Is admiring the vibe of private students a shallow motivation for sending our children to private?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Our kids play travel sports, mix of public and private. There are a few really smart public schoolers but they're annoying as all hell. Maybe it's parents or maybe it's their schools, but they're just so abrasive and uncool; try-hards, as my kids say. The really smart private kids just seem to wear it better. It's very obvious side by side.

OMG you people are insufferable.

I truly wish this poster was joking, but I worry they aren't.

You all are triggered because you're public parents and you know this is on the button. This is where the jealousy and animosity comes from; it's not about college placement, it's not about money, it's about polished confident private kids with superior social acuity intimidating you and your public school kin. And there's nothing you can teach them at home or life lessons you can provide to make up for not marinating in a private school atmosphere for four to 13 years.

That is a very low class, vulgar mentality. I know you.

Who knew that having your rich, white kid grow up with a bunch of other rich, white kids could be so beneficial! Diversity, be damned!

Top DC privates are extremely diverse but don't let that get in the way of your hate.

You realize that truly underrepresented, low SES kids would not even have heard of these schools much less apply to them, right?

You have no idea what you are talking about. Most DC privates are highly diverse, and that includes economic diversity. Motivated parents are the one's that get those kids into them.

I bet if you picked 10 Washingtonians at random, maybe not even four of them could even tell you what "Sidwell Friends" even is. If you asked about Maret or Georgetown Day, you'd get blank looks from nine of them.

Pretty condescending. DC has the charter school lottery and opportunity scholarships - I'd say DC parents of all economic levels are very well aware of the various options out there.

You sound a little out of touch. Most parents in Washington DC have never even heard of any of these schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Top DC privates are extremely diverse but don't let that get in the way of your hate.

You probably have to go to West Virginia to find whiter schools than the DC privates. They are easily the least diverse schools in the metro area.

Wrong. The JKLM schools in NW DC are less racially diverse than Sidwell and GDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another aspect of proper experiences for the private school children comes from the clubs their families belong to, the social events or soirées they attend and where they summer. Those have such a positive influence on one’s demeanor.

Is this snooty talk for where they go on summer vacation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another aspect of proper experiences for the private school children comes from the clubs their families belong to, the social events or soirées they attend and where they summer. Those have such a positive influence on one’s demeanor.

Is this snooty talk for where they go on summer vacation?

Yes -- summer as a verb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another aspect of proper experiences for the private school children comes from the clubs their families belong to, the social events or soirées they attend and where they summer. Those have such a positive influence on one’s demeanor.

Is this snooty talk for where they go on summer vacation?

Yes -- summer as a verb.

It is different than vacation because they spend the whole summer there. A vacation is just a couple of weeks.

[Anonymous]

When I think "private school", the word "cool" isn't the first word that pops into my head. But, maybe it's because I'm from the west coast. Being confident and self assured doesn't mean you are "cool". It's a great quality to be sure, but those qualities alone don't mean you are cool. Being a non conformist, not caring what others think of you, but at the same time accepting others' individuality is being "cool".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know exactly what you are taking about, OP. Its not coolness though. It is a trait that you know when you see it. And yes, its real and it does last into adulthood. Public school kids, no matter how rich or how worldly or privileged, never quite have it. Its a trait that is obvious to people who know what it but its almost impossible to put into words. I went to a small wealthy public for high school and a small private for college. I have observed it my whole life.

nailed it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know exactly what you are taking about, OP. Its not coolness though. It is a trait that you know when you see it. And yes, its real and it does last into adulthood. Public school kids, no matter how rich or how worldly or privileged, never quite have it. Its a trait that is obvious to people who know what it but its almost impossible to put into words. I went to a small wealthy public for high school and a small private for college. I have observed it my whole life.

nailed it

This is such a gross DC thread. I’m from DC, grew up in DC, left for the west coast years ago.
This attitude you have is so provincial and particular to DC, and the South probably as well. It feels so outdated in 2019 but I guess some things never change in DC!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Top DC privates are extremely diverse but don't let that get in the way of your hate.

You probably have to go to West Virginia to find whiter schools than the DC privates. They are easily the least diverse schools in the metro area.

Wrong. The JKLM schools in NW DC are less racially diverse than Sidwell and GDS.

Sidwell and GDS do a great job recruiting and selecting diverse families. And we are fortunate in this area to have good, diverse options either way. By PK-12 percentages they are both about the same as Murch, but less diverse than Deal or Wilson, and so less diverse when you compare public PK-12 (58% diverse) to private PK-12 (Sidwell says 47% diverse). Janney is the least diverse at 74% white, but combined as PK-12, it is 52% diverse, so again, more diverse than Sidwell Pk-12. Also, given the small private school grade sizes, you will not have 200-250 diverse students in the Pk-5 at each, like you will in public school. Janney is the least diverse DCPS school by a lot, and there are 190 non-white students there. So even in the least diverse of these schools, you will have a greater number of diverse peers. This is a scenario where a larger class may be better if you are looking for options in your peer group. Either way, your kids will have a diverse peer group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know exactly what you are taking about, OP. Its not coolness though. It is a trait that you know when you see it. And yes, its real and it does last into adulthood. Public school kids, no matter how rich or how worldly or privileged, never quite have it. Its a trait that is obvious to people who know what it but its almost impossible to put into words. I went to a small wealthy public for high school and a small private for college. I have observed it my whole life.

nailed it

This is such a gross DC thread. I’m from DC, grew up in DC, left for the west coast years ago.
This attitude you have is so provincial and particular to DC, and the South probably as well. It feels so outdated in 2019 but I guess some things never change in DC!

I grew up wealthy in DC, went to private HS, small private college, grew up with and now own a beach house where we "summer" and the posters on this thread sound like a bunch of nouveau riche wannabes. There is a whole world out there that wants nothing to do with uninteresting losers like yourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know exactly what you are taking about, OP. Its not coolness though. It is a trait that you know when you see it. And yes, its real and it does last into adulthood. Public school kids, no matter how rich or how worldly or privileged, never quite have it. Its a trait that is obvious to people who know what it but its almost impossible to put into words. I went to a small wealthy public for high school and a small private for college. I have observed it my whole life.

nailed it

This is such a gross DC thread. I’m from DC, grew up in DC, left for the west coast years ago.
This attitude you have is so provincial and particular to DC, and the South probably as well. It feels so outdated in 2019 but I guess some things never change in DC!

Oh yeah. No social classes on the west coast. Right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know exactly what you are taking about, OP. Its not coolness though. It is a trait that you know when you see it. And yes, its real and it does last into adulthood. Public school kids, no matter how rich or how worldly or privileged, never quite have it. Its a trait that is obvious to people who know what it but its almost impossible to put into words. I went to a small wealthy public for high school and a small private for college. I have observed it my whole life.

nailed it

This is such a gross DC thread. I’m from DC, grew up in DC, left for the west coast years ago.
This attitude you have is so provincial and particular to DC, and the South probably as well. It feels so outdated in 2019 but I guess some things never change in DC!

So there is no private school vibe on the west coast?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know exactly what you are taking about, OP. Its not coolness though. It is a trait that you know when you see it. And yes, its real and it does last into adulthood. Public school kids, no matter how rich or how worldly or privileged, never quite have it. Its a trait that is obvious to people who know what it but its almost impossible to put into words. I went to a small wealthy public for high school and a small private for college. I have observed it my whole life.

nailed it

This is such a gross DC thread. I’m from DC, grew up in DC, left for the west coast years ago.
This attitude you have is so provincial and particular to DC, and the South probably as well. It feels so outdated in 2019 but I guess some things never change in DC!

I grew up wealthy in DC, went to private HS, small private college, grew up with and now own a beach house where we "summer" and the posters on this thread sound like a bunch of nouveau riche wannabes. There is a whole world out there that wants nothing to do with uninteresting losers like yourselves.

You haven’t noticed that private school in DC is all about new money these days? Half of my class from SFS is going public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know exactly what you are taking about, OP. Its not coolness though. It is a trait that you know when you see it. And yes, its real and it does last into adulthood. Public school kids, no matter how rich or how worldly or privileged, never quite have it. Its a trait that is obvious to people who know what it but its almost impossible to put into words. I went to a small wealthy public for high school and a small private for college. I have observed it my whole life.

nailed it

This is such a gross DC thread. I’m from DC, grew up in DC, left for the west coast years ago.
This attitude you have is so provincial and particular to DC, and the South probably as well. It feels so outdated in 2019 but I guess some things never change in DC!

I grew up wealthy in DC, went to private HS, small private college, grew up with and now own a beach house where we "summer" and the posters on this thread sound like a bunch of nouveau riche wannabes. There is a whole world out there that wants nothing to do with uninteresting losers like yourselves.

You haven’t noticed that private school in DC is all about new money these days? Half of my class from SFS is going public.

This. You have to be dumb or new money to spend $50k a year on elementary school. If you attended private school you realize even more how it’s not worth it.

[Anonymous]

My husband graduated from a local private often mentioned on this board. He hated it and won’t let our kids go to private school. They seem to be doing ok in public right now - I won’t argue with him until I feel it’s needed. I will say though, my DH knows how to wear a jacket and tie - my son only wears athletic wear. Maybe sending him to private would have taught him how to be comfortable with real clothes. Oh well - $80k extra per year for us for now.