Why am I paying for private when Wilson HS (DCPS) admits are this good?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a senior at Wilson but we have also had a child in private school here. The kids who succeed academically at Wilson are from the same general pool of kids as those who succeed academically at private and charter schools. They're all on the same travel sports teams, etc., and shocker of shockers, they often go to the same drinking parties on weekends. It's strange that so many of you think there's no overlap.

The kids at Wilson who got into the Ivy League or Stanford (or whatever parameter you want to set for the "top" schools) are often legacies, just as in private schools. The kids who made it into the schools that are probably just as good but not Ivy League (you choose, but I'll include Chicago, Northwestern, University of Michigan, UCLA) are super smart regardless of where they went to high school. What separates the Wilson kids from students at private schools is not wealth but Wilson parents' (and the kids') willingness to deal with seemingly unlimited DCPS BS, plus the kids' ability to succeed despite some of the harsher realities of Wilson/DCPS. Come on, Wilson parents, we can admit there are some of these, right? That the overdoses did happen and were disturbing and poorly handled, that the administration is borderline incompetent, that the college counseling is inadequate, etc.? I wish my kid didn't have to deal with those things, but I'm happy that he succeeded despite them, and yes, he'll see some of your kids at his first-choice college.

+1000 too

You find quite a few families like the PP (and ourselves) who have an older child at Wilson and other(s), usually younger, at private. For us we sort of knew what we were getting into with Wilson and my oldest is a self starter who is driven and has done extremely well. Off to her first choice college in the fall. Now knowing what it is like, I have younger kids who would be eaten alive at Wilson --- and I am just done like what the PP posted. Terrible administration, lack of accountability by teachers, the over dose incident/handling/clearly troubled kids back at the school, the stealing, etc. I just don't want to deal with it myself and really don't want my kids dealing with it any longer. So we are out in a few weeks and not looking back.

Like many DCPS, it sounds like it is succeeding because of a critical mass of motivated students. Think what DCPS could be if the system and admin met that motivation with motivation, integrity and imagination of their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are private schools "select[ing] for smart students" and
"accepting only rich kids who are mediocre at best academically or intellectually" a consistent narrative?

My 2 cents: the smartest, most creative, most ultimately successful kids are likely to be in publics, because top creativity and intellectual capacity do not correlate to working in jobs with salaries that support private school tuitions.

Top publics in intellectual areas (NW DC, college towns) have some of those very top kids, plus lots of really motivated and smart kids, plus everyone else.

Private schools have a lot of extremely privileged kids who are motivated and smart; and also a lot of average kids with moneyed parents who will be "successful" in terms of the researched variables.

So basically: the fact that privates have some smart, motivated kids does not mean that publics do not. And the fact that some smart, motivated kids attend privates does not mean that they are all smart and motivated.

Wow.
Hope you never need to finance or sell your company or you get in legal pickle.
Oh that’s right, you won’t be starting a company, you are in lab research or academia with all your self-deemed hard-working intellectuals.

What on earth bubble have you been living in he past 40 years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a senior at Wilson but we have also had a child in private school here. The kids who succeed academically at Wilson are from the same general pool of kids as those who succeed academically at private and charter schools. They're all on the same travel sports teams, etc., and shocker of shockers, they often go to the same drinking parties on weekends. It's strange that so many of you think there's no overlap.

The kids at Wilson who got into the Ivy League or Stanford (or whatever parameter you want to set for the "top" schools) are often legacies, just as in private schools. The kids who made it into the schools that are probably just as good but not Ivy League (you choose, but I'll include Chicago, Northwestern, University of Michigan, UCLA) are super smart regardless of where they went to high school. What separates the Wilson kids from students at private schools is not wealth but Wilson parents' (and the kids') willingness to deal with seemingly unlimited DCPS BS, plus the kids' ability to succeed despite some of the harsher realities of Wilson/DCPS. Come on, Wilson parents, we can admit there are some of these, right? That the overdoses did happen and were disturbing and poorly handled, that the administration is borderline incompetent, that the college counseling is inadequate, etc.? I wish my kid didn't have to deal with those things, but I'm happy that he succeeded despite them, and yes, he'll see some of your kids at his first-choice college.

+1000 too

You find quite a few families like the PP (and ourselves) who have an older child at Wilson and other(s), usually younger, at private. For us we sort of knew what we were getting into with Wilson and my oldest is a self starter who is driven and has done extremely well. Off to her first choice college in the fall. Now knowing what it is like, I have younger kids who would be eaten alive at Wilson --- and I am just done like what the PP posted. Terrible administration, lack of accountability by teachers, the over dose incident/handling/clearly troubled kids back at the school, the stealing, etc. I just don't want to deal with it myself and really don't want my kids dealing with it any longer. So we are out in a few weeks and not looking back.

Like many DCPS, it sounds like it is succeeding because of a critical mass of motivated students. Think what DCPS could be if the system and admin met that motivation with motivation, integrity and imagination of their own.

+1. Navigating large public school districts today is like a part-time job. Holy moly.

[Anonymous]

Top creativity and intellect = physics professor; playwrite; investigative journalist; principal investigator at NIH, etc etc. None of those generally make enough to send kids to private (maybe with the right spouse you could). The kind of jobs that give throw-away private school tuition money are lobbyist, investment banker, law partner ... none of those are very intellectual. Smart, motivated, bright, sure. But not creative & intellectual.

I get the sense that there aren't many (if any) Sidwell upper school parents posting today.

I am one, and I can assure the PP quoted above that all of these professions are represented among the parent body. That's also true at GDS. Lots of journalists, scientists (inventors), nonprofit lawyers with jobs at nonprofits (think Southern Poverty Law Center, Guttmacher Inst.), CDC types, economists — so many economists — federal employees and so on. Classical musicians, forgot that one.

Are there as many NIH rank-and-file scientists as you'd find among the Wooton parent body? Nope. More law partners than you'd find at Wooton? Yes. But to suggest that we're all DNC donors and big pharma lobbyists confirms that you don't actually know what you're talking about. Sidwell awards a ton of financial aid, btw.

— U/S parent who makes $65K a year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Logic fail. I never said that there are no smart, successful kids in privates. I said that publics have the most extraordinary kids. I mean, I challenge you to look at recent years of MacArthur Genius award grantees. I guarantee you that there are very, very few private high school kids there.

Math fail. Aren't there 10 times as many public high school students vs. private?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Logic fail. I never said that there are no smart, successful kids in privates. I said that publics have the most extraordinary kids. I mean, I challenge you to look at recent years of MacArthur Genius award grantees. I guarantee you that there are very, very few private high school kids there.

Math fail. Aren't there 10 times as many public high school students vs. private?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a senior at Wilson but we have also had a child in private school here. The kids who succeed academically at Wilson are from the same general pool of kids as those who succeed academically at private and charter schools. They're all on the same travel sports teams, etc., and shocker of shockers, they often go to the same drinking parties on weekends. It's strange that so many of you think there's no overlap.

The kids at Wilson who got into the Ivy League or Stanford (or whatever parameter you want to set for the "top" schools) are often legacies, just as in private schools. The kids who made it into the schools that are probably just as good but not Ivy League (you choose, but I'll include Chicago, Northwestern, University of Michigan, UCLA) are super smart regardless of where they went to high school. What separates the Wilson kids from students at private schools is not wealth but Wilson parents' (and the kids') willingness to deal with seemingly unlimited DCPS BS, plus the kids' ability to succeed despite some of the harsher realities of Wilson/DCPS. Come on, Wilson parents, we can admit there are some of these, right? That the overdoses did happen and were disturbing and poorly handled, that the administration is borderline incompetent, that the college counseling is inadequate, etc.? I wish my kid didn't have to deal with those things, but I'm happy that he succeeded despite them, and yes, he'll see some of your kids at his first-choice college.

Wilson parent here with kid at Ivy. I can tell you that they legacy thing is nowhere near as strong at Wilson as at private. What is strong is that admissions officers really like taking students from Wilson because of everything else you describe and how it impacts the students' perspectives and outlook. And to the poster that said Wilson students need remedial help, complete BS for the students I know at top schools. No one is flaming out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a senior at Wilson but we have also had a child in private school here. The kids who succeed academically at Wilson are from the same general pool of kids as those who succeed academically at private and charter schools. They're all on the same travel sports teams, etc., and shocker of shockers, they often go to the same drinking parties on weekends. It's strange that so many of you think there's no overlap.

The kids at Wilson who got into the Ivy League or Stanford (or whatever parameter you want to set for the "top" schools) are often legacies, just as in private schools. The kids who made it into the schools that are probably just as good but not Ivy League (you choose, but I'll include Chicago, Northwestern, University of Michigan, UCLA) are super smart regardless of where they went to high school. What separates the Wilson kids from students at private schools is not wealth but Wilson parents' (and the kids') willingness to deal with seemingly unlimited DCPS BS, plus the kids' ability to succeed despite some of the harsher realities of Wilson/DCPS. Come on, Wilson parents, we can admit there are some of these, right? That the overdoses did happen and were disturbing and poorly handled, that the administration is borderline incompetent, that the college counseling is inadequate, etc.? I wish my kid didn't have to deal with those things, but I'm happy that he succeeded despite them, and yes, he'll see some of your kids at his first-choice college.

Yes, Wilson students who succeed after all (especially DCPS BS) deserve recognition.
But private students also have their bunch of obstacles. Entitled super wealthy but not smart classmates (and their parents) are hell if they don't like you - ask the most recent Sidwell graduates. Competition is much harder and, if you don't standout, deal with a gigantic pressure. There are drugs and overdoses too. The incompetent administration and college counseling are nothing compared to private mean girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Logic fail. I never said that there are no smart, successful kids in privates. I said that publics have the most extraordinary kids. I mean, I challenge you to look at recent years of MacArthur Genius award grantees. I guarantee you that there are very, very few private high school kids there.

Math fail. Aren't there 10 times as many public high school students vs. private?

+1

continuing logic and math and reading comprehension fail! OP is surprised that there is a sizeable cohort of excellet kids at public high school. that's my entire point - numerically (and qualitatively) the best kids are at publics. again that does not mean there are not very able, wonderful kids at privates.

[Anonymous]

DIY (public) vs Better Customer Service (private)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DIY (public) vs Better Customer Service (private)

Also, no frills vs. more pleasant experience. Neither is wrong, depends on the kid and may change over time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DIY (public) vs Better Customer Service (private)

Also, no frills vs. more pleasant experience. Neither is wrong, depends on the kid and may change over time.

The answer depends on how much money you have. If you use even part of the 45K$/year to supplement your child's public school education with travel/extracurriculars/enrichment activities, your kid may be better off than someone who struggles to pay private school tuition and has no $ left for extras.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DIY (public) vs Better Customer Service (private)

Also, no frills vs. more pleasant experience. Neither is wrong, depends on the kid and may change over time.

The answer depends on how much money you have. If you use even part of the 45K$/year to supplement your child's public school education with travel/extracurriculars/enrichment activities, your kid may be better off than someone who struggles to pay private school tuition and has no $ left for extras.

I will be investing the $45k for K-12 so my child will never have a mortgage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you use even part of the 45K$/year to supplement your child's public school education with travel/extracurriculars/enrichment activities

We save hundreds of hours per year getting these things during or right after school hours at our private. Time > money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a senior at Wilson but we have also had a child in private school here. The kids who succeed academically at Wilson are from the same general pool of kids as those who succeed academically at private and charter schools. They're all on the same travel sports teams, etc., and shocker of shockers, they often go to the same drinking parties on weekends. It's strange that so many of you think there's no overlap.

The kids at Wilson who got into the Ivy League or Stanford (or whatever parameter you want to set for the "top" schools) are often legacies, just as in private schools. The kids who made it into the schools that are probably just as good but not Ivy League (you choose, but I'll include Chicago, Northwestern, University of Michigan, UCLA) are super smart regardless of where they went to high school. What separates the Wilson kids from students at private schools is not wealth but Wilson parents' (and the kids') willingness to deal with seemingly unlimited DCPS BS, plus the kids' ability to succeed despite some of the harsher realities of Wilson/DCPS. Come on, Wilson parents, we can admit there are some of these, right? That the overdoses did happen and were disturbing and poorly handled, that the administration is borderline incompetent, that the college counseling is inadequate, etc.? I wish my kid didn't have to deal with those things, but I'm happy that he succeeded despite them, and yes, he'll see some of your kids at his first-choice college.

+1000 too

You find quite a few families like the PP (and ourselves) who have an older child at Wilson and other(s), usually younger, at private. For us we sort of knew what we were getting into with Wilson and my oldest is a self starter who is driven and has done extremely well. Off to her first choice college in the fall. Now knowing what it is like, I have younger kids who would be eaten alive at Wilson --- and I am just done like what the PP posted. Terrible administration, lack of accountability by teachers, the over dose incident/handling/clearly troubled kids back at the school, the stealing, etc. I just don't want to deal with it myself and really don't want my kids dealing with it any longer. So we are out in a few weeks and not looking back.

I have a sophomore at Wilson. If someone is truly weighing this as a choice, I can't say my kid was affected at all by the kids OD'ing or by kids who may have gotten into trouble off-site. While I hope that admin would handle some things better, my child never saw an ambulance, has no fear of being jumped, etc. In fact, he just informed me that juuling is no longer cool and that students are better behaved there than at Deal. I'm sure some will argue that he's lying, but I know my kid.

I do think it depends on your child. We may not go with Wilson for our youngest for various reasons. But to act shocked that many kids are doing very well and the fear-mongering are off base.

Finally, pleeease OP don't ever suggest to me that I'm gaming the college admissions process because I'm sending my kids to public when I can easily afford private (as one friend did who made her DH get a better job so her kids could to go to a Big-3.). My kid is doing well and we choose as former pp says to put up with DCPS BS (and I'd rather spend the money on trips, gap year, grad school, apartment, whatevs).