Tuition in private schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But STEM quality in private schools is poor! And parents totally know that. So I don't think there is any surprise.

NP here. Why would that be the case, if true? Why could a public school do STEM better than a private school? And I’m not asking why isn’t private better than public. I’m asking, what factors are at play in a private school that it can’t do STEM as well as a public?
And I’m here for the conversation and to learn something. Not to be in any snarky fights. Ty!

I post based on my own experience, comparing a prestigious independent school in DC with public magnet schools in Virginia. The independent private school is weak in STEM. Having said that, there might be other private schools that are strong in STEM and public schools that are weak in STEM. Also, many kids from elite private schools still go to RSM to reinforce their math. That level of math is simply not provided by most private schools.

Well, STEM in local private high schools seems sufficient to carry students where they want to go. In my personal circle, I know 2 kids who went to DC privates and ended up at MIT. Both were unhooked. Neither supplemented outside their school.

Broad sweeping statements usually don’t paint an accurate picture.

Of course, really smart kids will do well in either private or public. In my experience math is way too basic in most private schools, and that’s why I see a lot of kids from those schools doing math tutoring. Typically the tutoring is more advanced and is challenging and not repetitive like the one taught in school.

You really have no idea what you're talking about and it's frustrating that you opine like you do ("Well, I know how it is at private schools although my kid doesn't attend one"). My child graduated from a top private this year and did no math supplementation and is now at an Ivy for STEM. We knew the cohort of high achievers at this school (about 15 kids) very well and none were doing outside math. No math competitions either. They're all at top15 universities: one at MIT, 13/15 at Ivies, the other 2 at other top10s. Many are studying STEM. My own kid is now getting As in both STEM classes they're taking this fall.

My kid is a private school and in this particular school STEM is weak. It is prestigious private school charging 60k per year.

[Anonymous]

Why kids from elite schools consistently get math tutoring if the STEM is so great ? I honestly think that the popularity of math tutoring in dmv speaks loudly on the quality of math in private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But STEM quality in private schools is poor! And parents totally know that. So I don't think there is any surprise.

NP here. Why would that be the case, if true? Why could a public school do STEM better than a private school? And I’m not asking why isn’t private better than public. I’m asking, what factors are at play in a private school that it can’t do STEM as well as a public?
And I’m here for the conversation and to learn something. Not to be in any snarky fights. Ty!

I post based on my own experience, comparing a prestigious independent school in DC with public magnet schools in Virginia. The independent private school is weak in STEM. Having said that, there might be other private schools that are strong in STEM and public schools that are weak in STEM. Also, many kids from elite private schools still go to RSM to reinforce their math. That level of math is simply not provided by most private schools.

Well, STEM in local private high schools seems sufficient to carry students where they want to go. In my personal circle, I know 2 kids who went to DC privates and ended up at MIT. Both were unhooked. Neither supplemented outside their school.

Broad sweeping statements usually don’t paint an accurate picture.

Of course, really smart kids will do well in either private or public. In my experience math is way too basic in most private schools, and that’s why I see a lot of kids from those schools doing math tutoring. Typically the tutoring is more advanced and is challenging and not repetitive like the one taught in school.

You really have no idea what you're talking about and it's frustrating that you opine like you do ("Well, I know how it is at private schools although my kid doesn't attend one"). My child graduated from a top private this year and did no math supplementation and is now at an Ivy for STEM. We knew the cohort of high achievers at this school (about 15 kids) very well and none were doing outside math. No math competitions either. They're all at top15 universities: one at MIT, 13/15 at Ivies, the other 2 at other top10s. Many are studying STEM. My own kid is now getting As in both STEM classes they're taking this fall.

My kid is a private school and in this particular school STEM is weak. It is prestigious private school charging 60k per year.

No one names their school. So useless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why kids from elite schools consistently get math tutoring if the STEM is so great ? I honestly think that the popularity of math tutoring in dmv speaks loudly on the quality of math in private schools.

This is a ridiculous statement. Kids in private school get tutoring for all sorts of reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But STEM quality in private schools is poor! And parents totally know that. So I don't think there is any surprise.

NP here. Why would that be the case, if true? Why could a public school do STEM better than a private school? And I’m not asking why isn’t private better than public. I’m asking, what factors are at play in a private school that it can’t do STEM as well as a public?
And I’m here for the conversation and to learn something. Not to be in any snarky fights. Ty!

I post based on my own experience, comparing a prestigious independent school in DC with public magnet schools in Virginia. The independent private school is weak in STEM. Having said that, there might be other private schools that are strong in STEM and public schools that are weak in STEM. Also, many kids from elite private schools still go to RSM to reinforce their math. That level of math is simply not provided by most private schools.

Well, STEM in local private high schools seems sufficient to carry students where they want to go. In my personal circle, I know 2 kids who went to DC privates and ended up at MIT. Both were unhooked. Neither supplemented outside their school.

Broad sweeping statements usually don’t paint an accurate picture.

Of course, really smart kids will do well in either private or public. In my experience math is way too basic in most private schools, and that’s why I see a lot of kids from those schools doing math tutoring. Typically the tutoring is more advanced and is challenging and not repetitive like the one taught in school.

You really have no idea what you're talking about and it's frustrating that you opine like you do ("Well, I know how it is at private schools although my kid doesn't attend one"). My child graduated from a top private this year and did no math supplementation and is now at an Ivy for STEM. We knew the cohort of high achievers at this school (about 15 kids) very well and none were doing outside math. No math competitions either. They're all at top15 universities: one at MIT, 13/15 at Ivies, the other 2 at other top10s. Many are studying STEM. My own kid is now getting As in both STEM classes they're taking this fall.

Can someone explain to me where the "private schools suck at STEM" comes from? I had never heard this until frequenting DCUM.

Some local public school systems, MCPS comes to mind, push math acceleration for all kids. Many parents equate acceleration with quality education. This, despite the fact that there are studies out there that show that acceleration often isn’t the best way to teach kids math.

The public school posters here also seem to think that private school kids who top out at Cal AB or Calc BC (some obviously go further )are getting a subpar math education even though very selective colleges think that is just fine for most majors.

This and some people seem to think the number of APs offered is an indication of strength of a program/rigor. MCPS offers a lot of AP classes because their size allows for that and it is a necessary means for kids to differentiate themselves in a school with 2,000 students. I don't have an issue with AP classes, but it's silly to think that is the only way to measure a curriculum's rigor. There are a lot of ways for private schools to build rigor into their curriculum and they have the flexibility to do whatever they want to meet the needs of the current students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why kids from elite schools consistently get math tutoring if the STEM is so great ? I honestly think that the popularity of math tutoring in dmv speaks loudly on the quality of math in private schools.

This is a ridiculous statement. Kids in private school get tutoring for all sorts of reasons.

We entered big3 in 9th from a good local public school district (mcps/fcps/fps/aps). Our child is naturally good at math (good SSAT math score), was on the highest track in public ms, and we did no supplementing. Our observation about US math has been very positive. Our child has been challenged appropriately and testing on ACT/PSAT/SAT (with test prep for their chosen test) has yielded the kind of score that will permit child to go to a school consistent with their grades. I will say a big difference between public and private — albeit at different ages (MS vs USh — has been depth. Child has had much much more homework in private. And questions/work that really challenges them to understand the math in new and creative ways. My sense is that there are proportionally more kids getting 5s on BC Calc at our big3 over public hs and actually less supplementing. At our local ps, where we still have lots of friends, most of the parents view tutoring in bc Calc as necessary. Our experience at big3 is that the teachers/class is so challenging that it actually prepares them for the exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But STEM quality in private schools is poor! And parents totally know that. So I don't think there is any surprise.

NP here. Why would that be the case, if true? Why could a public school do STEM better than a private school? And I’m not asking why isn’t private better than public. I’m asking, what factors are at play in a private school that it can’t do STEM as well as a public?
And I’m here for the conversation and to learn something. Not to be in any snarky fights. Ty!

I post based on my own experience, comparing a prestigious independent school in DC with public magnet schools in Virginia. The independent private school is weak in STEM. Having said that, there might be other private schools that are strong in STEM and public schools that are weak in STEM. Also, many kids from elite private schools still go to RSM to reinforce their math. That level of math is simply not provided by most private schools.

Well, STEM in local private high schools seems sufficient to carry students where they want to go. In my personal circle, I know 2 kids who went to DC privates and ended up at MIT. Both were unhooked. Neither supplemented outside their school.

Broad sweeping statements usually don’t paint an accurate picture.

Of course, really smart kids will do well in either private or public. In my experience math is way too basic in most private schools, and that’s why I see a lot of kids from those schools doing math tutoring. Typically the tutoring is more advanced and is challenging and not repetitive like the one taught in school.

You really have no idea what you're talking about and it's frustrating that you opine like you do ("Well, I know how it is at private schools although my kid doesn't attend one"). My child graduated from a top private this year and did no math supplementation and is now at an Ivy for STEM. We knew the cohort of high achievers at this school (about 15 kids) very well and none were doing outside math. No math competitions either. They're all at top15 universities: one at MIT, 13/15 at Ivies, the other 2 at other top10s. Many are studying STEM. My own kid is now getting As in both STEM classes they're taking this fall.

Can someone explain to me where the "private schools suck at STEM" comes from? I had never heard this until frequenting DCUM.

All the math and sciences competitions are dominated by public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:STEM is not better in public. This is completely wrong.

Yes, it is

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why kids from elite schools consistently get math tutoring if the STEM is so great ? I honestly think that the popularity of math tutoring in dmv speaks loudly on the quality of math in private schools.

This is a ridiculous statement. Kids in private school get tutoring for all sorts of reasons.

Yes, and weak STEM is one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But STEM quality in private schools is poor! And parents totally know that. So I don't think there is any surprise.

NP here. Why would that be the case, if true? Why could a public school do STEM better than a private school? And I’m not asking why isn’t private better than public. I’m asking, what factors are at play in a private school that it can’t do STEM as well as a public?
And I’m here for the conversation and to learn something. Not to be in any snarky fights. Ty!

I post based on my own experience, comparing a prestigious independent school in DC with public magnet schools in Virginia. The independent private school is weak in STEM. Having said that, there might be other private schools that are strong in STEM and public schools that are weak in STEM. Also, many kids from elite private schools still go to RSM to reinforce their math. That level of math is simply not provided by most private schools.

Well, STEM in local private high schools seems sufficient to carry students where they want to go. In my personal circle, I know 2 kids who went to DC privates and ended up at MIT. Both were unhooked. Neither supplemented outside their school.

Broad sweeping statements usually don’t paint an accurate picture.

Of course, really smart kids will do well in either private or public. In my experience math is way too basic in most private schools, and that’s why I see a lot of kids from those schools doing math tutoring. Typically the tutoring is more advanced and is challenging and not repetitive like the one taught in school.

You really have no idea what you're talking about and it's frustrating that you opine like you do ("Well, I know how it is at private schools although my kid doesn't attend one"). My child graduated from a top private this year and did no math supplementation and is now at an Ivy for STEM. We knew the cohort of high achievers at this school (about 15 kids) very well and none were doing outside math. No math competitions either. They're all at top15 universities: one at MIT, 13/15 at Ivies, the other 2 at other top10s. Many are studying STEM. My own kid is now getting As in both STEM classes they're taking this fall.

Can someone explain to me where the "private schools suck at STEM" comes from? I had never heard this until frequenting DCUM.

Some local public school systems, MCPS comes to mind, push math acceleration for all kids. Many parents equate acceleration with quality education. This, despite the fact that there are studies out there that show that acceleration often isn’t the best way to teach kids math.

The public school posters here also seem to think that private school kids who top out at Cal AB or Calc BC (some obviously go further )are getting a subpar math education even though very selective colleges think that is just fine for most majors.

This and some people seem to think the number of APs offered is an indication of strength of a program/rigor. MCPS offers a lot of AP classes because their size allows for that and it is a necessary means for kids to differentiate themselves in a school with 2,000 students. I don't have an issue with AP classes, but it's silly to think that is the only way to measure a curriculum's rigor. There are a lot of ways for private schools to build rigor into their curriculum and they have the flexibility to do whatever they want to meet the needs of the current students.

Not about AP! I am curious about middle school STEM programs in independent schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why kids from elite schools consistently get math tutoring if the STEM is so great ? I honestly think that the popularity of math tutoring in dmv speaks loudly on the quality of math in private schools.

Because the math is taught in very differnt ways from RSM and AOPS, and the peers in MD and VA suburbs are also more STEM prone. Private schoolers want to catch up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why kids from elite schools consistently get math tutoring if the STEM is so great ? I honestly think that the popularity of math tutoring in dmv speaks loudly on the quality of math in private schools.

This is a ridiculous statement. Kids in private school get tutoring for all sorts of reasons.

We entered big3 in 9th from a good local public school district (mcps/fcps/fps/aps). Our child is naturally good at math (good SSAT math score), was on the highest track in public ms, and we did no supplementing. Our observation about US math has been very positive. Our child has been challenged appropriately and testing on ACT/PSAT/SAT (with test prep for their chosen test) has yielded the kind of score that will permit child to go to a school consistent with their grades. I will say a big difference between public and private — albeit at different ages (MS vs USh — has been depth. Child has had much much more homework in private. And questions/work that really challenges them to understand the math in new and creative ways. My sense is that there are proportionally more kids getting 5s on BC Calc at our big3 over public hs and actually less supplementing. At our local ps, where we still have lots of friends, most of the parents view tutoring in bc Calc as necessary. Our experience at big3 is that the teachers/class is so challenging that it actually prepares them for the exam.

My understanding is the upper schools are bread and butter of the big3 are typically well done. The question is the middle schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But STEM quality in private schools is poor! And parents totally know that. So I don't think there is any surprise.

NP here. Why would that be the case, if true? Why could a public school do STEM better than a private school? And I’m not asking why isn’t private better than public. I’m asking, what factors are at play in a private school that it can’t do STEM as well as a public?
And I’m here for the conversation and to learn something. Not to be in any snarky fights. Ty!

I post based on my own experience, comparing a prestigious independent school in DC with public magnet schools in Virginia. The independent private school is weak in STEM. Having said that, there might be other private schools that are strong in STEM and public schools that are weak in STEM. Also, many kids from elite private schools still go to RSM to reinforce their math. That level of math is simply not provided by most private schools.

Well, STEM in local private high schools seems sufficient to carry students where they want to go. In my personal circle, I know 2 kids who went to DC privates and ended up at MIT. Both were unhooked. Neither supplemented outside their school.

Broad sweeping statements usually don’t paint an accurate picture.

Of course, really smart kids will do well in either private or public. In my experience math is way too basic in most private schools, and that’s why I see a lot of kids from those schools doing math tutoring. Typically the tutoring is more advanced and is challenging and not repetitive like the one taught in school.

You really have no idea what you're talking about and it's frustrating that you opine like you do ("Well, I know how it is at private schools although my kid doesn't attend one"). My child graduated from a top private this year and did no math supplementation and is now at an Ivy for STEM. We knew the cohort of high achievers at this school (about 15 kids) very well and none were doing outside math. No math competitions either. They're all at top15 universities: one at MIT, 13/15 at Ivies, the other 2 at other top10s. Many are studying STEM. My own kid is now getting As in both STEM classes they're taking this fall.

Can someone explain to me where the "private schools suck at STEM" comes from? I had never heard this until frequenting DCUM.

All the math and sciences competitions are dominated by public schools.

Less than 10% of high school students in the US attend private. Doesn't this make sense? If anything, aren't private school kids overrepresented?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But STEM quality in private schools is poor! And parents totally know that. So I don't think there is any surprise.

NP here. Why would that be the case, if true? Why could a public school do STEM better than a private school? And I’m not asking why isn’t private better than public. I’m asking, what factors are at play in a private school that it can’t do STEM as well as a public?
And I’m here for the conversation and to learn something. Not to be in any snarky fights. Ty!

I post based on my own experience, comparing a prestigious independent school in DC with public magnet schools in Virginia. The independent private school is weak in STEM. Having said that, there might be other private schools that are strong in STEM and public schools that are weak in STEM. Also, many kids from elite private schools still go to RSM to reinforce their math. That level of math is simply not provided by most private schools.

Well, STEM in local private high schools seems sufficient to carry students where they want to go. In my personal circle, I know 2 kids who went to DC privates and ended up at MIT. Both were unhooked. Neither supplemented outside their school.

Broad sweeping statements usually don’t paint an accurate picture.

Of course, really smart kids will do well in either private or public. In my experience math is way too basic in most private schools, and that’s why I see a lot of kids from those schools doing math tutoring. Typically the tutoring is more advanced and is challenging and not repetitive like the one taught in school.

You really have no idea what you're talking about and it's frustrating that you opine like you do ("Well, I know how it is at private schools although my kid doesn't attend one"). My child graduated from a top private this year and did no math supplementation and is now at an Ivy for STEM. We knew the cohort of high achievers at this school (about 15 kids) very well and none were doing outside math. No math competitions either. They're all at top15 universities: one at MIT, 13/15 at Ivies, the other 2 at other top10s. Many are studying STEM. My own kid is now getting As in both STEM classes they're taking this fall.

Can someone explain to me where the "private schools suck at STEM" comes from? I had never heard this until frequenting DCUM.

All the math and sciences competitions are dominated by public schools.

Less than 10% of high school students in the US attend private. Doesn't this make sense? If anything, aren't private school kids overrepresented?

Few pp question the value of these elite private schools over public schools. Small class, safety, a read to recess and pe and higher writing instructions and sports are all fantastic plus. But with nearly 60k tuition, it is understandable families want some high quality academics? Just based on happy kids and sports and music there are other cheaper privates that are equally good? So what is so great about big 5 other than it being diffiult to get in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But STEM quality in private schools is poor! And parents totally know that. So I don't think there is any surprise.

NP here. Why would that be the case, if true? Why could a public school do STEM better than a private school? And I’m not asking why isn’t private better than public. I’m asking, what factors are at play in a private school that it can’t do STEM as well as a public?
And I’m here for the conversation and to learn something. Not to be in any snarky fights. Ty!

I post based on my own experience, comparing a prestigious independent school in DC with public magnet schools in Virginia. The independent private school is weak in STEM. Having said that, there might be other private schools that are strong in STEM and public schools that are weak in STEM. Also, many kids from elite private schools still go to RSM to reinforce their math. That level of math is simply not provided by most private schools.

Well, STEM in local private high schools seems sufficient to carry students where they want to go. In my personal circle, I know 2 kids who went to DC privates and ended up at MIT. Both were unhooked. Neither supplemented outside their school.

Broad sweeping statements usually don’t paint an accurate picture.

Of course, really smart kids will do well in either private or public. In my experience math is way too basic in most private schools, and that’s why I see a lot of kids from those schools doing math tutoring. Typically the tutoring is more advanced and is challenging and not repetitive like the one taught in school.

You really have no idea what you're talking about and it's frustrating that you opine like you do ("Well, I know how it is at private schools although my kid doesn't attend one"). My child graduated from a top private this year and did no math supplementation and is now at an Ivy for STEM. We knew the cohort of high achievers at this school (about 15 kids) very well and none were doing outside math. No math competitions either. They're all at top15 universities: one at MIT, 13/15 at Ivies, the other 2 at other top10s. Many are studying STEM. My own kid is now getting As in both STEM classes they're taking this fall.

Can someone explain to me where the "private schools suck at STEM" comes from? I had never heard this until frequenting DCUM.

All the math and sciences competitions are dominated by public schools.

Less than 10% of high school students in the US attend private. Doesn't this make sense? If anything, aren't private school kids overrepresented?

Few pp question the value of these elite private schools over public schools. Small class, safety, a read to recess and pe and higher writing instructions and sports are all fantastic plus. But with nearly 60k tuition, it is understandable families want some high quality academics? Just based on happy kids and sports and music there are other cheaper privates that are equally good? So what is so great about big 5 other than it being diffiult to get in?

Nobody is trying to convince you. Just don’t send your kids there. Nobody cares.