How are you liking your new private school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of DC at one of Big Three. Nice teachers. Beautiful grounds. But no discernable difference between quality here and quality would be receiving at public. Only "advantage," if you want to call it that, is that most of other families seem highly accomplished, which I think is probably not a bad thing overall. Otherwise, am spending 25K per year as a place holder for the high school years. The sound you heard is me pounding my head against the wall.

I am about to start the open houses in the area for 4.5 DC, and what you said really resonated with me. Our neighborhood school is Janney and while I hear wonderful things, I am pulled to private schools because it is all I know. But the price tag literally makes me nauseous. I have taught in private schools, I know there are NO guarantees, but you ARE paying for a spot. Total craziness. I am afraid to even go to the Open Houses and fall in love with some of these schools...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of DC at one of Big Three. Nice teachers. Beautiful grounds. But no discernable difference between quality here and quality would be receiving at public. Only "advantage," if you want to call it that, is that most of other families seem highly accomplished, which I think is probably not a bad thing overall. Otherwise, am spending 25K per year as a place holder for the high school years. The sound you heard is me pounding my head against the wall.

Were you previously at public?

[Anonymous]

We absolutely love NCS!

[Anonymous]

One thing we like about our experience so far is that we seemed to have timed it well. DC's school is a young one (25 years or so). So we missed those first growing years, but there's still a feeling that the families are helping to build this institution and its traditions.

The main building is huge, but the school also owns all the land surrounding it and has big plans for how to use it. I can visualize what the school is going to become during the next ten years while my child is a student.

Although most of the teachers have been around for years, the school has also been recruting some exceptional educators from other top schools. I like both of those facts. These teachers are making the same bet that I am on this school.

It feels like we're catching the school on a real upswing. If the school magazine is any guide, the first alums have gone on to attend great universities and are settling into some very interesting careers. There's a real sense of optimism in the school about its future and the opportunities that its students will have.

All of this appeals to me. I didn't really see how we were going to have much influence or involvement in the more established schools -- other than writing checks to the development office.

So, in other words, we do like the new school so far. I hope to be as enthusiastic at the end of the first term.

[Anonymous]

We are very happy with Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

My child absolutely LOVES St. Patrick's!

[Anonymous]

We also are thrilled with St. patricks. Couldn't say enough good things about the school!

[Anonymous]

My daughter loves the River School and we are thrilled!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: am spending 25K per year as a place holder for the high school years. The sound you heard is me pounding my head against the wall.

but you ARE paying for a spot. quote]

Please explain the advantages of private high school over public or why you think there are more benefits to private high school vs. private elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of DC at one of Big Three. Nice teachers. Beautiful grounds. But no discernable difference between quality here and quality would be receiving at public. Only "advantage," if you want to call it that, is that most of other families seem highly accomplished, which I think is probably not a bad thing overall. Otherwise, am spending 25K per year as a place holder for the high school years. The sound you heard is me pounding my head against the wall.

I am about to start the open houses in the area for 4.5 DC, and what you said really resonated with me. Our neighborhood school is Janney and while I hear wonderful things, I am pulled to private schools because it is all I know. But the price tag literally makes me nauseous. I have taught in private schools, I know there are NO guarantees, but you ARE paying for a spot. Total craziness. I am afraid to even go to the Open Houses and fall in love with some of these schools...

We are also zoned for Janney and are trying to decide whether to just forget about private and go to Janney at least until its time for middle school. I hear that Janney is crowded and that the aftercare is not great, we need aftercare. What have your heard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter loves the River School and we are thrilled!

We are extremely happy with Washington International. Our child is thrilled to go to school everyday and has already learned so much.

[Anonymous]

To borrow what appears to be the popular word on this thread, we are "thrilled" with Beauvoir. Okay, the truth is that it is everything that is advertised - warm, child focused, and nurturing. So, for that, we are thrilled.

The fact that it is an Episcopal school is something that never truly registered with us, though. It's not so much the religious portion. But the, well, WASP-iness factor. I am Jewish. My DH is not. But we are "culturally" more Jewish than anything else. While the parents on the surface are polite, I get the sense because I am quite obviously different, I'm held at arms length. Maybe this will change in time. But what really frightens me is that the small handful of Jewish families there are so, well, non-Jewish, as if they've sublimated that portion of their identity to better fit in with everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely loving single sex school for DC. Find the best match for your child and follow your gut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To borrow what appears to be the popular word on this thread, we are "thrilled" with Beauvoir. Okay, the truth is that it is everything that is advertised - warm, child focused, and nurturing. So, for that, we are thrilled.

The fact that it is an Episcopal school is something that never truly registered with us, though. It's not so much the religious portion. But the, well, WASP-iness factor. I am Jewish. My DH is not. But we are "culturally" more Jewish than anything else. While the parents on the surface are polite, I get the sense because I am quite obviously different, I'm held at arms length. Maybe this will change in time. But what really frightens me is that the small handful of Jewish families there are so, well, non-Jewish, as if they've sublimated that portion of their identity to better fit in with everyone else.

If you never figured out that Beauvoir/STA/NCS is the last bastion of WASP-dom, and everyone who enters is willingly transformed into walking, talking, WASPS (regardless of prior religion, race, socio-economic background), then frankly you deserve what you get. Stop complaining. Either leave the place and let one of us take our rightful place in the heirarchy, or be quiet and munch on your lobster roll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The fact that it is an Episcopal school is something that never truly registered with us, though. It's not so much the religious portion. But the, well, WASP-iness factor. I am Jewish. My DH is not. But we are "culturally" more Jewish than anything else. While the parents on the surface are polite, I get the sense because I am quite obviously different, I'm held at arms length. Maybe this will change in time. But what really frightens me is that the small handful of Jewish families there are so, well, non-Jewish, as if they've sublimated that portion of their identity to better fit in with everyone else.

Not a Beauvior parent, but I can say with authority that we WASPs hold everyone at arms length - it's just how we are at first. Try not to take it personally.