Forum Index
»
Private & Independent Schools
Can't commit. Tuition is scary.
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
Is there anyone else out there thinking of walking away, leaving the deposit, and saving yourselves 20k+?
I have weak knees thinking about it. Plus the hassle of transportation! |
Anonymous
| What school and what grade? |
Anonymous
|
I'm only at the nursery level, but my child's school has already claimed $10k from us - no walking away now for us!
I know how you feel though. I bet there are lots of people second-guessing themselves, esp. in this economy. |
Anonymous
| If you already feel this way before your child even walks thru the door, isn't it a better idea to just walk away? How much is deposit? I get the feeling that you already can't sleep at night. Plus, tuition is just the base cost, not including supplies, activities, & contributions. |
Anonymous
| Oh my god, I think 11:15 is looking for a waitlist spot! |
Anonymous
|
If you are at the pre-k and K level, then walking away would be easier. There are lots of good schools out there. If you don't walk away now, and tell yourself that you want to give it a try, then it will just get harder and harder to walk away later. After a few more years, you become too scared to even try if you are living in DC.
We've been paying for perschool and privates for more than 6 years now and to be very honest about it, there are real doubts in my mind that this investment has been worth while. Of course, the private schools offer somethings that a public school just cannot - like facilities, smaller class size, etc. but the per dollar cost/benefit just don't compute. |
Anonymous
|
After my daughter got off the waitlist and into 10th grade at a private, I couldn't sleep all night and I started dryheaving the next morning -- and that's for only 3 years of private school.
I felt that we were able to get her a good education in elementary school in DCPS and while there were some clunker teachers in middle school, she also had some fantastic teachers. I just wish she had the temperament and dedication to go to Banneker so she could stay in DCPS because DCPS magnet schools work quite well for some kids if they have families who are there to support them. |
Anonymous
| OP, I totally relate to what you are saying. This is our first year with pre-k and we're looking at $15K plus in tuition alone. Every bone in my body says that this is completely insane and yet, here we are. There is not a child on the planet ... my own DD included... whose pre-k "education" -- one year -- is worth FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!! Will someone who has worked through this and is sincerely convinced of the merits of independent schools please tell me, again, exactly what we are getting in return for this that we could not find in public schools? |
Anonymous
| pp, that was funny. I am waiting for the responses. |
Anonymous
| Ahh, well, maybe staying on the private school track will get you an invitation to Capitol Cotillion or Mrs. Simpson's one day? |
Anonymous
LOL! This is the best. |
Anonymous
Does 15K include any after care? How many hours per day instruction? Is this for an academic year? |
Anonymous
Not apparently if your tuition is only $15k! (Joke, joke.) |
Anonymous
|
Private school education is not a panacea, and it isn't for every student. However, it is right for some, including my DS, who needs to be in an environment where there is a smaller student to teacher ratio, and where there is close supervision to his learning style.
In a larger classroom such as would be found in the average DCPS environment, he would probably be lost and the ability to identify learning strengths, and more importantly weaknesses would probably not exist. (This would not be the case for our second child, who will probably be more than fine in a public school) Many children can thrive in a public school. The problem is that many parents are being sucked into the status (re: Cotillions, LOL) and other accessory issues associated with the public versus private discussion, without necessarily understanding their children, or their desire to be an "involved" parent. Sadly, I see some parents at my DS private school who simply feel that throwing money (tuition etc) at the school and having the nanny pick up and drop of their child as a solution to parenting. While it is a huge (HUGE) sacrifice financially, it also has to be the right thing for your child. If you don't think the academic program and support is justified by the tuition based on the make up of your child, then it probably isn't the right decision for you and your family. |
Anonymous
|
Hi... this is 21:17 again. Thanks to PP for the pep talk. The problem I have is, how does one KNOW at this young age (DD is just 4) whether or not she is the type who "needs" the experiences you describe at the private school? I fear that we may be the type of parents that a PP described... finding it harder and harder to walk away as she gets older. I wish in some ways that we had started with public schools (yes, we're in DC) and tried to move her later if that turns out to be what is needed. But my other fear is that if we don't go with private school now, she'll never get in down the road. Is that faulty thinking?
Oh and by the way, DH just reminded me that tuition at this school is, in fact, $18K per year, not the $15K that I had somehow fixed in my mind! And no, to PP, it does not include any type of after care. It's just the standard 5 days a week, 8:30 to 1 or so, program. |