should we choose private or public

[Anonymous]

Already saved enough on college tuition for both kids.
HHI of 300k. Two young kids. Living in a neigborhood with OK public schools. Hard to move to subs because of commute issue.
DH insists on sending both kids to private with tuition fee in total of 100k per year, and very likely with additional expense of 20k for both kids(sports, academic tutors and etc). His arguement is that middle school can be hard for some kids and private school at least set a lower bound experience for our kids. IT will be more competitive for middle school entry. So we are basically use money to buy a easier entry.
I dont know. I like money especially paying 120k on kids would be so much strechy for a family with only $300k.

TEll me how you think about it. I know it is personal decision but I'd be happy to hear.

[Anonymous]

The earlier you apply, the better. I wouldn’t chance the competitive middle and high school entries.

[Anonymous]

It depends where you live. If you live in DC it depends on your tolerance for exposing your kids to the violence in the public schools.
Going to private school is not about great college choices, it is about what environment you want your kid in every day.

[Anonymous]

It's a want for your DH and not a need for you kids. Why not compromise and start in middle school. They will get in somewhere. Every kid in our elementary school who applied, got in somewhere.
The top of the class went to local DC PS middle school though. They may go private for high school or try Walls.

[Anonymous]

$300K after tax + contribution to 401k will be more like $130Kish, if you put max into 401k.

Or is the $300K post tax?

What's your monthly expenses sans private school?

[Anonymous]

I will support private MS at any K-8 or 6-12 school hands down over public. Will not support it at a private k-12. Every single one in this area, the MS is the weak link by default.

K-8’s use MS to prepare kids for the most rigorous HS options. 6-12 schools use MS to prep kids for their own rigor of HS.

[Anonymous]

Not at that income

[Anonymous]

I do not think you can afford it on that income, unfortunately. We felt a bit strained on more income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$300K after tax + contribution to 401k will be more like $130Kish, if you put max into 401k.

Or is the $300K post tax?

What's your monthly expenses sans private school?

+1. You don’t mention mortgage, retirement savings etc. Just that you have college fully saved for (which is great and hints you may have some supportive grandparents/family wealth around to help pay tuition?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will support private MS at any K-8 or 6-12 school hands down over public. Will not support it at a private k-12. Every single one in this area, the MS is the weak link by default.

K-8’s use MS to prepare kids for the most rigorous HS options. 6-12 schools use MS to prep kids for their own rigor of HS.

+1. We moved one kid in middle school to a k-12 and discovered how weak a link the MS was (US was very good). Second kid started in middle school at a k-8 and their experience was light years better. All of their classmates got into their first or second choice school for HS. It’s a stretch for us, but we opt to spend less on other things. Don’t know that the value was there for ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends where you live. If you live in DC it depends on your tolerance for exposing your kids to the violence in the public schools.
Going to private school is not about great college choices, it is about what environment you want your kid in every day.

This. I wish more people understood this factor in the choice.

[Anonymous]

Also tuition often goes up more than your salary and cost of living expenses: and at private schools there are additional fees here and there.

At your current income, I would send kids to a public elementary and then apply for middle school and in the meanwhile you can invest the money you would have paid for tuition.