Mass exodus from public school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:please stop the empty threats for going to private and just go

I am

[Anonymous]

This year has also increased interest in homeschool or virtual schools and that will be an option for families that don’t want to go to public schools and can’t get into private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If next year starts full time - I think it will not be a mass exodus. If it only starts hybrid - all bets are off.

But we won't know that for sure until very close to the start of school. By that point, there will be no way for people to leave because very few privates will have open spots. A few people will homeschool, but that's not a viable or desired outcome for most people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If next year starts full time - I think it will not be a mass exodus. If it only starts hybrid - all bets are off.

But we won't know that for sure until very close to the start of school. By that point, there will be no way for people to leave because very few privates will have open spots. A few people will homeschool, but that's not a viable or desired outcome for most people.

A bunch of us are in the position of having to accept private before we know about next year (I’m in that category). There will be some kids who will go back to public having left for 2020-2021 only.

Some people who are too late for private may homeschool if school is not open full time, I think. I would consider doing a pod with a teacher in my basement if I had to - but this time withdrawing from public. An idea anyway - would have to see how things are going. Really I’m going to accept the private and if public school is open 5 days - that’s the risk I am willing to take.

[Anonymous]

If you don't think that district leaders are extremely concerned about this, you aren't paying attention. That's why hybrid for the end of the year is about. Winning families back or keeping them in public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Look, the immense majority of public schools in the DC area are overcrowded.

A few families taking their kids out won't change that, and with the economic malaise that will continue to impact the lower and middle class for years, are you seriously saying that families can afford to do something else than FREE PUBLIC?

Spent too much time in the rarified bubble that is DCUM, haven't you?

Hello.. nothing is for free.. our real estate taxes are really high and include funding (covering up) public schools..

You know very well what I mean, silly. If you're paying for private, you're paying your taxes AND paying tuition on top of that.

[Anonymous]

Only rich people can be so out of touch as to ask such stupid questions.

[Anonymous]

My kid is a popular charter, a few of the wealthier families in her grade have or plan to move their kids to private. In my community there is already a massive white/wealthy flight from public and public charter school. I think the pandemic will exacerbate that trend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year has also increased interest in homeschool or virtual schools and that will be an option for families that don’t want to go to public schools and can’t get into private school.

I think this is true. I suspect lots of families might wind up homeschool/virtual schooling in the long term if it works well for their kids this year. I'm sure lots of private online schools will form. I actually wouldn't be surprised if cities/counties start offering this option. Maybe even a hybrid program where two schools could share one building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are only so many slots in private schools. There will be many students that don’t get in that will be forced to stick with public school. Their parents are going to be even more angry and vocal. If FCPS doesn’t get its act together by the Fall, it could get VERY ugly.

I think this is right. The seats at the privates people would actually consider are already taken.

Yes, the well-known private schools are currently in the midst of the application season and most have received 10 applications per spot. That means 90% of families applying to the schools that you hear talked about on DCUM will be back in public (or will home school or move). That will be interesting.

The idea that parents will just "put their kids in private" is such a fallacy. There was some ability to do this last spring because the Catholic elementary schools were historically under-enrolled and allowed families to just enroll (and not go through the traditional admissions process). But those spots are long filled.
The traditional, large privates have very few spots and they're competitive in a normal year.

I'm really interested in seeing how this all pans out. Most of us will be back in public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Look, the immense majority of public schools in the DC area are overcrowded.

A few families taking their kids out won't change that, and with the economic malaise that will continue to impact the lower and middle class for years, are you seriously saying that families can afford to do something else than FREE PUBLIC?

Spent too much time in the rarified bubble that is DCUM, haven't you?

Hello.. nothing is for free.. our real estate taxes are really high and include funding (covering up) public schools..

DP..no, MoCo real estate tax rates are relatively low compared to other MD counties, and some states, like NJ and TX.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are only so many slots in private schools. There will be many students that don’t get in that will be forced to stick with public school. Their parents are going to be even more angry and vocal. If FCPS doesn’t get its act together by the Fall, it could get VERY ugly.

I think this is right. The seats at the privates people would actually consider are already taken.

Yes, the well-known private schools are currently in the midst of the application season and most have received 10 applications per spot. That means 90% of families applying to the schools that you hear talked about on DCUM will be back in public (or will home school or move). That will be interesting.

The idea that parents will just "put their kids in private" is such a fallacy. There was some ability to do this last spring because the Catholic elementary schools were historically under-enrolled and allowed families to just enroll (and not go through the traditional admissions process). But those spots are long filled.
The traditional, large privates have very few spots and they're competitive in a normal year.

I'm really interested in seeing how this all pans out. Most of us will be back in public.

This. And might I add - back in public and angry/frustrated about it.

[Anonymous]

We are only one family, but this pandemic has reinforced our existing suspicions about the dysfunctionality of MCPS. We are applying to private schools for next year. We aren’t applying to the most competitive ones (they’re well regarded but not “big 3”) so I’m hopeful we will get into at least one.

No plans to send our kid to MCPS until HS.

[Anonymous]

Laughing at the we will homeschool because too much DL parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Laughing at the we will homeschool because too much DL parents

I wouldn’t laugh too hard. They’re not at the computer all day with homeschool. Especially for K you could knock that out in an hour & that might be easier than trying to force a kid to pay attention to a computer all day while you’re working.