Why do so many folks pay for private school in this area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just another symptom of the competitiveness of the area and the guilt and insecurity of the parents. It's sad, really.

Ok and obviously no, so either 1) thanks for trolling or 2) search is your friend for why people make the switch.

Signed, someone who left a highly competitive public school because of the parents scrapping over resources.

Which are you: pro private or pro public?

NP: I like both, we've done both at various times. Different needs for different kids in different stages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reduce tuition? Our school made lots of modifications, upgrades and structural improvements due to covid. Even the high tech cameras in every room come at a price. No, tuition was not reduced. But anyone was free to enroll in public school and then have zero instruction.

You mean public education is free. You paid for cameras.

And for the first 18 months you got what you paid for at public school. Nothing. I’ll take seamless transition to zoom and in school everyday or hybrid option over many many months of public school zilch. This should not be a hard point for pro-public schoolers to concede.

Valid, but once pandemic is over that will be a moot point.

That cannot be your conclusion. Or maybe you don’t understand what moot means.

It’s been almost 2 years and I think my neighbors’ kids have been in school full time for less than 2 quarters. And January 2022 has t started off great. Some kids will take a long time to recover. Others will be fine.

Moot? No. More like the opposite of moot. Immeasurable. That’s the difference in Covid times.

My kids go to a mix of public and parish catholic, so we hardly fit the "private school" stereotype or definition. But, the pro-public schoolers ignoring the almost 2 years and counting of covid times as a one off, seem almost delusional to me. Wouldn't the true test of a school's ability to deal with change and contingency such as a global pandemic, pushing the absolute pressure points of a school and school system, tell you everything you need to know? I get that some just can't afford it. That's fair. But to call pandemic schooling "moot" is just willful ignorance I'd say.

You assume that private is the fix to a pandemic that is in its 11th hour. Private isn’t inherently better. I do agree public was not good at all for the pandemic.
You state that a poster said the pandemic schooling is moot which is incorrect. The poster said when the pandemic ends, it will be moot.
You twisted it to fit your argument.

[Anonymous]

I'm not getting into the earlier debates, but even non-prestigious private schools offer advantages for kids for whom public school is not a great fit, including smaller classes, more accessible teachers and activities, more desirable hours and schedules, and greater ability to adapt to situations, the latter of which was on full display during the pandemic. My kids have attended both, and the ones that attended public received an excellent education. My kids who weren't thriving in public school have benefitted from the sense of community at a smaller school, smaller class sizes, better communication from teachers and administration, more accessible activities (fewer sports and activities with cuts), and later and healthier start times. As a parent, one of the things I like most has been a calendar with fewer early dismissals and days off (and fewer snow days), which is helpful in maintaining a routine and educational momentum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reduce tuition? Our school made lots of modifications, upgrades and structural improvements due to covid. Even the high tech cameras in every room come at a price. No, tuition was not reduced. But anyone was free to enroll in public school and then have zero instruction.

You mean public education is free. You paid for cameras.

And for the first 18 months you got what you paid for at public school. Nothing. I’ll take seamless transition to zoom and in school everyday or hybrid option over many many months of public school zilch. This should not be a hard point for pro-public schoolers to concede.

Valid, but once pandemic is over that will be a moot point.

That cannot be your conclusion. Or maybe you don’t understand what moot means.

It’s been almost 2 years and I think my neighbors’ kids have been in school full time for less than 2 quarters. And January 2022 has t started off great. Some kids will take a long time to recover. Others will be fine.

Moot? No. More like the opposite of moot. Immeasurable. That’s the difference in Covid times.

My kids go to a mix of public and parish catholic, so we hardly fit the "private school" stereotype or definition. But, the pro-public schoolers ignoring the almost 2 years and counting of covid times as a one off, seem almost delusional to me. Wouldn't the true test of a school's ability to deal with change and contingency such as a global pandemic, pushing the absolute pressure points of a school and school system, tell you everything you need to know? I get that some just can't afford it. That's fair. But to call pandemic schooling "moot" is just willful ignorance I'd say.

You assume that private is the fix to a pandemic that is in its 11th hour. Private isn’t inherently better. I do agree public was not good at all for the pandemic.
You state that a poster said the pandemic schooling is moot which is incorrect. The poster said when the pandemic ends, it will be moot.
You twisted it to fit your argument.

The "moot" poster make the faulty assumption that all private school advantages disappear "when" the pandemic ends. That assumption requires that your kid will have zero post-pandemic but pandemic-related short-comings, in terms of education or social or psychological or physical or whatever (and probably that his peers don't suffer them either) (highly unlikely) AND that no pressure point will hit the schools again while your kid is enrolled (unlikely).

[Anonymous]

If you don't understand why people choose private, and you love your public school so much, why ask? You may never open your mind enough to really understand how and why many parents make education a priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not getting into the earlier debates, but even non-prestigious private schools offer advantages for kids for whom public school is not a great fit, including smaller classes, more accessible teachers and activities, more desirable hours and schedules, and greater ability to adapt to situations, the latter of which was on full display during the pandemic. My kids have attended both, and the ones that attended public received an excellent education. My kids who weren't thriving in public school have benefitted from the sense of community at a smaller school, smaller class sizes, better communication from teachers and administration, more accessible activities (fewer sports and activities with cuts), and later and healthier start times. As a parent, one of the things I like most has been a calendar with fewer early dismissals and days off (and fewer snow days), which is helpful in maintaining a routine and educational momentum.

My child is at a prestigious private and has one positive-smaller class. However, better academics is questionable, and you mention healthier start times-my child’s is earlier than public and release is later than public. I would say communication is worse in private for some situations-weather, some aspects related to Covid, after school club cancellations and who is running the club, sport event was canceled and not informed till after we suited up and went to the other school. I still get communications from mcps and know more through them with events such as weather, Covid protocols and changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So curious, as this area is recognized as a top 10 public school system in the nation. In this climate of social change, where as diversity / inclusion / anti-privilege is more driving change, why subject yourself to the perception (whether right or wrong) of privilege, especially when AOs are now pivoting towards more socially well-rounded experiences and stories of struggle / perseverance. Is it worth the price, stress, dealing with the Jones, etc?

Negative externalities of large 200+ school, county-level public school districts (not township public school districts)
Lack of in-person education at public schools the last two years
No discipline or behavior issues addressed at public schools
No frequent arts, PE, science, music in K-8 public schools
Too much screen time at our public schools K-8
Too many days of testing at public schools, should not be 3-6 days eaten up, just test every other year one day. Like in the 1980s.
No books, textbooks, cursive, handwriting, foreign language in public ESs
Politics, unions and $$ kickbacks driving the curriculum purchases in this area's public schools.
9:35am school start time is asinine.
Public Magnet schools based 1 hour away in traffic are moot "options." Plus now selection process is race and income based, not merit or test-in. Again, politicized education options.

Accurate list, certainly applies to our MCPS ES we had wanted our kids to go to and they never did. C2.0 and common core devalued it quite quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So curious, as this area is recognized as a top 10 public school system in the nation. In this climate of social change, where as diversity / inclusion / anti-privilege is more driving change, why subject yourself to the perception (whether right or wrong) of privilege, especially when AOs are now pivoting towards more socially well-rounded experiences and stories of struggle / perseverance. Is it worth the price, stress, dealing with the Jones, etc?

Negative externalities of large 200+ school, county-level public school districts (not township public school districts)
Lack of in-person education at public schools the last two years
No discipline or behavior issues addressed at public schools
No frequent arts, PE, science, music in K-8 public schools
Too much screen time at our public schools K-8
Too many days of testing at public schools, should not be 3-6 days eaten up, just test every other year one day. Like in the 1980s.
No books, textbooks, cursive, handwriting, foreign language in public ESs
Politics, unions and $$ kickbacks driving the curriculum purchases in this area's public schools.
9:35am school start time is asinine.
Public Magnet schools based 1 hour away in traffic are moot "options." Plus now selection process is race and income based, not merit or test-in. Again, politicized education options.

Accurate list, certainly applies to our MCPS ES we had wanted our kids to go to and they never did. C2.0 and common core devalued it quite quickly.

What is c2.o, serious question. Considering pulling my child out our overvalued private. So, torn between fcps and mcps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So curious, as this area is recognized as a top 10 public school system in the nation. In this climate of social change, where as diversity / inclusion / anti-privilege is more driving change, why subject yourself to the perception (whether right or wrong) of privilege, especially when AOs are now pivoting towards more socially well-rounded experiences and stories of struggle / perseverance. Is it worth the price, stress, dealing with the Jones, etc?

1) Recognized by whom as "top 10 public schools in the nation?" Very school dependent. In many, many cases, the public schools in this area are a disaster.

2) I could not care less if someone else has a "perception of privilege" of me. They are right. So what?

3) Yes, it's worth the price. Many times over. And I love the Joneses; many of them have become close friends.

Any other questions?

NP - didn’t look hard but here is something:
WalletHub ranked each state's public schools for "Quality" and "Safety" using 33 relevant metrics. Metrics included high school graduation rate among low-income students, math and reading scores, median SAT and ACT scores, pupil-teach ratio, the share of armed students, number of school shootings between 2000 and June 2020 bullying incidence rate, and more.

Based on these metrics, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey have the best public schools in the United States. Virginia 4th, Maryland 10th. MCPS is largest in MD with lots of publics amongst the nations top 100 in another study. 2010 Malcolm Baldrdge.

The fact that "share of armed students" and "number of school shootings between 2000 and June 2020" are even a criterion for your measurement tells me all I need to know about public schools.

I actually made that up to solicit a comment from you. Your responses and motives are bidding behind a vail, just trying to prove

Sure you did.

[Anonymous]

What is C2.0 and what is bad about it? I’m trying to find info but nothing that explains. Is it for math and reading? All grades? Any information all all? Thanks

[Anonymous]

I went from private to public for a year before going back to private when I was in school here. Skipped an entire grade because the curriculum outpaced FCPS so significantly. I will absolutely send my kids to private. It is literally my job as a parent to provide the best education for them, even if it means I sacrifice everything I can in order to afford it. Aside from providing what opportunities I can for them, education has intrinsic value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So curious, as this area is recognized as a top 10 public school system in the nation. In this climate of social change, where as diversity / inclusion / anti-privilege is more driving change, why subject yourself to the perception (whether right or wrong) of privilege, especially when AOs are now pivoting towards more socially well-rounded experiences and stories of struggle / perseverance. Is it worth the price, stress, dealing with the Jones, etc?

Negative externalities of large 200+ school, county-level public school districts (not township public school districts)
Lack of in-person education at public schools the last two years
No discipline or behavior issues addressed at public schools
No frequent arts, PE, science, music in K-8 public schools
Too much screen time at our public schools K-8
Too many days of testing at public schools, should not be 3-6 days eaten up, just test every other year one day. Like in the 1980s.
No books, textbooks, cursive, handwriting, foreign language in public ESs
Politics, unions and $$ kickbacks driving the curriculum purchases in this area's public schools.
9:35am school start time is asinine.
Public Magnet schools based 1 hour away in traffic are moot "options." Plus now selection process is race and income based, not merit or test-in. Again, politicized education options.

Accurate list, certainly applies to our MCPS ES we had wanted our kids to go to and they never did. C2.0 and common core devalued it quite quickly.

What is c2.o, serious question. Considering pulling my child out our overvalued private. So, torn between fcps and mcps.

It was MCPS homemade reading and math curriculum for k-8, it lasted from 2010-2018, when a routine audit + test scores+ parent complaints + teacher complaints killed it. It then took them 2 years to buy a real reading and math curriculum as the big bloated MCPS admin kept churning off to work at Discovery Ed and try to see MCPS and other oversized $$$billion budgeted county public schools their *new* digital science and math curricula.

I don’t know what they settled on but then Covid overlapped and since we never could get answers wtf our K kid would be taught we went private.

We’d consider returning if Covid ends and they have a k-8 curriculum that’s effective. High school there looks effective, albeit huge.

[Anonymous]

It’s also a barbell county and school district - half the kids test well, half the kids test poorly/esol/tough situations. So the district focuses and funds the bottom half and wants the differential to “go away.” Similar to DCPS and elsewhere the PTA and local Es teachers must fund and bridge the gap for capable students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So curious, as this area is recognized as a top 10 public school system in the nation. In this climate of social change, where as diversity / inclusion / anti-privilege is more driving change, why subject yourself to the perception (whether right or wrong) of privilege, especially when AOs are now pivoting towards more socially well-rounded experiences and stories of struggle / perseverance. Is it worth the price, stress, dealing with the Jones, etc?

Negative externalities of large 200+ school, county-level public school districts (not township public school districts)
Lack of in-person education at public schools the last two years
No discipline or behavior issues addressed at public schools
No frequent arts, PE, science, music in K-8 public schools
Too much screen time at our public schools K-8
Too many days of testing at public schools, should not be 3-6 days eaten up, just test every other year one day. Like in the 1980s.
No books, textbooks, cursive, handwriting, foreign language in public ESs
Politics, unions and $$ kickbacks driving the curriculum purchases in this area's public schools.
9:35am school start time is asinine.
Public Magnet schools based 1 hour away in traffic are moot "options." Plus now selection process is race and income based, not merit or test-in. Again, politicized education options.

Accurate list, certainly applies to our MCPS ES we had wanted our kids to go to and they never did. C2.0 and common core devalued it quite quickly.

What is c2.o, serious question. Considering pulling my child out our overvalued private. So, torn between fcps and mcps.

It was MCPS homemade reading and math curriculum for k-8, it lasted from 2010-2018, when a routine audit + test scores+ parent complaints + teacher complaints killed it. It then took them 2 years to buy a real reading and math curriculum as the big bloated MCPS admin kept churning off to work at Discovery Ed and try to see MCPS and other oversized $$$billion budgeted county public schools their *new* digital science and math curricula.

I don’t know what they settled on but then Covid overlapped and since we never could get answers wtf our K kid would be taught we went private.

We’d consider returning if Covid ends and they have a k-8 curriculum that’s effective. High school there looks effective, albeit huge.

So, if read you correctly, there is no more C2.0. And for now, you don’t know what replaced it. I’m pulling out of private middle after this school year.
Is FCPS better, worse, or homogenous?

[Anonymous]

LOL... I have lived in the midwest, NE and mid-Atlantic region and every place I have lived was described as " being in the Top 10 of Public School Districts in the country"

Just look at how Northbrook, Ill, Morristown, NJ, FFX, Va; So Ca, and many NYC magnets all simultaneously claim this. Its so often claimed as to be as meaningless and the DC Private school applicant parent who insists their snowflake is in the 99th % ile and therefore is sure to be admitted.

They can't ALL be " the best public schools in the country" and most subsidize SAT prep to up their test scores anyway- NOT my idea of what real education should focus on

OTH, one school District that doesn't even TRY to claim to be " among the best" is DCPS- because they are among the worst in terms of all measures: degree of proficiency achieved in reading and math, percentage of exceeding grade level, percentage that go on to graduate and/or go to college, percentage that are deemed illiterate after graduating, violence stats and parent in prison stats

So, nope, did not send our kid to DCPS