What is even the point of private schools?

[Anonymous]

An honest answer that is both kind of lame and incredibly privileged: one reason we pay for private is because we both work busy, stressful jobs and I don’t want to dedicate the time needed navigate the public school system. Privates make it so easy to know what is going on at school and in the community, which is a time saver/stress reliever. I get to spend my school thinking hours on my kid and not the system. Another reason is that most privates offer on site extended day while our PS district busses kids to a YMCA *if* there is space. I don’t have to navigate waitlists and juggle after care options. Similarly ours offers summer camps with first come sign ups to students. That’s a huge benefit to the ease of our daily lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An honest answer that is both kind of lame and incredibly privileged: one reason we pay for private is because we both work busy, stressful jobs and I don’t want to dedicate the time needed navigate the public school system. Privates make it so easy to know what is going on at school and in the community, which is a time saver/stress reliever. I get to spend my school thinking hours on my kid and not the system. Another reason is that most privates offer on site extended day while our PS district busses kids to a YMCA *if* there is space. I don’t have to navigate waitlists and juggle after care options. Similarly ours offers summer camps with first come sign ups to students. That’s a huge benefit to the ease of our daily lives.

This is us too. I keep light tabs but I feel confident they are getting a great education and I don’t have to stress about things or get involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An honest answer that is both kind of lame and incredibly privileged: one reason we pay for private is because we both work busy, stressful jobs and I don’t want to dedicate the time needed navigate the public school system. Privates make it so easy to know what is going on at school and in the community, which is a time saver/stress reliever. I get to spend my school thinking hours on my kid and not the system. Another reason is that most privates offer on site extended day while our PS district busses kids to a YMCA *if* there is space. I don’t have to navigate waitlists and juggle after care options. Similarly ours offers summer camps with first come sign ups to students. That’s a huge benefit to the ease of our daily lives.

Our kids go to public now but I agree with your reasoning. I’d have loved to keep them in private (couldn’t for various reasons) because it’s just easier. Staff is nicer, the schools are more organized, etx

[Anonymous]

Private school is a nice luxury OP.

[Anonymous]

There are many schools in lower Montgomery County that are no longer the gems they were. Your kids are only middle school / high school students once; when the public option only focuses on troubled / special needs kids, you can either roll the dice and move or pay for private. Pretty simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An honest answer that is both kind of lame and incredibly privileged: one reason we pay for private is because we both work busy, stressful jobs and I don’t want to dedicate the time needed navigate the public school system. Privates make it so easy to know what is going on at school and in the community, which is a time saver/stress reliever. I get to spend my school thinking hours on my kid and not the system. Another reason is that most privates offer on site extended day while our PS district busses kids to a YMCA *if* there is space. I don’t have to navigate waitlists and juggle after care options. Similarly ours offers summer camps with first come sign ups to students. That’s a huge benefit to the ease of our daily lives.

This is us too. I keep light tabs but I feel confident they are getting a great education and I don’t have to stress about things or get involved.

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are many schools in lower Montgomery County that are no longer the gems they were. Your kids are only middle school / high school students once; when the public option only focuses on troubled / special needs kids, you can either roll the dice and move or pay for private. Pretty simple.

I feel like privates also somewhat cater to special needs kids, no? Or do they counsel them out under certain circumstances?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many schools in lower Montgomery County that are no longer the gems they were. Your kids are only middle school / high school students once; when the public option only focuses on troubled / special needs kids, you can either roll the dice and move or pay for private. Pretty simple.

I feel like privates also somewhat cater to special needs kids, no? Or do they counsel them out under certain circumstances?

Some private schools do. Others, only accept the best and brightest and keep out the kids with disabilities or that are disruptive. That’s the school my kids are at

[Anonymous]

I went to public through 9th and then 10-12 in a strong private. I value both experiences. In public, I learned self advocacy and citizenship. I felt connected to my town and community. In private, I got an excellent education—it was intellectually stimulating. My teachers and peers cared deeply about the topics we discussed. I’m glad I had the chance to do both, but if I could only do one, I would choose public. Being connected to a community has shaped me more than the great education and connections from a top private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stick with public or homeschooling then OP. No one wants you at private with all of your negativity.

+1 My kid actually knows what Marxism is. There aren't enough spots at top privates as it is without catering to the lowest common denominator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many schools in lower Montgomery County that are no longer the gems they were. Your kids are only middle school / high school students once; when the public option only focuses on troubled / special needs kids, you can either roll the dice and move or pay for private. Pretty simple.

I feel like privates also somewhat cater to special needs kids, no? Or do they counsel them out under certain circumstances?

It depends on the school and, I would say more so, on how disruptive the child is to the rest of the class/school. My guess it would also depend on how willing the parents are to be extremely active in participating in whatever the school suggests and/or getting extra outside help if needed. Ultimately the top privates are chosen for a higher level of difficulty, rigor, and variety, not lower. As such, students with more severe disabilities may have more trouble. Though the question would be why the parents want the students in a high rigor, high difficulty environment.

[Anonymous]

To not be around the lower classes. You can rationale it anyway you want but that’s the TRUTH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many schools in lower Montgomery County that are no longer the gems they were. Your kids are only middle school / high school students once; when the public option only focuses on troubled / special needs kids, you can either roll the dice and move or pay for private. Pretty simple.

I feel like privates also somewhat cater to special needs kids, no? Or do they counsel them out under certain circumstances?

Some private schools do. Others, only accept the best and brightest and keep out the kids with disabilities or that are disruptive. That’s the school my kids are at

Possibly at ninth but any school that starts before ninth takes kids that are not the best and brightest. Hard to tell at 5 yrs old. Lifers don’t need to get in on merit so they don’t need to be the brightest. Other hooks get kids in in the upper grades who are not the best - see GDS US last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many schools in lower Montgomery County that are no longer the gems they were. Your kids are only middle school / high school students once; when the public option only focuses on troubled / special needs kids, you can either roll the dice and move or pay for private. Pretty simple.

I feel like privates also somewhat cater to special needs kids, no? Or do they counsel them out under certain circumstances?

Some private schools do. Others, only accept the best and brightest and keep out the kids with disabilities or that are disruptive. That’s the school my kids are at

Possibly at ninth but any school that starts before ninth takes kids that are not the best and brightest. Hard to tell at 5 yrs old. Lifers don’t need to get in on merit so they don’t need to be the brightest. Other hooks get kids in in the upper grades who are not the best - see GDS US last year.

At NCS the weakest students were the ones that did not get in in 4th grade. Maybe what you say it’s true in PK or K, but by 4th grade, teachers can tell…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To not be around the lower classes. You can rationale it anyway you want but that’s the TRUTH.

Not true of religious schools.