Anyone not rich enough for private HS and fretting about what to do after MS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Move to Falls Church or pay tution to go to Meridian (apparently this is a thing). That is an amazing public school. Falls Church just serves Falls Church. Kinda like the way Mclean should because all the Mclean money goes elsewher so their schools are about as close to private as one you could hope. So that would be a start. Also, maybe you could get FA at a private-you never know until you ask so apply broadly. My next step would be something like O'Connel or Paul VI-cheaper than independent but still good and they do not care if you are not Catholic.

Pay to go to Meridian. Is this truly a thing? For real? I love the idea. But would think they would end up with a lot more kids. They do publish their equivalent tuition, found it somewhere one time in the last year. Had honestly just thought about renting our house out and then renting within the Falls Church limits to have DC go.

Would love to hear from someone that has done this! Honestly not a bad possibility for families that could afford private school but want another option. Been fretting about high school (we are zoned for Alexandria City High School, which is just too huge at over 4,000 students).

Meridian is similar in price point to Bishop Ireton, but our child doesn’t seem too keen on attending a Catholic school.

[Anonymous]

If you have a set amount of income it seems you have four choices:
#1 go to your local public and hope for the best. He'll get to know neighbors.
#2 move your house to a district you would want to send your kid to public HS in, even if it's a smaller house, etc
#3 apply to magnet programs
#4 apply to private and ask for FA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Move to Falls Church or pay tution to go to Meridian (apparently this is a thing). That is an amazing public school. Falls Church just serves Falls Church. Kinda like the way Mclean should because all the Mclean money goes elsewher so their schools are about as close to private as one you could hope. So that would be a start. Also, maybe you could get FA at a private-you never know until you ask so apply broadly. My next step would be something like O'Connel or Paul VI-cheaper than independent but still good and they do not care if you are not Catholic.

I didn’t know this was a thing either, but in looking it up it does seem to be about $22,000 per year. So about 1/2 the cost of the Big 3/5 and other top independent privates, but about one par with most Catholic high schools. Plus Meridian seems to be relatively small for a private HS, at about 800 students. That’s smaller than DJO and about 1/3 the size of Marshall HS, for example, both of which are nearby.

[Anonymous]

OP there are lots of privates in the 20k range. If you can swing it and still have money left for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP there are lots of privates in the 20k range. If you can swing it and still have money left for college.

Lots for high school?! Not aware of any at that price point that aren’t Catholic. Do tell!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP there are lots of privates in the 20k range. If you can swing it and still have money left for college.

Lots for high school?! Not aware of any at that price point that aren’t Catholic. Do tell!

Pinnacle

Trinity Christian

New School of N Va


No commentary as to how good any of these are. Not in a position to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP there are lots of privates in the 20k range. If you can swing it and still have money left for college.

Lots for high school?! Not aware of any at that price point that aren’t Catholic. Do tell!

Pinnacle

Trinity Christian

New School of N Va


No commentary as to how good any of these are. Not in a position to know.

New School is $30-34k, just checked their website. There are not “lots“ of high schools for $20K in our area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has some of the best high schools in the state. If you are districted for a weak high school, I'd recommend moving to an area with a strong high school like Robinson or Lake Braddock.

OP here - we are in Robinson. I haven't seen anything so far to make me think it's any better than our ES was.

That is one of the better schools in NoVA?? OP, I would stay there.

[Anonymous]

We're zoned for Robinson also. DD is aiming for a Catholic high school but that's almost entirely because of social and community reasons (she's in parochial school now). Academics at Robinson grades 9-12 are excellent.

Catholic high schools will be the least expensive in the area. Trinity Christian is also low.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you decided what to do? We are in a similar position and I am looking for ideas.

[Anonymous]

A lot of people move into Mclean as renters just to put their kids through school. Rent your house out and move into a better school district.