Parents of Private High School Graduates – was it worth it?

[Anonymous]

Was it worth it does not equal college acceptances for most private school parent.

The question is too limiting, I am not there just for college admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we stop talking about the racial diversity of a handful of schools and get back to the OP's question? It's a good one.

+1 I have never seen a thread so thoroughly high jacked in my life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was it worth it does not equal college acceptances for most private school parent.

The question is too limiting, I am not there just for college admissions.

But I don't the question wasn't just based on college acceptances - though that was part of it.

[Anonymous]

My DS was accepted to the Top 25 school of his dreams. He would not have been if he had gone to our top rated MOCO public schools.

For me it was worth it. There is nothing I'd rather invest money in than my children.

As for other other benefits? I think the social skills and polish are a real plus.

Lessons? Be prepared for a commitment of time (in addition to $). - private school parents are VERY active in their schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we stop talking about the racial diversity of a handful of schools and get back to the OP's question? It's a good one.

+1 I have never seen a thread so thoroughly high jacked in my life.

You must have a pretty short and circumscribed life, because that was nothing. But don't let that stop you from doing your own hijacking, with all your complaining!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS was accepted to the Top 25 school of his dreams. He would not have been if he had gone to our top rated MOCO public schools.

For me it was worth it. There is nothing I'd rather invest money in than my children.

As for other other benefits? I think the social skills and polish are a real plus.

Lessons? Be prepared for a commitment of time (in addition to $). - private school parents are VERY active in their schools.

Why do you think he would not have gotten in from a public school? Do you think it was something the private provided that public couldn't, that addressed his particular needs? I don't think it's necessarily the case that smart but not brilliant kids can't enter top colleges from public schools. My DC was one of 13 kids from a single MoCo public who has been accepted by a single top 5 school (ivy) so far this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS was accepted to the Top 25 school of his dreams. He would not have been if he had gone to our top rated MOCO public schools.

For me it was worth it. There is nothing I'd rather invest money in than my children.

As for other other benefits? I think the social skills and polish are a real plus.

Lessons? Be prepared for a commitment of time (in addition to $). - private school parents are VERY active in their schools.

What is this polish of which you speak? I ask this seriously. I think there's a good argument to be made that public school kids learn how to deal with a broader range of kids and also to advocate for themselves. The word "polish" suggests ineffable qualities like knowing how to wear rumpled khakis and to butter your bread a bite at a time rather than paving it. But I know you must mean more than these, and I'd be curious to hear your explanation of what "polish" private schools provide.

[Anonymous]

That "polish" often makes it hard for someone to understand --much less empathize with-- those who are different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS was accepted to the Top 25 school of his dreams. He would not have been if he had gone to our top rated MOCO public schools.

For me it was worth it. There is nothing I'd rather invest money in than my children.

As for other other benefits? I think the social skills and polish are a real plus.

Lessons? Be prepared for a commitment of time (in addition to $). - private school parents are VERY active in their schools.

What is this polish of which you speak? I ask this seriously. I think there's a good argument to be made that public school kids learn how to deal with a broader range of kids and also to advocate for themselves. The word "polish" suggests ineffable qualities like knowing how to wear rumpled khakis and to butter your bread a bite at a time rather than paving it. But I know you must mean more than these, and I'd be curious to hear your explanation of what "polish" private schools provide.

"Polished?" Well, my AA daughter said that she's complimented/demeaned for habitually using formal English. We live in DC and older residents have remarked "you must have been educated at private school, honey." DS holds the door for ladies. Actually, I find that so charming. However, at home, they're barbarians. They never attended Mrs. Smith's or Cotillion.

PP, if we had to do it all over again, we would have found a great public school system with a broader range of kids. Private school kids are totally in a bubble. Gosh, just had a flash of that John Travolta movie from the 70s, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was it worth it does not equal college acceptances for most private school parent.

The question is too limiting, I am not there just for college admissions.

But I don't the question wasn't just based on college acceptances - though that was part of it.

Yes. For my children it is worth it. They like going to school which is a big deal for dyslexic kids.

They are challenged, which they would not be in MoCo because our scores were not "gifted".

They have an advisory program and my sons advisors help with any issue I have. If they are fighting me about homework, or fighting with their brother or not helping at home, etc.

They have a very diverse set of friends. At home, in sports, at school - the combination. My sons have friends that range from can't afford to eat to can afford to feed all of Montgomery county.

Every day they have to look people in the eyes and shake their hand (I think that is the polish thing the PP means). It is so simple I am not sure why they don't do that in every school.

They have sport every day so when they get home to do homework they have already had 1 hour of outside time.

My kids are happy, so it is worth it to us. (they were not happy before - picture a kid sitting in a car, head down, do I have to go. Now hey tomorrow is going to be fun we are going to....)

[Anonymous]

PP..where are your dyslexic kids happy? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10 years of private school (about 300K) - high school was worth it. MAYBE middle school. Elementary, not worth it.

Knowing what I know now, I'd wait for high school.

I'd agree with this, although I might switch to private for middle school. Three kids, 10 years of private school = more money than I'd choose to count. Younger kids are in MoCo public now. I wish I'd have allocated the money differently.

[Anonymous]

I find it really hard to answer the question. I have one DC with learning issues and its a no brainer -- private was the only way to go. I also have another child whose experience at a private was very mixed. I wish we had chosen a different private. I suspect our experience at public would have been mixed as well - some benefits, some downsides.

I do differ on the idea of elementary being not worth it. from what I can tell the public elementary schools have to focus too much on testing, and also provide a lot of busy work for homework, consistently more than my children had at their privates and they were very successful students throughout high school. I am glad they went to schools where the teachers could teach free from those constraints.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP..where are your dyslexic kids happy? Thanks!

I hate to say outright because there is some crazy lady on this board that hates our school and the threads get high jacked. I will give you a list of schools that do well with dyslexic kids...

Bullis, st. Andrews, Paul vi, good counsel, st. Johns, the heights, McNamara, damatha, Polotti, Landon

Good luck in your search.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP..where are your dyslexic kids happy? Thanks!

I hate to say outright because there is some crazy lady on this board that hates our school and the threads get high jacked. I will give you a list of schools that do well with dyslexic kids...

Bullis, st. Andrews, Paul vi, good counsel, st. Johns, the heights, McNamara, damatha, Polotti, Landon

Good luck in your search.

Woops, I meant to say in addition to the lab, McLean and Siena (most know these schools though) he is not in one of these schools because he needed the sports also.