Costs: Big 3; second tier

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The top 4 or 5 (Sidwell, Georgetown Day, St. Albans, National Cathedral School, Potomac, Maret) are in the $45-50K range (and some that are slightly lower rated also charge in the range, like Field School). Right below that they are generally $40-45K. E.g., Flint Hill, St.Stephens/St. Agnes, St. Andrews Episcopal, Washington International School, Landon.

I’m fascinated by the lack of Catholic independents on your “tiers.” Flint Hill above St Anselms or Visi alongside Landon?

????

Reading comprehension please. The PP's "tiers" refer solely to price. The Catholic schools are all significantly cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another false comparison.

Families of children offered admission at STA or Sidwell are not likely to turn that down for a lesser quality to save a few thousand dollars BECAUSE:

1) If the family needs FA, then STA and Sidwell are the two schools with the deepest pockets in town and most likely will offer the best FA their DC could get- far more than lower tier schools that are under funded and tuition dependant

2) If the family is in the other group of high HHI and was just offered admission to STA or Sidwell, they aren't going to be wringing their hands thinking about saving 7K a year or even 100K over 9 years. Because these families are not making decisions based on what are low figures to them. They are choosing the best education . Period.

I think the fallacy here is assuming every family that "needs" financial aid is offered it. I know we would have not been eligible but would have had to cut a lot from our budget (specificaly retirement/college savings) so paying an extra $5-7k would be material to us (although we ended up deciding it wasn't worth it after all, I think there are plenty of families in that position).

Applying for FA when applying to Private school And getting an offer of Admission WITH FA are two very different things, PP.

If a school such as STA or Sidwell wants a particular applicant, they will meet the FA need. Not many DC area private schools can do this, particularly lower tiers who are tuition dependent.

So, yes, there is a difference between needing aid and getting it, but not the difference you suggest and the "bargain" schools aren't really a bargain when you consider many are likely forced to have open admission for anyone who can full pay- not exactly the brightest students or the least demanding parents or what you might have thought you were getting for your so called $5-7 K less

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another false comparison.

Families of children offered admission at STA or Sidwell are not likely to turn that down for a lesser quality to save a few thousand dollars BECAUSE:

1) If the family needs FA, then STA and Sidwell are the two schools with the deepest pockets in town and most likely will offer the best FA their DC could get- far more than lower tier schools that are under funded and tuition dependant

2) If the family is in the other group of high HHI and was just offered admission to STA or Sidwell, they aren't going to be wringing their hands thinking about saving 7K a year or even 100K over 9 years. Because these families are not making decisions based on what are low figures to them. They are choosing the best education . Period.

I think the fallacy here is assuming every family that "needs" financial aid is offered it. I know we would have not been eligible but would have had to cut a lot from our budget (specificaly retirement/college savings) so paying an extra $5-7k would be material to us (although we ended up deciding it wasn't worth it after all, I think there are plenty of families in that position).

Applying for FA when applying to Private school And getting an offer of Admission WITH FA are two very different things, PP.

If a school such as STA or Sidwell wants a particular applicant, they will meet the FA need. Not many DC area private schools can do this, particularly lower tiers who are tuition dependent.

So, yes, there is a difference between needing aid and getting it, but not the difference you suggest and the "bargain" schools aren't really a bargain when you consider many are likely forced to have open admission for anyone who can full pay- not exactly the brightest students or the least demanding parents or what you might have thought you were getting for your so called $5-7 K less

Every family has different circumstances and the schools have asymmetric resources to address that fact. Why do the need to trash non-Sidwell/STA schools to make your point? To flaunt that you don’t need FA or that your DC is such a super star that Sidwell/STA met your FA requirements? Any kid going to any of the schools listed in this thread is lucky, FA or no FA, whether at the $50k/year, $45k/year, $30k/year or other pricing tier.

And your post should be nominated for the “Worst of DCUM 2021.”

[Anonymous]

School price doesn’t necessarily align with rigor. Many schools in the area are in the $40-50k range. The Catholics tend to be a little lower. You need to check the schools websites for specific tuitions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The top 4 or 5 (Sidwell, Georgetown Day, St. Albans, National Cathedral School, Potomac, Maret) are in the $45-50K range (and some that are slightly lower rated also charge in the range, like Field School). Right below that they are generally $40-45K. E.g., Flint Hill, St.Stephens/St. Agnes, St. Andrews Episcopal, Washington International School, Landon.

I’m fascinated by the lack of Catholic independents on your “tiers.” Flint Hill above St Anselms or Visi alongside Landon?

????

Reading comprehension please. The PP's "tiers" refer solely to price. The Catholic schools are all significantly cheaper.

With what Flint Hill costs, they are a lower tiered school. Decent but not worth the price they charge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The right below schools are all close to 50K for high school.

I believe OP is asking about tiers in cost only; the cost tiers do not correlate to reputation or academic quality of schools.

Except the most expensive 5/6 PP names ARE the top schools in the area by academic rigor and reputation, minus perhaps Holton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another false comparison.

Families of children offered admission at STA or Sidwell are not likely to turn that down for a lesser quality to save a few thousand dollars BECAUSE:

1) If the family needs FA, then STA and Sidwell are the two schools with the deepest pockets in town and most likely will offer the best FA their DC could get- far more than lower tier schools that are under funded and tuition dependant

2) If the family is in the other group of high HHI and was just offered admission to STA or Sidwell, they aren't going to be wringing their hands thinking about saving 7K a year or even 100K over 9 years. Because these families are not making decisions based on what are low figures to them. They are choosing the best education . Period.

I think the fallacy here is assuming every family that "needs" financial aid is offered it. I know we would have not been eligible but would have had to cut a lot from our budget (specificaly retirement/college savings) so paying an extra $5-7k would be material to us (although we ended up deciding it wasn't worth it after all, I think there are plenty of families in that position).

Applying for FA when applying to Private school And getting an offer of Admission WITH FA are two very different things, PP.

If a school such as STA or Sidwell wants a particular applicant, they will meet the FA need. Not many DC area private schools can do this, particularly lower tiers who are tuition dependent.

So, yes, there is a difference between needing aid and getting it, but not the difference you suggest and the "bargain" schools aren't really a bargain when you consider many are likely forced to have open admission for anyone who can full pay- not exactly the brightest students or the least demanding parents or what you might have thought you were getting for your so called $5-7 K less

Every school in this area is tuition dependent including Sidwell and STA

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind some tuitions are fully loaded with busing, breakfast and lunch and others have those items for additional fees.

The number of schools in the DMV that are over or near the $50k mark extends way past the Big 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The top 4 or 5 (Sidwell, Georgetown Day, St. Albans, National Cathedral School, Potomac, Maret) are in the $45-50K range (and some that are slightly lower rated also charge in the range, like Field School). Right below that they are generally $40-45K. E.g., Flint Hill, St.Stephens/St. Agnes, St. Andrews Episcopal, Washington International School, Landon.

My kids were accepted at a couple listed here as top as well as SSSAS, and I was surprised that SSSAS was higher? This was for both lower and middle school. Maybe the top schools go higher in high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The top 4 or 5 (Sidwell, Georgetown Day, St. Albans, National Cathedral School, Potomac, Maret) are in the $45-50K range (and some that are slightly lower rated also charge in the range, like Field School). Right below that they are generally $40-45K. E.g., Flint Hill, St.Stephens/St. Agnes, St. Andrews Episcopal, Washington International School, Landon.

My kids were accepted at a couple listed here as top as well as SSSAS, and I was surprised that SSSAS was higher? This was for both lower and middle school. Maybe the top schools go higher in high school?

For lower school, Maret is more like $35. All things considered (lunch, after care, etc), it is less expensive than say WIS, NPS, and GDS. It's probably more comparable at the upper school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The right below schools are all close to 50K for high school.

I believe OP is asking about tiers in cost only; the cost tiers do not correlate to reputation or academic quality of schools.

Except the most expensive 5/6 PP names ARE the top schools in the area by academic rigor and reputation, minus perhaps Holton.

Can you explain pls?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The right below schools are all close to 50K for high school.

I believe OP is asking about tiers in cost only; the cost tiers do not correlate to reputation or academic quality of schools.

Except the most expensive 5/6 PP names ARE the top schools in the area by academic rigor and reputation, minus perhaps Holton.

Not sure I follow this comment, but if you're saying the above list an exhaustive list of area privates with comparable rigor, I disagree. SAAS at a minimum, and probbaly GPS, Visi, Gonzaga, SR are in the same academic league as (if not superior to) some of those schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another false comparison.

Families of children offered admission at STA or Sidwell are not likely to turn that down for a lesser quality to save a few thousand dollars BECAUSE:

1) If the family needs FA, then STA and Sidwell are the two schools with the deepest pockets in town and most likely will offer the best FA their DC could get- far more than lower tier schools that are under funded and tuition dependant

2) If the family is in the other group of high HHI and was just offered admission to STA or Sidwell, they aren't going to be wringing their hands thinking about saving 7K a year or even 100K over 9 years. Because these families are not making decisions based on what are low figures to them. They are choosing the best education . Period.

I think the fallacy here is assuming every family that "needs" financial aid is offered it. I know we would have not been eligible but would have had to cut a lot from our budget (specificaly retirement/college savings) so paying an extra $5-7k would be material to us (although we ended up deciding it wasn't worth it after all, I think there are plenty of families in that position).

Applying for FA when applying to Private school And getting an offer of Admission WITH FA are two very different things, PP.

If a school such as STA or Sidwell wants a particular applicant, they will meet the FA need. Not many DC area private schools can do this, particularly lower tiers who are tuition dependent.

So, yes, there is a difference between needing aid and getting it, but not the difference you suggest and the "bargain" schools aren't really a bargain when you consider many are likely forced to have open admission for anyone who can full pay- not exactly the brightest students or the least demanding parents or what you might have thought you were getting for your so called $5-7 K less

Every school in this area is tuition dependent including Sidwell and STA

There is a huge difference between charging tuition- yes, all Private schools charge tuition.

and being Tuition DEPENDENT, meaning that a school is so desperate to meet budget that they accept any and all full pay families despite behavior problems, needs for intensive learning support - all of which place a heavy burden on teachers, swell costs ( spiraling need for learning support hires)

In other words, many so called “ bargain Private schools” are riddled with the same challenges parents wanted to avoid in over crowded publics ONLY you are now paying 33k for the dress up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another false comparison.

Families of children offered admission at STA or Sidwell are not likely to turn that down for a lesser quality to save a few thousand dollars BECAUSE:

1) If the family needs FA, then STA and Sidwell are the two schools with the deepest pockets in town and most likely will offer the best FA their DC could get- far more than lower tier schools that are under funded and tuition dependant

2) If the family is in the other group of high HHI and was just offered admission to STA or Sidwell, they aren't going to be wringing their hands thinking about saving 7K a year or even 100K over 9 years. Because these families are not making decisions based on what are low figures to them. They are choosing the best education . Period.

I think the fallacy here is assuming every family that "needs" financial aid is offered it. I know we would have not been eligible but would have had to cut a lot from our budget (specificaly retirement/college savings) so paying an extra $5-7k would be material to us (although we ended up deciding it wasn't worth it after all, I think there are plenty of families in that position).

Applying for FA when applying to Private school And getting an offer of Admission WITH FA are two very different things, PP.

If a school such as STA or Sidwell wants a particular applicant, they will meet the FA need. Not many DC area private schools can do this, particularly lower tiers who are tuition dependent.

So, yes, there is a difference between needing aid and getting it, but not the difference you suggest and the "bargain" schools aren't really a bargain when you consider many are likely forced to have open admission for anyone who can full pay- not exactly the brightest students or the least demanding parents or what you might have thought you were getting for your so called $5-7 K less

because when people think of Sidwell, easy going hand off parents is the image that comes to mind

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The right below schools are all close to 50K for high school.

I believe OP is asking about tiers in cost only; the cost tiers do not correlate to reputation or academic quality of schools.

Except the most expensive 5/6 PP names ARE the top schools in the area by academic rigor and reputation, minus perhaps Holton.

Not sure I follow this comment, but if you're saying the above list an exhaustive list of area privates with comparable rigor, I disagree. SAAS at a minimum, and probbaly GPS, Visi, Gonzaga, SR are in the same academic league as (if not superior to) some of those schools.

The schools - Sidwell, NCS, STA, GDS, Potomac and Maret - that were listed as most expensive are also the most academically rigorous and elite/competitive in the DC area. The only school that isn't on that list that belongs is Holton.

If you think GPS, Visi, Gonzaga, and SR are in that same academic league you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. St Anselms may well be able to, but none of the other top tier Catholic schools are at the same academic level of rigour. Its not even close. The top tier Catholics, as good as they are, still have a constituency they are required to serve so have to accept and teach to a wider swath of academic ability and therefore will never reach the top level of academic rigor. They can't if they want to pass most of their students.