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Private & Independent Schools
If you could only afford private for grades 1-6 or grades 6-12, what would you choose?
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Anonymous
While the public high schools in MC are ok I wouldn't term them excellent. |
Anonymous
| 6-12 .. because the high school years are more important to college admissions. BUT ... waiting may make it harder to get in. |
Anonymous
| Actually, I think it is easier to get in at 6 than at K? |
Anonymous
We will be in a charter from PK-5 or possibly 8th grade at the most, private for high school definitely! |
Anonymous
| 6-12. COLLEGE. |
Anonymous
|
Sixth is easier if you call one in 12 or 15 easy!
Bottom line: It's not easy to get into top privates period! |
Anonymous
| 3 DCs went private from PK-12. If I had to limit private years it would be in HS. A kid with a good foundation can find a successful way through any public HS and sometimes have more options/opportunities. Definately private MS. If you don't do private PK wait until 2nd and on to enroll DCs. The Ks and 1sts just aren't mature enough to accept new kids. |
Anonymous
Yu Ying? (I just ask because we're there and that's our plan as well.) |
Anonymous
They're in the top 10% of all public schools in the country. |
Anonymous
Mundo Verde, Spanish Immersion.. |
Anonymous
That depends on the school, right? The OP didn't say which school they were thinking of, just that they can only afford a few years. Some schools have much better odds than this? |
Anonymous
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Our kids went to MCPS for K-6, then DC independent school for 7-12. If we had it to do over again, my vote would be to send them to private for 9-12. MCPS ES curriculum is solid and teachers are very good for the most part; plus, your kids get to know other kids in your neighborhood, so you're not schlepping them all over for playdates. For MCPS and K-12 privates, middle schools tend to be the weak link, so save your money unless you're willing to do a K-8 private and then apply again for high school.
Many MCPS high schools are quite good, but they're big and the curriculum tends toward more multiple choice tests and sless writing unless your kid is in a magnet or IB. Our kids' experience at a top independent has been great -- a very rich and deep curriculum stressing writing and critical thinking skills. But -- don't delude yourself into thinking that a private high school will always guarantee admission to a marquee name college. The competition for these schools is so tough and it may be more difficult to get in from a private where there are many kids with a good shot at the most prestigious schools. Private schools offer the biggest college admissions bang for the buck for students in the middle of the pack, where the assistance of a college counselor with a small enough caseload can make a difference in the admissions process. |
Anonymous
| 6-12. College counseling at DCPS is a joke. |
Anonymous
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If you have an academically advanced or gifted child I would without a doubt recommend private first and then public for highschool. A private will be able to offer a child much more in the early years than you would get at a public school. A lot of public schools now are moving away from ability grouping which does a disservice to advanced and highly motivated kids.
Public highschools, especially the magnets on the other hand offer a wide range of courses for advanced and highly motivated kids. If you don't do a magnet an advanced child can still thrive in their home school and the most highly motivated ones can learn a great deal about leadership. They will basically "run" a school so to speak through student government and activism. It can be a really enriching experience. Without a strong foundation though a child may not be in a position to take the bull by the horns. Private - K - 6 (preferable 8 IMHO) Public - 6 to 12 |
Anonymous
If we were not admitted to this language immersion charter, we were going to go private Pk-12.... |