Should schools be underwriting private education for the already privileged?

[Anonymous]

I was having lunch with a friend who sends their kids to a top private on financial aid. Both parents went to top undergrad and law schools and have chosen to go into less demanding careers that don't pay as well. Both parents work and the family probably makes somewhere around $350-400K all in (but they have multiple children).

Truly, this just rubs me the wrong way. Aid should go to families with limited upward mobility prospects, not kids of super intellectuals who are affirmatively choosing to work lower paying jobs and whose kids are very likely already set up for success in the world. Oh and this family lives in a strong public district but sends their kids to an elite private instead. Just feels disingenuous when the school is asking for donation after donation after donation (in addition to the wildly high tuition) so that kids of privileged backgrounds can get aid.

[Anonymous]

Please just add to one of the many existing threads on this topic. It’s comes up several times a year.

If you don’t like how your school allots THEIR money for FA, don’t donate or switch schools.

[Anonymous]

Privates don’t want dumb kids.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't worry about it if your child doesn't go to this school.

[Anonymous]

You sound like a great friend.

[Anonymous]

You don’t even go here!

[Anonymous]

You’re misunderstanding the fundamental goals of a private school. They don’t care about helping underprivileged, it’s about academic and/or athletic results.

[Anonymous]

So what you are saying is that a school should only be filled with rich families who are full pay where tuition isn't an obstacle or families who are poor or first generation families YOU feel are worth receiving the money? So middle class families who YOU think have privilege do not deserve any aid so should be locked out of private schools? Glad you aren't on the admissions committee of any of these schools! And how much privilege is too much? How do you determine this? Schools have their own priorities and want a diverse class to make it stronger. You are free to give or not give to a school requesting a donation. Did you send your kids to private school? They are filled with all types. You don't sound like a supportive friend.

[Anonymous]

My kids go to an expensive private school, some of their most impressive peers are the kids of highly educated teachers or government employees with impressive degrees. I have no idea who gets financial aid but I send my kids to this school to be surrounded by kids from families who value strong education and hard work, not necessarily those who live in the biggest houses.

[Anonymous]

Sound like you don’t want any private school to thrive socially with a mix of kids unless it can also give you a side serving of White Savior Satisfaction to go with it. After all, your needs are most important here.

[Anonymous]

I feel zero guilt ignoring all fundraising requests from my kids’ schools for this very reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel zero guilt ignoring all fundraising requests from my kids’ schools for this very reason.

I give to my kid’s private school but I don’t mark it as ‘unrestricted’ so that I won’t be subsidizing tuition for wealthy families. I will specify that the funds should be used for athletics, academics or arts.

[Anonymous]

By your logic, no one with a stay at home mother should be considered for financial aid since they are purposefully not maximizing their earnings. Yikes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By your logic, no one with a stay at home mother should be considered for financial aid since they are purposefully not maximizing their earnings. Yikes!

I’m the PP that gives to my child’s school, but not to financial aid. And yes, I don’t think it’s fair for Caroline’s family to get aid while her sahm goes to the spa, meets up for lunch with friends and gets all her errands done while her kid is at school.

I’m working a full time job so that my child can get an elite private education, and if they want for their child, they should both work too.

[Anonymous]

I actually like to have some assistance for the missing middle. But agree it is different if parents choose to have a SAHP versus one with the same HHI with parents working 2 jobs. But too difficult to determine all the important factors so I let it go.