Moving to private to secure high school pathway

[Anonymous]

We’re in DC and don’t have a good in boundary high school. Our current middle school is solid, though not amazing. My DD is going into fifth grade, but I’ve done some research and it seems there are pretty limited high school options for her (Walls, Banneker - she’s not a stem kid so not excited about McKinley). With that, I’m worried about our high school options, and also understand it’s easier to get into privates in 6th versus 9th grade. Our interest rate is so good, moving doesn’t make sense. Did anyone make the jump into private for sixth to secure a high school pathway? Any advice or thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Yes it happens all the time. At a lot of privates, there aren't that many slots open in 9th since the existing 8th graders take up most of the places. It's just a cost thing, since you're paying for more years at private.

[Anonymous]

HS admissions is insanely competitive. Definitely get her in for 6th somewhere and don't discount K-8 grade schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS admissions is insanely competitive. Definitely get her in for 6th somewhere and don't discount K-8 grade schools.

Yup K-12 for 6th grade if you can but if you can't, go to a K-8 with good outplacement. K-8's often have lots of open spaces in middle school as kids leave for K-12s.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Why do you think 6-12 schools, like Burke, exist in the first place?

[Anonymous]

Yes. We did this and was so glad that we stayed in our local public for K-5 and then accepted into a Top 3 school for 6th. Turns out that our child was also academically ahead of the kids who had started in the Top 3 school at K, and we saved about $250K by doing public school for elementary. So big win-win overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. We did this and was so glad that we stayed in our local public for K-5 and then accepted into a Top 3 school for 6th. Turns out that our child was also academically ahead of the kids who had started in the Top 3 school at K, and we saved about $250K by doing public school for elementary. So big win-win overall.

I wouldn't say you saved $250k. There was a trade-off by doing public school for elementary. Elementary school is important and there are many reasons to avoid the public school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. We did this and was so glad that we stayed in our local public for K-5 and then accepted into a Top 3 school for 6th. Turns out that our child was also academically ahead of the kids who had started in the Top 3 school at K, and we saved about $250K by doing public school for elementary. So big win-win overall.

I wouldn't say you saved $250k. There was a trade-off by doing public school for elementary. Elementary school is important and there are many reasons to avoid the public school system.

And many reasons to go to public ES. Just a counterweight that the top kids at our Big 3 often come in 9th and often from public. Not always, but a lot of them. It can’t be all savage gangs roaming the hallways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. We did this and was so glad that we stayed in our local public for K-5 and then accepted into a Top 3 school for 6th. Turns out that our child was also academically ahead of the kids who had started in the Top 3 school at K, and we saved about $250K by doing public school for elementary. So big win-win overall.

I wouldn't say you saved $250k. There was a trade-off by doing public school for elementary. Elementary school is important and there are many reasons to avoid the public school system.

They saved money the same way you save money by cutting your own grass instead of hiring out, with time being the trade-off. At any rate, we did public through 5th, then moved to a 6-12 private (not Burke).

Yes - there are many reasons to avoid public schools from the start, but you do indeed save 100Ks by tolerating public for however long you can before going private. But yes, if money isn’t an issue, it’s perfectly rational — and perhaps even advisable — to secure a private spot in K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. We did this and was so glad that we stayed in our local public for K-5 and then accepted into a Top 3 school for 6th. Turns out that our child was also academically ahead of the kids who had started in the Top 3 school at K, and we saved about $250K by doing public school for elementary. So big win-win overall.

I wouldn't say you saved $250k. There was a trade-off by doing public school for elementary. Elementary school is important and there are many reasons to avoid the public school system.

And many reasons to go to public ES. Just a counterweight that the top kids at our Big 3 often come in 9th and often from public. Not always, but a lot of them. It can’t be all savage gangs roaming the hallways.

Typically privates admit from the top 5% at public. Things don’t work out so well for the other 95% of kids. It is not an environment that works for most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. We did this and was so glad that we stayed in our local public for K-5 and then accepted into a Top 3 school for 6th. Turns out that our child was also academically ahead of the kids who had started in the Top 3 school at K, and we saved about $250K by doing public school for elementary. So big win-win overall.

I wouldn't say you saved $250k. There was a trade-off by doing public school for elementary. Elementary school is important and there are many reasons to avoid the public school system.

They saved money the same way you save money by cutting your own grass instead of hiring out, with time being the trade-off. At any rate, we did public through 5th, then moved to a 6-12 private (not Burke).

Yes - there are many reasons to avoid public schools from the start, but you do indeed save 100Ks by tolerating public for however long you can before going private. But yes, if money isn’t an issue, it’s perfectly rational — and perhaps even advisable — to secure a private spot in K.

It is an odd flex to brag about how cheaply you raise your kids. You can cut lots of corners but your kids don’t turn out the same. Some of us think it is worth investing in our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS admissions is insanely competitive. Definitely get her in for 6th somewhere and don't discount K-8 grade schools.

This. I really underestimated how competitive it is.

[Anonymous]

It is an odd flex to brag about how cheaply you raise your kids. You can cut lots of corners but your kids don’t turn out the same. Some of us think it is worth investing in our kids.

If that’s the fiction you’re committed to, I won’t spoil the ending. 😆

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It is an odd flex to brag about how cheaply you raise your kids. You can cut lots of corners but your kids don’t turn out the same. Some of us think it is worth investing in our kids.

If that’s the fiction you’re committed to, I won’t spoil the ending. 😆

You could save even more money by not having kids at all. Public school is the next best thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If that’s the fiction you’re committed to, I won’t spoil the ending. 😆

Imagine thinking that what works for you will apply to others. And I'm talk about those who are both for/against private school.