In recent weeks some kids have dropped out of our private school

[Anonymous]

I WILL NOT name the school, since the trend is the bigger issue.
These people are not saying much about why, but I suspect it is financial. In my dd's class there have been three since summer began. One mother said that she was sending her child to another private school, then said that she would consider public, and is now going to public.
Admittedly, I am getting used to the idea and really don't see us spending this money next year. Is there a possible cascade effect especially if the economy worsens?

[Anonymous]

Can't say why (don't know), but our public is adding a teacher because enrollment came in over projections.

[Anonymous]

I could see the cascade effect happening. Private schools are so outrageously expensive these days. Even just private preschool is pricey. When things don't go right or we're not thrilled with a teacher I can't help but think.."We're PAYING for THIS???" I don't expect perfection in preschool, but I do expecr more than we get for the price and I am constantly second guessing myself wondering if we should have considered less expensive places. If I heard several families dropped out it would probably give us a big ol push to look elsewhere because it would tell me other people may have the same doubts. We plan to go public for elementary because we can't afford private, but if money were no object we would want private for the class sizes alone.

[Anonymous]

Well they are foolish if they leave after signing the contract, since you are still obligated to pay. I would love to leave our private at this point since we ended up getting off a waitlist at good DC public for K but since I have to pay I figure we will stay this year and start 1st grade at public school. Gives us time to buy (we rent now) in a good neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I could see the cascade effect happening. Private schools are so outrageously expensive these days. Even just private preschool is pricey. When things don't go right or we're not thrilled with a teacher I can't help but think.."We're PAYING for THIS???" I don't expect perfection in preschool, but I do expecr more than we get for the price and I am constantly second guessing myself wondering if we should have considered less expensive places. If I heard several families dropped out it would probably give us a big ol push to look elsewhere because it would tell me other people may have the same doubts. We plan to go public for elementary because we can't afford private, but if money were no object we would want private for the class sizes alone.

OP here, this is the key. It does influence my decision, I am afriad to admit.
In our case, the school does not seem to know what the parents' concerns are because the ones that get the most attention are not a good sample of the majority. It is at exodus time that they start to ask around.

[Anonymous]

There seems to be a two directional flow. Many are questioning the value of their private schools when there are such strong public schools in the area. At the same time, public schools that have been flush with strong funding are facing cut backs, in art, music, library staffing & facilities, and increases in class size. Families that were previously content with public are looking at independent schools.
As families continue to evaluate their changing finances, many will switch to public schools. Increased applications indicate others are deciding to forgo things and pay for private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a two directional flow. Many are questioning the value of their private schools when there are such strong public schools in the area. At the same time, public schools that have been flush with strong funding are facing cut backs, in art, music, library staffing & facilities, and increases in class size. Families that were previously content with public are looking at independent schools.
As families continue to evaluate their changing finances, many will switch to public schools. Increased applications indicate others are deciding to forgo things and pay for private.

I valued [past tense] the private school experience but now wish DC was in a larger environment. I'm paying for DC to be with complete trash and all the school does is pander to families who donate. Sure there are disgusting kids at publics but at least I don't have to pay tuition for a DC to be in a smaller environment where you are stuck with bizarre and warped kids.

[Anonymous]

It really is the economy. All over the country private schools, with the exception of a few big names in each area, are seeing declining enrollment. Even the big names are not getting the yield they did in the past. Most schools can no longer accept just the top 10% with outstanding behavior. Sadly, most privates do not have the special education teachers that are needed to meet the needs of children with learning differences that they now must accept.

[Anonymous]

I agree that it is the economy. Our preschool goes through K and most of the kids this year will be going to public not staying the extra year which is different from years in the past. If my DD was not so excited about the things she gets to do in K there and if our public school had art, science or drama, then I would have also probably chosen public for K since others were doing this too. I don't doubt the quality of school but it is a huge expense if you have other options.

[Anonymous]

The private school that my dc is in still has class sizes of 17+ and teachers with questionable qualifications. They think that we don't notice.
I am starting to take a close look at just how much each teacher really works. My friend who is a public school teacher cued me into the real hours of our private school tecahers and she hinted that we should be getting more for our money, or the school should run leaner and harder for cheaper.
In the end, the cash flow will talk, and if we can no longer do it, then so be it. Public school is FINE.

[Anonymous]

The fact that DCPS starts on 8/23 and privates start on 9/7 is also reason to question value:quality. We are spending a mint for two kids in private and the fact that my DC's have TWELVE weeks of summer vacation is a travesty. I know each school will try and gloss over the lesser number of instructional days but really... with $30+ tuition these private schools will have to demonstrate to us middle class people that the money we're spending is worth it.

I for one am entering the DCPS lottery this coming year. We may stick it out for another two years then that's it. September 7 my foot. Grrrrr

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that it is the economy. Our preschool goes through K and most of the kids this year will be going to public not staying the extra year which is different from years in the past. If my DD was not so excited about the things she gets to do in K there and if our public school had art, science or drama, then I would have also probably chosen public for K since others were doing this too. I don't doubt the quality of school but it is a huge expense if you have other options.

Hold up, are you seriously saying that your public school doesn't teach science? Please tell me that was a typo, because that seriously makes me want to cry.

[Anonymous]

No suprise there, OP. I'm surprised it's taken this long into the Great Recession for there to be a pattern of exiting students.

[Anonymous]

OP again, there could be a cascade effect, and I hope the schools have a way to stem it.
The DC privates SHOULD be OK, but when you get out to the 'burbs, it gets tricky. They have to really think about quality. Thruthfully, I would pay if I KNEW that I was getting a better product.
Then there is the bad press that is coming down the pike about private schools. Landon's fiasco doesn't seem to go away. The journalists might start to look at other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a two directional flow. Many are questioning the value of their private schools when there are such strong public schools in the area. At the same time, public schools that have been flush with strong funding are facing cut backs, in art, music, library staffing & facilities, and increases in class size. Families that were previously content with public are looking at independent schools.
As families continue to evaluate their changing finances, many will switch to public schools. Increased applications indicate others are deciding to forgo things and pay for private.

I valued [past tense] the private school experience but now wish DC was in a larger environment. I'm paying for DC to be with complete trash and all the school does is pander to families who donate. Sure there are disgusting kids at publics but at least I don't have to pay tuition for a DC to be in a smaller environment where you are stuck with bizarre and warped kids.

How old is your DC? Oh how I would love to hear the stories behind this post . . . .