What ends up to be the REAL tuition$$ at these schools?

[Anonymous]

I think your costs vary wildly depending on the school.

For us, we have:
Bus
After school classes offered through school (although my kids also take classes not affiliated with the school, so I am not sure it's fair to count this)
Private music lessons (see above about fairness - we'd be paying for them somewhere)
Annual Fund
Auction
Upcoming capital campaign
There are also truly minor things, like buying clothes to match the school play theme one or two times a year.
There is really not that much else. We pack lunches but the kids would have to eat somewhere. They do not have uniforms.

I have heard people say on here they set tuition at what they think the market will bear so that they are competitive, but hope that those who can contribute more will do so through the annual fund. It's hard to quibble with the auction, since that goes to scholarships.

[Anonymous]

Books
Trips
Music lessons
Donations

It adds up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't understand why they don't just adjust the tuition to avoid asking for additional money later...

Looks like for this year we'll shell out just under 20% (via various fund raising events) over the stated tuition amount.

Because you can write the fundraising donations off!

aha - that is true! this is our first year and I hadn't thought of that...

It's also to make sure that lower income families can still attend the school. A higher tuition would dissuade a larger segment from applying. So effectively, beyond a certain point, everybody's paying a different level of tuition based on abililty and willingness to pay extra.

At our school hot lunch is also an optional expense. Those who do not want to pay can send bag lunches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get a backbone people! Pay your tuition, but when it comes to financial donations give what you can, but do not allow the school or school status pressure you to give more than you are able to.

We do make financial contributions to the school our DC attends. However, we have limited dollars when it comes to charitable donations and based on our values there are several more organizations that we feel need more of our money than our school. Especially in this economy.

Well said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP 11:41, I think anyone putting their child thru one of the schools we are all talking about know - like it or not - there's a game that has to be played. The social status issue among peers and parents is not just perceived, it's real. At NCS they treat your kid different if your parents have made the named donor list/book.

If this is true, shame on NCS and shame on you for keeping your child at a school that is so blatantly warped!

[Anonymous]

PP, I wouldn't say to that parent that they should be ashamed for keeping their child at a "warped school". I'll be the first one to say what is pretty obvious, even if you don't want to admit it: these schools like "the Big 3" have 15 or 20 kids angling for every spot, so they get their pick as to who gets in and who doesn't get the privilege of paying a lot of $$ to them for the next 4,6 or more years. If your child is lucky enough to get in (I say "lucky" because none of us would try so hard to get our DC in these schools if it didn't matter to us) then I can't imagine most parents are not aware that there will be some pressure to support the school financially, at least from those not on full FA. Unfortunately that doesn't make them warped as much as just aware that they don't have to take your child, just like you don't have to apply or send your child. There are a lot of great schools outside of the top 5 or 6 top competitive DC schools that offer fabulous educational opportunities. IMO, if you choose to compete for admission in one of the handful of so-called "elite" privates, you're kind of stuck helping the school some. Parents who choose to keep their kids there just recognize what they signed up for.

[Anonymous]

That's a depressing way to put it, PP, but pretty accurate

[Anonymous]

Have kids in both public and private HS. At our private HS the extras have been:

books - $500-700/year at private, free at public
trips - $1200-5000 for optional spring break trips, not so optional sports training trips (same deal at public though)
annual giving/cap campaign - ranges depending on your ability to give
auction - $300 for tickets and related things. spent 0 on items last year.
lunch - 0 at private, c. $100/month at public
transportation - countless car trips for private, free bus for public
sports uniforms - free in private, c. $50-100/season in public

There are lots of little things like class funds, etc. I find these are lower in private than in public though.

The biggest difference between our schools is the degree of parent involvement. The public school has WAY more parent involvement than private. Carpools for sports games, many parent run events, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, I wouldn't say to that parent that they should be ashamed for keeping their child at a "warped school". I'll be the first one to say what is pretty obvious, even if you don't want to admit it: these schools like "the Big 3" have 15 or 20 kids angling for every spot, so they get their pick as to who gets in and who doesn't get the privilege of paying a lot of $$ to them for the next 4,6 or more years. If your child is lucky enough to get in (I say "lucky" because none of us would try so hard to get our DC in these schools if it didn't matter to us) then I can't imagine most parents are not aware that there will be some pressure to support the school financially, at least from those not on full FA. Unfortunately that doesn't make them warped as much as just aware that they don't have to take your child, just like you don't have to apply or send your child. There are a lot of great schools outside of the top 5 or 6 top competitive DC schools that offer fabulous educational opportunities. IMO, if you choose to compete for admission in one of the handful of so-called "elite" privates, you're kind of stuck helping the school some. Parents who choose to keep their kids there just recognize what they signed up for.

It is a sad little world you all live in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a sad little world you all live in.

Bless your heart. Thanks for your generous support.