What do we get for $30k per year?

[Anonymous]

There's no way to answer the question of whether it's worth it. We had our kids in private for many years, and more recently the younger ones were switched over the public. Frankly, I miss private for them but the multiple tuitions were too much for us to afford and also pay for college.

I never cared about the connections to be made in private school, I think the Toyota vs Audi example is a good one. Private was easier in many respects -- kids were given a very well rounded curriculum with many advantages. At the end of the day, however, our son in public is thriving academically and socially. The classes are bigger, the school day is more hectic, his peers are more diverse (a good thing generally but sometimes a problem) and less attention is paid to social and emotional needs than at his former private. Are these things worth $30.000 a year? Only you can decide this.

[Anonymous]

If you are already complaining about the cost and you haven't even sent a child to school yet the definitely go public. If you hate it or feel like your child is lost in the bureaucracy, switch to private. If you end up doing the opposite (private then public) you will always regret spending that money.

[Anonymous]

For us, religious and moral teachings along with the rigorous academics.

[Anonymous]

If you have to ask OP...then you probably don't belong there. Stay with public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the school. Some things you may get:
-- smaller class size, better student:teacher ratio
-- more diversity than your typical Bethesda/McLean public school
-- less risk of disruptive kids
-- top notch teachers
-- lots of responsiveness from teachers/admin to any concerns you may have
-- no worries about standardized teach-to-the-test stuff
-- an interesting and 100% engaged group of parents

I view public vs. private as it sort of like the difference between a Toyota and an Audi. Both will get you where you want to go. The Audi will make the ride a lot more enjoyable. Whether that extra enjoyment is worth the cost is a personal question you have to answer for yourself.

Great answer.

My DH will love that analogy!

[Anonymous]

Social cachet.

Truly.

Once you have the house in Bethesda, and 3 German cars in the garage, there must be a way to separate yourselves from the Joneses.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A nice bumper sticker and folk that r alike socio wise. Small classes, a nuturing enviro, challenging, etc... Bragging rights, tons of hw in the later kids, and maybe a shot at a top tier college. Developing the chile as a whole bien, challenging them in every way to be the best at whatever.

Is this a response or a chili recipe?

waz not de truth? if ya think it's ah recipe, feel free to try it..lol

[Anonymous]

As a financial planner recently told me at a party (this is a guy specializing in the $3-5mm net worth range): the surest way to get into financial trouble in this area is to send the kids to private school.
Apparently between the constant outflow of cash to the school (tuition, extra expected giving amounts, etc.) and the opportunity cost of those dollars being spent on tuition (lost retirement dollars), people often get into a real bind. Hard to imagine, but apparently very real.

Got me thinking about a few families who pulled their kids from private (or who sent the older and realized it was too much and didn't send the younger). Each family mentioned the "crushing" feeling of spending thousands of dollars every month for years and years. It gets old fast for a lot of families.

[Anonymous]

I have three kids in a big three edging close to graduation. It's a lot of money. Basically $1 million all said and done by the time the last one graduates.

You have to be very wealthy to not question the decision to forego solid public school alternatives.

[Anonymous]

For us, it was the small class sizes, student led learning, not teaching to a test, and personal attention that led us to pursue and stick with private school for both of our DC. Having said that, we are in the fortunate position that we can pay both school tuitions (and handle donations/auctions,etc.) without hurting our ability to save enough to pay for college and otherwise live comfortably. If it was going to have a large financial impact on our family, I would have been comfortable doing publics too as I agree with the Toyota/Audi poster. I do not think that the "connections" argument holds any water from what I have seen. I also don't think it makes sense to go private solely because you think that it will move your kid up in prestige in college admissions. I know Big 3 kids and Wilson kids who are going to Ivies and kids from all of those schools who are not. My view is that the same kid will most likely end up at around the same level of college whether they go to Big 3 or public (or non-big 3 private for that matter).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have three kids in a big three edging close to graduation. It's a lot of money. Basically $1 million all said and done by the time the last one graduates.

You have to be very wealthy to not question the decision to forego solid public school alternatives.

I hear you! But, really, with the time value of money, it isn't really $1mm -- it actually be more like $3-4mm

[Anonymous]

It's all bull shit just move to Virginia or Maryland the schools are better than dc privates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a financial planner recently told me at a party (this is a guy specializing in the $3-5mm net worth range): the surest way to get into financial trouble in this area is to send the kids to private school.
Apparently between the constant outflow of cash to the school (tuition, extra expected giving amounts, etc.) and the opportunity cost of those dollars being spent on tuition (lost retirement dollars), people often get into a real bind. Hard to imagine, but apparently very real.

Got me thinking about a few families who pulled their kids from private (or who sent the older and realized it was too much and didn't send the younger). Each family mentioned the "crushing" feeling of spending thousands of dollars every month for years and years. It gets old fast for a lot of families.

I agree with this. Shot half a million in worthless privates. Ultimately went FCPS - much better teaching, better class offerings, better opportunities, more AP classes, everything.

[Anonymous]

Oh! And when we went public we got free busing. No more car pools and endless driving. Mad a huge difference in quality of family life.