How do people afford the Lab School?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Virginia does not do school vouchers, and good luck getting them to pupil-place in private (and, even if APS would, I doubt Lab is on their list). If you're looking for the local government to send your kid to special-needs private, you'd have better luck in MD or DC.

Our kid does not go to Lab but goes to a $40K+/year private, special needs school. We pay for it on a HHI of about $300K gross and receive no financial aid. (Our property taxes are similar, but I'm not sure how that's relevant here.) We've done it by living well below our means and scrimping a lot. We have two cars, but one is 13 years old and the other seven (both paid for and neither fancy) and won't buy a new one until the kid is out of special needs private or one dies.

I'm missing something as on $300K you can afford $40K in less you spent a lot on your home or have huge private therapy expenses. If we had that income given our lifestyle we could easily do $40K and have plenty left over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish my child could go to this school but we cannot afford it. How do people afford this school? We live in Arlington and pay 700/mo in property taxes, but when I tried to research private school vouchers for VA, I got a dead end- basically there are no vouchers, just tax credits for companies who contribute to funds for groups that have scholarships for private schools- it was really unclear how I could apply for a scholarship from such a group. We are willing to move to DC. What are the financial options to pay for this school?

doing backwards math - if your property taxes are $8400 a year that tells me your home is valued around $800K? NO WAY will anyone give you aid based on that fact alone.

And moving to DC isn't going to get it done either. it's not like you just apply, and then have it granted. it usually involves you having to get attorneys, and then most likely still getting nothing.

have you looked at private loan options? tapping your home equity?

Our HHI is around $300K, we live in a modest house, drive used cars, haven't taken a vacation in 4 years - so that we can pay for private. it is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish my child could go to this school but we cannot afford it. How do people afford this school? We live in Arlington and pay 700/mo in property taxes, but when I tried to research private school vouchers for VA, I got a dead end- basically there are no vouchers, just tax credits for companies who contribute to funds for groups that have scholarships for private schools- it was really unclear how I could apply for a scholarship from such a group. We are willing to move to DC. What are the financial options to pay for this school?

doing backwards math - if your property taxes are $8400 a year that tells me your home is valued around $800K? NO WAY will anyone give you aid based on that fact alone.

And moving to DC isn't going to get it done either. it's not like you just apply, and then have it granted. it usually involves you having to get attorneys, and then most likely still getting nothing.

have you looked at private loan options? tapping your home equity?

Our HHI is around $300K, we live in a modest house, drive used cars, haven't taken a vacation in 4 years - so that we can pay for private. it is what it is.

+1. You could get a condo or house further out for 400-500k and probably swing private. It’s not pleasant to pay $40k for school but for some kids it’s the best option.

[Anonymous]

I would not make any major decision such as moving until your kid has spent a full year at the school. We are in a private school that costs even more than Lab on public funding. I thought being here was the answer to my prayers. It has to be good if it costs that much right? It’s not the right fit and I’m debating asking for a different placement. Just warning about putting too much importance on the school. Your kid is still your kid. After this experience I would not move for a school—only if we were renters.

[Anonymous]

Any options for VA? Single income of 90k a year.

[Anonymous]

Get a better job

[Anonymous]

I was just looking at the lab school the other week and wondering the same thing. there is no way that we'd qualify for financial aid, but 50k is a lot to swallow each year. Our DS is still in elementary, so I may try some more local options such as Oakwood, but would love to send him there for HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get a better job

Not helpfuk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a better job

Not helpfuk

It is honest though. If a SN private is best option and you want it for your child, then you dramatically cut your expenses, increase your income witha new job that pays more or take on an additional job, and apply for financial aid.

If you don’t want to or can’t do those things, then you figure out how to make public school work for your kid.

It isn’t different than other financial decisions: buying a home, paying for college, or buying a new car. Sending your kid to private school is a luxury, be it a SN private or a non-SN private. Maybe that isn’t how it should work, but you have to work with our current reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought most kids at the Lab were there with public funds via an IEP

DC funds about 20% of all Lab School students.

Not sure if any of the suburban districts pay for students to attend.

MoCo specializes in not providing an appropriate education AND not paying both.

Is some of the tuition deductible on your taxes as a medical expense if a doctor signs off that the child needs the special school ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish my child could go to this school but we cannot afford it. How do people afford this school? We live in Arlington and pay 700/mo in property taxes, but when I tried to research private school vouchers for VA, I got a dead end- basically there are no vouchers, just tax credits for companies who contribute to funds for groups that have scholarships for private schools- it was really unclear how I could apply for a scholarship from such a group. We are willing to move to DC. What are the financial options to pay for this school?

doing backwards math - if your property taxes are $8400 a year that tells me your home is valued around $800K? NO WAY will anyone give you aid based on that fact alone.

And moving to DC isn't going to get it done either. it's not like you just apply, and then have it granted. it usually involves you having to get attorneys, and then most likely still getting nothing.

have you looked at private loan options? tapping your home equity?

Our HHI is around $300K, we live in a modest house, drive used cars, haven't taken a vacation in 4 years - so that we can pay for private. it is what it is.

I’d move to DC- not further out. They are more likely to pay for a special school.

+1. You could get a condo or house further out for 400-500k and probably swing private. It’s not pleasant to pay $40k for school but for some kids it’s the best option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish my child could go to this school but we cannot afford it. How do people afford this school? We live in Arlington and pay 700/mo in property taxes, but when I tried to research private school vouchers for VA, I got a dead end- basically there are no vouchers, just tax credits for companies who contribute to funds for groups that have scholarships for private schools- it was really unclear how I could apply for a scholarship from such a group. We are willing to move to DC. What are the financial options to pay for this school?

doing backwards math - if your property taxes are $8400 a year that tells me your home is valued around $800K? NO WAY will anyone give you aid based on that fact alone.

And moving to DC isn't going to get it done either. it's not like you just apply, and then have it granted. it usually involves you having to get attorneys, and then most likely still getting nothing.

have you looked at private loan options? tapping your home equity?

Our HHI is around $300K, we live in a modest house, drive used cars, haven't taken a vacation in 4 years - so that we can pay for private. it is what it is.

I’d move to DC- not further out. They are more likely to pay for a special school.

+1. You could get a condo or house further out for 400-500k and probably swing private. It’s not pleasant to pay $40k for school but for some kids it’s the best option.

I’d move to DC- not further out. They are more likely to pay for a special school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a better job

Not helpfuk

It is honest though. If a SN private is best option and you want it for your child, then you dramatically cut your expenses, increase your income witha new job that pays more or take on an additional job, and apply for financial aid.

If you don’t want to or can’t do those things, then you figure out how to make public school work for your kid.

It isn’t different than other financial decisions: buying a home, paying for college, or buying a new car. Sending your kid to private school is a luxury, be it a SN private or a non-SN private. Maybe that isn’t how it should work, but you have to work with our current reality.

In your world - but there are other options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a better job

Not helpfuk

It is honest though. If a SN private is best option and you want it for your child, then you dramatically cut your expenses, increase your income witha new job that pays more or take on an additional job, and apply for financial aid.

If you don’t want to or can’t do those things, then you figure out how to make public school work for your kid.

It isn’t different than other financial decisions: buying a home, paying for college, or buying a new car. Sending your kid to private school is a luxury, be it a SN private or a non-SN private. Maybe that isn’t how it should work, but you have to work with our current reality.

It was not a luxury sending our child to private for a few years. We did a cheaper one we could afford but it was a necessity. We got a huge run around from the school system to enroll our child let alone get services and by the time we paid an attorney to fight it in terms of time and money we were better off paying for private services and school.

My husband did get a better job. Not much else to cut, especially housing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a better job

Not helpfuk

It is honest though. If a SN private is best option and you want it for your child, then you dramatically cut your expenses, increase your income witha new job that pays more or take on an additional job, and apply for financial aid.

If you don’t want to or can’t do those things, then you figure out how to make public school work for your kid.

It isn’t different than other financial decisions: buying a home, paying for college, or buying a new car. Sending your kid to private school is a luxury, be it a SN private or a non-SN private. Maybe that isn’t how it should work, but you have to work with our current reality.

In your world - but there are other options.

Such as?