Private School Possible with Household Income <$80K

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did she legit just say "I can't believe you said I make $400k hhi, when it is *only* $370k"

Lol.

Remember she also has THREE kids and a very nice house. But, drives an older mini-van. She probably also has a housekeeper and takes nice vacations.

Earning potential plays a big factor in things. Even if OP works, its not going to satisfy someone like OP. Basically she doesn't want her kids teachers or anyone in a lower paying helping profession or even her nannies kids to go to school with her kids. She is one of those who wants to shelter her kids from the those she deems unworthy so she "has to work."

If we had three kids and that salary we could very comfortably send kids to private. Its all about the choices you make.

[Anonymous]

I'm a PP who posted about paying $40k on a HHI of $250k. It is a choice we make, for sure, and it is worth it to us. But we sacrifice a lot to budget for it and it's hard - so much so, in fact, that when I posted my stats on a thread in the money forum, I was called a liar because people thought it was "impossible" to pay that much on our income without family money. Well, we are full pay and making it work.

But when I hear people suggesting, or even attesting to their own situation, that families with a stay at home parent by choice (not necessity) are then getting substantial financial aid for no other reason that that they just want to have a parent home and/or don't think they could earn enough to be bothered to work...well that makes me much less inclined to donate to the annual fund.

I guess in my mind, I was picturing FA going to families where both parents were working at least one or perhaps even two jobs to make ends meet, and would otherwise never be able to give their child this opportunity. I actually don't think of a family with the luxury of a stay at home parent to be less fortunate than my family - I think in many ways they are more fortunate not to have two busy parents rushing around working all the time. So that is what seems unfair to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a PP who posted about paying $40k on a HHI of $250k. It is a choice we make, for sure, and it is worth it to us. But we sacrifice a lot to budget for it and it's hard - so much so, in fact, that when I posted my stats on a thread in the money forum, I was called a liar because people thought it was "impossible" to pay that much on our income without family money. Well, we are full pay and making it work.

But when I hear people suggesting, or even attesting to their own situation, that families with a stay at home parent by choice (not necessity) are then getting substantial financial aid for no other reason that that they just want to have a parent home and/or don't think they could earn enough to be bothered to work...well that makes me much less inclined to donate to the annual fund.

I guess in my mind, I was picturing FA going to families where both parents were working at least one or perhaps even two jobs to make ends meet, and would otherwise never be able to give their child this opportunity. I actually don't think of a family with the luxury of a stay at home parent to be less fortunate than my family - I think in many ways they are more fortunate not to have two busy parents rushing around working all the time. So that is what seems unfair to me.

It is very possible on your income and depending on the child absolutely worth it. Its not impossible at all.

The big difference is your earning potential and child care and other expenses, like elderly care as well as health issues. If a SAHP is going to go out an earn $45K, but 1/3 goes to taxes and then before/after school care or transportation, is that few thousand really going to make a difference to a school? Probably not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also just think: how is your kid going to feel when Larlo jets off to an African Safari during Spring break? Lesser than. While I agree private schools are (generally) better for academics and behavior - and certainly prepare a child for a corporate life these Tony schools also give an average kid a major inferiority complex. I would keep researching - there are some really good cheaper private schools that give the bang without the ‘tude. (Religious)

Also poster is correct. We had to look at private for a special need and they only took off 7,000. (I made close to double what you make with stay at home spouse). They want that spouse working.

I agree! We are a high income family but do not throw our money around or wear it on our sleeve. Sweet baby jesus...how these people toss money around is insane. It's always been very important that our kids not be spoiled and have a healthy respect for money. My one son's friend lives in a 10.5 bathroom house with 2 swimming pools. One inside, one out, and an underground garage that holds probably 3M in cars. It is the most insane gratuitous display of wealth I have ever seen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the likelihood of receiving financial aid (and enough of it) at DC private high schools to make attending possible?

We are a 2-parent, 1-income family with an elementary age child at home. I know some schools impute a salary for the non-working parent (though I never in my life made as much as some of the annual tuition costs).

Anyone have a story / financial aid award amount to share? Thank you!

Two parent, one income home. I would say the likelihood is very, very high. My kids went to D.C. and Bethesda area private schools. My income was lower than yours. The schools were extremely generous with their support.
This allowed allowed all the kids to graduate from schools that I would never have been able to afford. The support was provided K-12 for each child. The final one graduated HS last year. Don't hesitate to apply, and good luck!

So families that for no good reason choose to not work get FA? How is this right or fair? Why should we (working) parents donate?

Stop beig bitter. Quit if you want to. You probably can afford to quit but choose not to.

I am bitter, you are right. I can afford to quit if I decide to send my kids to public school. We absolutely cannot afford private school on my DH’s income alone… perhaps by quitting (or getting an easy part time Job) I would get FA. My kids are all already admitted and doing great. Everyone loves them so I bet I am in a better position than OP.

THIS is why I am upset. If I were rich and did not need to work, I would probably not be upset

If you cannot live off the $400k plus income your spending ids huge issue. We make $160 and could afford it if we choose. It’s all about choices. We don’t live in a nice big house. We drive cars till they die. We rarely take vacations. I can spend what I want and we have good retirement and college and graduate school savings. No family help.

Where did you get that we have a $400k plus income? It’s actually much lower than that. My DH alone only makes 220k and we have 3 kids. Their school is about 40k per child per year. Do you think we could afford 120k after taxes? No… that’s why I have to work. I make 150k and I never considered asking for FA. We have one VERY old minivan. We do have a nice house with a lot of equity on it. DH and I work really hard because education is very important for us.
It upsets me to hear a woman saying that she does NOT NEED to work and she expect financial aid. She clearly needs to work, but chooses not to and expects others to help.

You don't have to work. You choose to work. You choose to work because you have three kids, live in a nice house and are choosing private for all three. You have a spending issue. If you want financial aid, then apply. You wouldn't NEED to work if you had less kids, lived in a cheaper house and choose a cheaper private or public school.

Exactly, but same goes for OP. They want the same private school for their kids. A school they cannot afford on the husband’s salary alone. Therefore OP (like me) needs to work to send her kid to private. She might still get aid, but it is unfair for all the people that work to pay for what they want and don’t expect help from others

You make $150K, which is a good salary. So, your HHI is $370K. You also choose to have three kids and live in a "nice house" You have a spending issue. OP and her husband at best can pull in $100-120K, so basically less than you make alone. Do you really think OP earning $20K more will make a difference in terms of FA? She has no where near the earning potential you do. You also choose to have three kids. You could have stopped at two.

If you want FA, apply for it. Easy solution.

We get it, you don't want real middle class families at your school. Its ok.

Real "middle class families" don't have SAHM either. I don't know how you organize your life but you are coming across as extremely entitled. The PP wanted children in private school and to make it work, she works. There's no entitlement there.

You're making it sound like everyone is entitled if they don't live in a cramped crappy apartment or tiny house and drive the crappiest old car in order to pay for private school.

Look - the real middle classes are not at the private schools and they never have been. Parochial and the cheap Catholic high schools? Yes. But not 40-50k privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a PP who posted about paying $40k on a HHI of $250k. It is a choice we make, for sure, and it is worth it to us. But we sacrifice a lot to budget for it and it's hard - so much so, in fact, that when I posted my stats on a thread in the money forum, I was called a liar because people thought it was "impossible" to pay that much on our income without family money. Well, we are full pay and making it work.

But when I hear people suggesting, or even attesting to their own situation, that families with a stay at home parent by choice (not necessity) are then getting substantial financial aid for no other reason that that they just want to have a parent home and/or don't think they could earn enough to be bothered to work...well that makes me much less inclined to donate to the annual fund.

I guess in my mind, I was picturing FA going to families where both parents were working at least one or perhaps even two jobs to make ends meet, and would otherwise never be able to give their child this opportunity. I actually don't think of a family with the luxury of a stay at home parent to be less fortunate than my family - I think in many ways they are more fortunate not to have two busy parents rushing around working all the time. So that is what seems unfair to me.

Are you saving for retirement and college? On your income, it seems like one or the other and you will be expected to be full pay or nearly so by every college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a PP who posted about paying $40k on a HHI of $250k. It is a choice we make, for sure, and it is worth it to us. But we sacrifice a lot to budget for it and it's hard - so much so, in fact, that when I posted my stats on a thread in the money forum, I was called a liar because people thought it was "impossible" to pay that much on our income without family money. Well, we are full pay and making it work.

But when I hear people suggesting, or even attesting to their own situation, that families with a stay at home parent by choice (not necessity) are then getting substantial financial aid for no other reason that that they just want to have a parent home and/or don't think they could earn enough to be bothered to work...well that makes me much less inclined to donate to the annual fund.

I guess in my mind, I was picturing FA going to families where both parents were working at least one or perhaps even two jobs to make ends meet, and would otherwise never be able to give their child this opportunity. I actually don't think of a family with the luxury of a stay at home parent to be less fortunate than my family - I think in many ways they are more fortunate not to have two busy parents rushing around working all the time. So that is what seems unfair to me.

Are you saving for retirement and college? On your income, it seems like one or the other and you will be expected to be full pay or nearly so by every college.

PP here. Yes, both of us have been working straight for 20+ years, so we each have nearly $1 million in retirement by now, plus one government pension. Fully expect to pay for college and we're saving for 4 years of in-state, though may have to cash flow part of that tuition, which we figure will probably be about the same as what we are paying for private.

But see, this very question indicates how some people are skeptical that it can be done, or even suggesting I'm shortchanging my child's college by sacrificing so much now for private. While on the other hand, by the rationale of OP and others, if I had just quit and stayed home, I should get financial aid for my child to go to private school for free? That doesn't make any sense. Where is the logic?

[Anonymous]

To the OP - Private school is not for you

1 - First year families at some schools get no or very little aid. Doesn’t matter your income. Ask about this up front. The school will tel you. FA goes to returning families first.

2- FA is not guaranteed each year and the amount can fluctuate.

3 - Tuition is not the only cost to a private school. The extras add up. A pp mentioned the annual fund, but there will be class events, other items to purchase, possibly an auction or other fundraising event. Even if you are on FA, there is an expectation that you will participate in some or maybe all events. And that costs money. Even if it’s a nominal amount say $25 here and $50 there, it adds up. I know you are frugal so you are going to just say no. Well in small classes everything is magnified and when every kid in the class participates but your kid, how do you think that is going to go for your kid?

4 - and the most important reason private school is not for you - because you should be saving long term for the future and you can’t do that while paying for a private school that you can’t afford. It is clear you are not doing that given your attitude about working. You haven’t worked in a while and you don’t seem to understand that yes you start out a low salary but then you increase that salary over the years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a PP who posted about paying $40k on a HHI of $250k. It is a choice we make, for sure, and it is worth it to us. But we sacrifice a lot to budget for it and it's hard - so much so, in fact, that when I posted my stats on a thread in the money forum, I was called a liar because people thought it was "impossible" to pay that much on our income without family money. Well, we are full pay and making it work.

But when I hear people suggesting, or even attesting to their own situation, that families with a stay at home parent by choice (not necessity) are then getting substantial financial aid for no other reason that that they just want to have a parent home and/or don't think they could earn enough to be bothered to work...well that makes me much less inclined to donate to the annual fund.

I guess in my mind, I was picturing FA going to families where both parents were working at least one or perhaps even two jobs to make ends meet, and would otherwise never be able to give their child this opportunity. I actually don't think of a family with the luxury of a stay at home parent to be less fortunate than my family - I think in many ways they are more fortunate not to have two busy parents rushing around working all the time. So that is what seems unfair to me.

Are you saving for retirement and college? On your income, it seems like one or the other and you will be expected to be full pay or nearly so by every college.

PP here. Yes, both of us have been working straight for 20+ years, so we each have nearly $1 million in retirement by now, plus one government pension. Fully expect to pay for college and we're saving for 4 years of in-state, though may have to cash flow part of that tuition, which we figure will probably be about the same as what we are paying for private.

But see, this very question indicates how some people are skeptical that it can be done, or even suggesting I'm shortchanging my child's college by sacrificing so much now for private. While on the other hand, by the rationale of OP and others, if I had just quit and stayed home, I should get financial aid for my child to go to private school for free? That doesn't make any sense. Where is the logic?

This makes zero sense. You have a small fortune. You shouldn't get FA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also just think: how is your kid going to feel when Larlo jets off to an African Safari during Spring break? Lesser than. While I agree private schools are (generally) better for academics and behavior - and certainly prepare a child for a corporate life these Tony schools also give an average kid a major inferiority complex. I would keep researching - there are some really good cheaper private schools that give the bang without the ‘tude. (Religious)

Also poster is correct. We had to look at private for a special need and they only took off 7,000. (I made close to double what you make with stay at home spouse). They want that spouse working.

I agree! We are a high income family but do not throw our money around or wear it on our sleeve. Sweet baby jesus...how these people toss money around is insane. It's always been very important that our kids not be spoiled and have a healthy respect for money. My one son's friend lives in a 10.5 bathroom house with 2 swimming pools. One inside, one out, and an underground garage that holds probably 3M in cars. It is the most insane gratuitous display of wealth I have ever seen.

If they can afford it, good for them. They probably aren't begging for FA screaming poverty.

Most SN privates don't have the FA like regular privates do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a PP who posted about paying $40k on a HHI of $250k. It is a choice we make, for sure, and it is worth it to us. But we sacrifice a lot to budget for it and it's hard - so much so, in fact, that when I posted my stats on a thread in the money forum, I was called a liar because people thought it was "impossible" to pay that much on our income without family money. Well, we are full pay and making it work.

But when I hear people suggesting, or even attesting to their own situation, that families with a stay at home parent by choice (not necessity) are then getting substantial financial aid for no other reason that that they just want to have a parent home and/or don't think they could earn enough to be bothered to work...well that makes me much less inclined to donate to the annual fund.

I guess in my mind, I was picturing FA going to families where both parents were working at least one or perhaps even two jobs to make ends meet, and would otherwise never be able to give their child this opportunity. I actually don't think of a family with the luxury of a stay at home parent to be less fortunate than my family - I think in many ways they are more fortunate not to have two busy parents rushing around working all the time. So that is what seems unfair to me.

Are you saving for retirement and college? On your income, it seems like one or the other and you will be expected to be full pay or nearly so by every college.

PP here. Yes, both of us have been working straight for 20+ years, so we each have nearly $1 million in retirement by now, plus one government pension. Fully expect to pay for college and we're saving for 4 years of in-state, though may have to cash flow part of that tuition, which we figure will probably be about the same as what we are paying for private.

But see, this very question indicates how some people are skeptical that it can be done, or even suggesting I'm shortchanging my child's college by sacrificing so much now for private. While on the other hand, by the rationale of OP and others, if I had just quit and stayed home, I should get financial aid for my child to go to private school for free? That doesn't make any sense. Where is the logic?

You don't seem to understand that you are a high earner. You are earning more than OP alone is talking about. You very much could have made it on one income but you choose not to. You really think OP going back to work earning $30-40K will be equal to your salary or really make a difference in terms of aid.

Its ok if you don't want low earning families at the school. After all it would be so embarrassing if your kids and the housekeepers kids went to the same school.

I think its kinda sad after all those years of private, your kids will end up at the same state school as the public school kids when you have the money to do more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the likelihood of receiving financial aid (and enough of it) at DC private high schools to make attending possible?

We are a 2-parent, 1-income family with an elementary age child at home. I know some schools impute a salary for the non-working parent (though I never in my life made as much as some of the annual tuition costs).

Anyone have a story / financial aid award amount to share? Thank you!

Two parent, one income home. I would say the likelihood is very, very high. My kids went to D.C. and Bethesda area private schools. My income was lower than yours. The schools were extremely generous with their support.
This allowed allowed all the kids to graduate from schools that I would never have been able to afford. The support was provided K-12 for each child. The final one graduated HS last year. Don't hesitate to apply, and good luck!

So families that for no good reason choose to not work get FA? How is this right or fair? Why should we (working) parents donate?

Stop beig bitter. Quit if you want to. You probably can afford to quit but choose not to.

I am bitter, you are right. I can afford to quit if I decide to send my kids to public school. We absolutely cannot afford private school on my DH’s income alone… perhaps by quitting (or getting an easy part time Job) I would get FA. My kids are all already admitted and doing great. Everyone loves them so I bet I am in a better position than OP.

THIS is why I am upset. If I were rich and did not need to work, I would probably not be upset

Grow up. Change your lifestyle as you live over your means. Your kids can go to public. Life is about choices.

So can OP’s if she refuses to get a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the likelihood of receiving financial aid (and enough of it) at DC private high schools to make attending possible?

We are a 2-parent, 1-income family with an elementary age child at home. I know some schools impute a salary for the non-working parent (though I never in my life made as much as some of the annual tuition costs).

Anyone have a story / financial aid award amount to share? Thank you!

Two parent, one income home. I would say the likelihood is very, very high. My kids went to D.C. and Bethesda area private schools. My income was lower than yours. The schools were extremely generous with their support.
This allowed allowed all the kids to graduate from schools that I would never have been able to afford. The support was provided K-12 for each child. The final one graduated HS last year. Don't hesitate to apply, and good luck!

So families that for no good reason choose to not work get FA? How is this right or fair? Why should we (working) parents donate?

Take it up with the schools. We all subsidize in some shape or form. One income parent families get pell grants and that money is subsidized by all Americans. One income families get food stamps and subsidized housing too, do you have issue with that? I’m assuming all these anti FA posters are hardcore GOPers.

You’re assuming wrong.

And we’re not “anti-FA.” We’re anti the limited FA being given to a family where one parent CHOOSES not to work and contribute to her child’s education and expects free money given by those who DO work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why cannot you just go to public school ????

What ever happened to diversity, inclusion and equity?

Get a job.

I don’t need one. Sorry you do.

You need one if you want your kids in private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why cannot you just go to public school ????

What ever happened to diversity, inclusion and equity?

Get a job.

I don’t need one. Sorry you do.

You need one if you want your kids in private.

No, I don’t. We can afford it.