Choosing public even if private is within your budget

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vast majority of people I know in N. Arlington who could easily afford private go to private. However, there’s so much wealth and parental support in some of those schools that they may as well be privates.

Interesting that Arlington is so private school focused. We are in Bethesda and there are a lot of people here who can easily afford private but choose public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're at DCPS for kindergarten and I am very impressed, so far. I honestly believe the curriculum is as good, if not better, than private schools. The parents are active, the principal is very organized, the specials are fun, and it's a diverse group of kids too. Class size is 21, and the school has aides in the classroom all the way up to 5th grade (thanks to PTA fundraising). It's TOTALLY different from what I expected -- I dreaded the whole "kindergarten is the new 1st grade thing" -- but it turns out my kid is thriving and loves the instructional methods.

I might feel differently if the class had 30 kids and no aide, like I've heard about at some MCPS schools. I also have an open mind for jr high and high school, although at this point, I'm anticipating that we'll stay in DCPS the whole way through.

The added benefit of the convenience and community of a neighborhood school is wonderful. Makes our morning routine a dream, and playdates easy to organize.

When we were choosing, I visited lots of privates and lots of DCPS publics. It was eye-opening, and I ended up being much more impressed with DCPS than I expected to be. I do think it matters that DCPS generally does not seem to have the overcrowded classrooms that I hear about in some other local districts--nowhere I looked had classes over 25 kids in elementary (and most classes did not hit the cap). We'll re-evaluate come MS and HS, but for now, we are happy with our public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Default is public, private if issues crop up.

We can easily afford private and this has been our path. My kids are thriving in public.

Assuming you have a pretty typical kid, I'm willing to consider private school is possibly marginally better. But it's not enough to convince me to do it. Not enough ROI. Also, the admissions process for these private schools is a huge turn off to me. No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vast majority of people I know in N. Arlington who could easily afford private go to private. However, there’s so much wealth and parental support in some of those schools that they may as well be privates.

Interesting that Arlington is so private school focused. We are in Bethesda and there are a lot of people here who can easily afford private but choose public.

I live in N Arlington and don't find this to be true at all - that wealthy people are mostly using private. Just another perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vast majority of people I know in N. Arlington who could easily afford private go to private. However, there’s so much wealth and parental support in some of those schools that they may as well be privates.

Interesting that Arlington is so private school focused. We are in Bethesda and there are a lot of people here who can easily afford private but choose public.

I live in N Arlington and don't find this to be true at all - that wealthy people are mostly using private. Just another perspective.

Wait, I just saw your clarification! So we are agreeing. Apologies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vast majority of people I know in N. Arlington who could easily afford private go to private. However, there’s so much wealth and parental support in some of those schools that they may as well be privates.

Interesting that Arlington is so private school focused. We are in Bethesda and there are a lot of people here who can easily afford private but choose public.

I live in N Arlington and don't find this to be true at all - that wealthy people are mostly using private. Just another perspective.

Wait, I just saw your clarification! So we are agreeing. Apologies.

Haha, sorry, yes - we are agreeing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vast majority of people I know in N. Arlington who could easily afford private go to private. However, there’s so much wealth and parental support in some of those schools that they may as well be privates.

Interesting that Arlington is so private school focused. We are in Bethesda and there are a lot of people here who can easily afford private but choose public.

It’s not! Very public-focused IME. I clarified my post but it reads really confusingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're at DCPS for kindergarten and I am very impressed, so far. I honestly believe the curriculum is as good, if not better, than private schools. The parents are active, the principal is very organized, the specials are fun, and it's a diverse group of kids too. Class size is 21, and the school has aides in the classroom all the way up to 5th grade (thanks to PTA fundraising). It's TOTALLY different from what I expected -- I dreaded the whole "kindergarten is the new 1st grade thing" -- but it turns out my kid is thriving and loves the instructional methods.

I might feel differently if the class had 30 kids and no aide, like I've heard about at some MCPS schools. I also have an open mind for jr high and high school, although at this point, I'm anticipating that we'll stay in DCPS the whole way through.

The added benefit of the convenience and community of a neighborhood school is wonderful. Makes our morning routine a dream, and playdates easy to organize.

When we were choosing, I visited lots of privates and lots of DCPS publics. It was eye-opening, and I ended up being much more impressed with DCPS than I expected to be. I do think it matters that DCPS generally does not seem to have the overcrowded classrooms that I hear about in some other local districts--nowhere I looked had classes over 25 kids in elementary (and most classes did not hit the cap). We'll re-evaluate come MS and HS, but for now, we are happy with our public.

DCPS is very good in Deal feeders, and private high schools love Deal's top 150 kids; though many of those kids will choose Wilson, Walls, or Banneker, about 70 will go to private high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're at DCPS for kindergarten and I am very impressed, so far. I honestly believe the curriculum is as good, if not better, than private schools. The parents are active, the principal is very organized, the specials are fun, and it's a diverse group of kids too. Class size is 21, and the school has aides in the classroom all the way up to 5th grade (thanks to PTA fundraising). It's TOTALLY different from what I expected -- I dreaded the whole "kindergarten is the new 1st grade thing" -- but it turns out my kid is thriving and loves the instructional methods.

I might feel differently if the class had 30 kids and no aide, like I've heard about at some MCPS schools. I also have an open mind for jr high and high school, although at this point, I'm anticipating that we'll stay in DCPS the whole way through.

The added benefit of the convenience and community of a neighborhood school is wonderful. Makes our morning routine a dream, and playdates easy to organize.

When we were choosing, I visited lots of privates and lots of DCPS publics. It was eye-opening, and I ended up being much more impressed with DCPS than I expected to be. I do think it matters that DCPS generally does not seem to have the overcrowded classrooms that I hear about in some other local districts--nowhere I looked had classes over 25 kids in elementary (and most classes did not hit the cap). We'll re-evaluate come MS and HS, but for now, we are happy with our public.

DCPS is very good in Deal feeders, and private high schools love Deal's top 150 kids; though many of those kids will choose Wilson, Walls, or Banneker, about 70 will go to private high schools.

I'm a PP who is liking DCPS, and we are not a Deal feeder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Default is public, private if issues crop up.

We can easily afford private and this has been our path. My kids are thriving in public.

Assuming you have a pretty typical kid, I'm willing to consider private school is possibly marginally better. But it's not enough to convince me to do it. Not enough ROI. Also, the admissions process for these private schools is a huge turn off to me. No thanks.

+1

We are in MCPS zoned for schools that most would laugh at. We moved out kids out of private this year and all I keep thinking is 'What the hell were we paying for the last 6 years??"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're at DCPS for kindergarten and I am very impressed, so far. I honestly believe the curriculum is as good, if not better, than private schools. The parents are active, the principal is very organized, the specials are fun, and it's a diverse group of kids too. Class size is 21, and the school has aides in the classroom all the way up to 5th grade (thanks to PTA fundraising). It's TOTALLY different from what I expected -- I dreaded the whole "kindergarten is the new 1st grade thing" -- but it turns out my kid is thriving and loves the instructional methods.

I might feel differently if the class had 30 kids and no aide, like I've heard about at some MCPS schools. I also have an open mind for jr high and high school, although at this point, I'm anticipating that we'll stay in DCPS the whole way through.

The added benefit of the convenience and community of a neighborhood school is wonderful. Makes our morning routine a dream, and playdates easy to organize.

When we were choosing, I visited lots of privates and lots of DCPS publics. It was eye-opening, and I ended up being much more impressed with DCPS than I expected to be. I do think it matters that DCPS generally does not seem to have the overcrowded classrooms that I hear about in some other local districts--nowhere I looked had classes over 25 kids in elementary (and most classes did not hit the cap). We'll re-evaluate come MS and HS, but for now, we are happy with our public.

DCPS is very good in Deal feeders, and private high schools love Deal's top 150 kids; though many of those kids will choose Wilson, Walls, or Banneker, about 70 will go to private high schools.

I'm a PP who is liking DCPS, and we are not a Deal feeder.

That's great! I obviously only commented on the schools I know too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're at DCPS for kindergarten and I am very impressed, so far. I honestly believe the curriculum is as good, if not better, than private schools. The parents are active, the principal is very organized, the specials are fun, and it's a diverse group of kids too. Class size is 21, and the school has aides in the classroom all the way up to 5th grade (thanks to PTA fundraising). It's TOTALLY different from what I expected -- I dreaded the whole "kindergarten is the new 1st grade thing" -- but it turns out my kid is thriving and loves the instructional methods.

I might feel differently if the class had 30 kids and no aide, like I've heard about at some MCPS schools. I also have an open mind for jr high and high school, although at this point, I'm anticipating that we'll stay in DCPS the whole way through.

The added benefit of the convenience and community of a neighborhood school is wonderful. Makes our morning routine a dream, and playdates easy to organize.

When we were choosing, I visited lots of privates and lots of DCPS publics. It was eye-opening, and I ended up being much more impressed with DCPS than I expected to be. I do think it matters that DCPS generally does not seem to have the overcrowded classrooms that I hear about in some other local districts--nowhere I looked had classes over 25 kids in elementary (and most classes did not hit the cap). We'll re-evaluate come MS and HS, but for now, we are happy with our public.

DCPS is very good in Deal feeders, and private high schools love Deal's top 150 kids; though many of those kids will choose Wilson, Walls, or Banneker, about 70 will go to private high schools.

Many of the Hardy feeders are excellent, too (one of the reasons that Hardy is improving as more of the kids from feeders choose to stay public).

[Anonymous]

We're zoned for a "W" school in Bethesda. Our eldest is starting kindergarten in September and we plan to send her to public, though we can easily afford private and there are good private options in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're at DCPS for kindergarten and I am very impressed, so far. I honestly believe the curriculum is as good, if not better, than private schools. The parents are active, the principal is very organized, the specials are fun, and it's a diverse group of kids too. Class size is 21, and the school has aides in the classroom all the way up to 5th grade (thanks to PTA fundraising). It's TOTALLY different from what I expected -- I dreaded the whole "kindergarten is the new 1st grade thing" -- but it turns out my kid is thriving and loves the instructional methods.

I might feel differently if the class had 30 kids and no aide, like I've heard about at some MCPS schools. I also have an open mind for jr high and high school, although at this point, I'm anticipating that we'll stay in DCPS the whole way through.

The added benefit of the convenience and community of a neighborhood school is wonderful. Makes our morning routine a dream, and playdates easy to organize.

When we were choosing, I visited lots of privates and lots of DCPS publics. It was eye-opening, and I ended up being much more impressed with DCPS than I expected to be. I do think it matters that DCPS generally does not seem to have the overcrowded classrooms that I hear about in some other local districts--nowhere I looked had classes over 25 kids in elementary (and most classes did not hit the cap). We'll re-evaluate come MS and HS, but for now, we are happy with our public.

DCPS is very good in Deal feeders, and private high schools love Deal's top 150 kids; though many of those kids will choose Wilson, Walls, or Banneker, about 70 will go to private high schools.

I'm a PP who is liking DCPS, and we are not a Deal feeder.

That's great! I obviously only commented on the schools I know too.

Great backpedaling. I don't know Deal feeders either since my 2 kids are in 2 different Hardy feeders, but at least I'd suggest Deal and Hardy feeders both in same sentence, specially since scores are better in Hardy feeders.

[Anonymous]

Go tour schools, both public and private. It was an eye opening experience for me and made me really re- evaluate my lifelong education in public schools. I now have a much better understanding and appreciation for the strengths and weaknesses of public school. Ask about the size of the classes, not just for the current year, but what they have been over a period of years. Class size matters in ways I could never comprehend when I was growing up. There are public schools that have found a way to control class size while others (even in good school districts) have not. There is not a right or wrong answer. It really truly depends on the child, their learning style, your values, and how you weigh the pros and cons.