his kids go to private school: “I won’t allow my kids be a social experiment.”

I agree with that, but coming from an Uber-liberal such as Michael Moore, that’s highly ironic.

I know! I’m not his biggest fan and remember thinking what a hypocrite watching the interview.

I don’t know the particulars of his school decision, but with all the yanking around with common core standards, change-ups in curriculum, large class sizes, and busywork in lower grades, you can understand why somebody would make a different decision than public. I think it partly depends on where you live and what the schools are like. Of course, you could argue that he should move to a place where the public schools are good, but I don’t know enough about his situation to comment on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:- We really want a neighborhood school and school friends who are close by / involved in other nearby activities. This is the most important factor.

- A big diverse school has more opportunities to find your "niche" which helps protect against suicide, drug use, etc.

- Nearby private school options not very impressive.

- I went to private K-12 and saw many weaknesses. Other than my high school being single sex (which was positive) I have little good to say and don't think I got a great education.

This is it for me. I attended both public and private while growing up and personally found the social atmosphere of attending a small school to be stifling. I think it’s easier to find your tribe in a larger school, and if you decide to find a different tribe that is possible as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would I send my kids to w WCAC school when they aren't Catholic, and can get a better education at several public schools in Arlington and Fairfax.

Fairfax maybe, but not Arlington

Are we talking O’Connell or Paul VI (certainly no better than APS) or Potomac, GDS, St. Albans or [b]Sidwell (clearly superior to any area publics except TJ)?

I would argue this. Personally, I feel like these schools are massively overrated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:, but give me a break. Either you're intentionally creating a false dichotomy or you're not very bright.

Public schools, regardless of their neighborhood, are required to educate every student. Some of us - even those who went to fancy privates, like I did - don't want an environment where a bunch of snooty holier-than-thou elitists pick and choose which families may sit at their table. Elitism is ugly.

Well, when a public school actually does what it’s required to do, call me at my elitist bubble. Because they are not doing what their required to do if they have less than 90% kids achieve grade level in reading, math and science. And how many schools do you know that have 90% kids test on grade level?

I can’t blame the schools for this either. Because you can’t fix the culture or family failures.

Average FCPS pass rates across all the schools, across subjects are at around 85% (varies year to year and by subject, so maybe 81-86% is a more accurate representation). So there are quite a few that are at 90+. And given that public schools have to accept everyone that comes their way, and FCPS has a significant population of ELL and FARMS that's more of an achievement than at a private that can more carefully cull who they want to include.

That's a point of pride for fcps but irrelevant to an English speaking family with money to spare.

It speaks to stronger instruction in my opinion and thus relevant to me (an English speaking family with money to spare).

Hmm. That's actually not a bad point at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because I went to public school and an ok (not stellar) college and a top 20 (but not top 10) law school and work with and supervise people who went to privates, boarding schools, and Ivy League colleges. I make the same if not more than they do. Why waste my money for similar outcomes. My kids are smarter than I am. They'll be fine.

It’s not always the destination, some parents are able to choose the best possible journey.

My journey was great and free! And we could afford the journey but we rather have our summer homes and travel.

[Anonymous]

My child has ADHD and privates aren't as equipped with handling IEPs and 504s

[Anonymous]

Private cherry picks and I have children with some SN.