The Death of Private School As We Know It

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am amazed at the number of MC and UMC sending their kids to private school in the DMV. Such a sad state of affairs. Public schools around the country seem way better that what you have here. The rigor and breadth of education in public schools in other states do not even compare, and our schools were open the whole time during the pandemic.

My kid did nothing but color for her almost 2 years of public in NOVA. At a desirable school too. Sad doesn't even come close to describing how pathetic FCPS was. Parents pay for private education while enrolled in public, so their kids can learn the basics like Kumon, Spider Math, etc.

We all collectively need to expect better of our public school systems as this issue affects the country as a whole. The reason I am saying this is because I have first hand experience with well-run public school systems and the so-so ones. And there is a night and day difference between the two, in terms of kids coasting along or kids getting an education on par with private schools. The only thing you cannot control for is the community in the public schools. Everything else can be managed and it just speaks to very poor management if the UMC are leaving the publics in droves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are an UMC family with two kids that have attended a "big 3". We were deeply unhappy with MCPS so decided that we'd send our kids to private for HS (didn't have deep enough pockets for ES or MS).

DH and I are 50 and most parents that we know are gen-x or very young boomers). There are definitely families in the lifer crowd who started their kids in the Big 3 to make sure their kids would attend a top college. Most of them have been beaten down by reality over the years, but, when their kids started school a decade ago, many parents still had this mindset. I assume younger parents are making this decision with their eyes wide open. OP may be right that fewer of these parents will be interested in PK-12. Only time will tell.

There's truth to this. The seniors of today were being enrolled in K back in 2008ish? Admissions was already getting extremely competitive but the mindsets of the parents are always of an older generation and admissions to the top colleges was much easier in the 1980s and 1990s. It was a lot easier for unconnected UMC kids with great scores and grades to get a spot at an Ivy or elite LAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did OP ever name the university that rejected her kid's ED application?

3.7 GPA doesn't sound very competitive for any top school. Certainly not T20.

Wasn't there a recent thread about how half of kids have 4.0s??

I am guessing her expectations were really off. A 3.7 in a top private may presumably buy easier access to a desirable, but not top, private university, or public college. I'm not even sure if that would ensure acceptance into a top 50 school honestly.

A 3.7 at NCS or Sidwell is top 25% of the class, possibly top 15%. Just shy of the Ivys, good enough for Chicago. They have grade deflation. NCS has not had a student with a 4.0 in many years.
This is not to say that public or private is better or worse---just that for what it's worth, a 3.7 at some of these schools is a top GPA. They just don't have kids graduating with straight As.

Top 25% isn't very special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am amazed at the number of MC and UMC sending their kids to private school in the DMV. Such a sad state of affairs. Public schools around the country seem way better that what you have here. The rigor and breadth of education in public schools in other states do not even compare, and our schools were open the whole time during the pandemic.

My kid did nothing but color for her almost 2 years of public in NOVA. At a desirable school too. Sad doesn't even come close to describing how pathetic FCPS was. Parents pay for private education while enrolled in public, so their kids can learn the basics like Kumon, Spider Math, etc.

An aside. As a former FCPS student who got what I think was a stellar education, this makes me so sad to read. I left the DC area 20 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did OP ever name the university that rejected her kid's ED application?

3.7 GPA doesn't sound very competitive for any top school. Certainly not T20.

Wasn't there a recent thread about how half of kids have 4.0s??

I am guessing her expectations were really off. A 3.7 in a top private may presumably buy easier access to a desirable, but not top, private university, or public college. I'm not even sure if that would ensure acceptance into a top 50 school honestly.

A 3.7 at NCS or Sidwell is top 25% of the class, possibly top 15%. Just shy of the Ivys, good enough for Chicago. They have grade deflation. NCS has not had a student with a 4.0 in many years.
This is not to say that public or private is better or worse---just that for what it's worth, a 3.7 at some of these schools is a top GPA. They just don't have kids graduating with straight As.

Top 25% isn't very special.

In small schools, Top 25% is a dozen students. Do you look down on the top 12-20 students at your school? That is the top 4% at a big public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im sounding the alarm. The end is near.

For any one of you paying full tuition at a Private School for college admissions purposes (hoping you'll get into a better college), you are 100% wasting your money. I have several children in Big 3's and unless you are URM, QuestBridge, Athlete or Legacy - you are completely wasting your money. No one cares that your school is tough. That a 3.7 is really great. No one cares about ACT/SATs anymore.

You are wasting your money. 100%

The college admissions process is now washed of achievement. And there is backlash against wealth and privilege.

Dont do it. Dont waste your time. And your money. And stop perpetuating the dummying down of our system.

I wish someone would have told me 3 years ago before I enrolled my kids. Total waste of money.

We send our children to private school and I can honestly tell you when we entered private school at pre-k our children’s college future was not even thought of or mentioned. There were so many reasons why we chose private school then and while we continue to stay in private school and even now college admissions is not in the top five reasons. Smaller classes, safety, safety, safety, community, lack of violent incidents at school (yes friends’ children in public talk of multiple violent fights at school or on school grounds), teacher quality, being in a classroom where everyone else is studying and doing school work, religious program, beautiful college level campus, and their handling of covid has been the cherry on the top etc…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did OP ever name the university that rejected her kid's ED application?

3.7 GPA doesn't sound very competitive for any top school. Certainly not T20.

Wasn't there a recent thread about how half of kids have 4.0s??

I am guessing her expectations were really off. A 3.7 in a top private may presumably buy easier access to a desirable, but not top, private university, or public college. I'm not even sure if that would ensure acceptance into a top 50 school honestly.

A 3.7 at NCS or Sidwell is top 25% of the class, possibly top 15%. Just shy of the Ivys, good enough for Chicago. They have grade deflation. NCS has not had a student with a 4.0 in many years.
This is not to say that public or private is better or worse---just that for what it's worth, a 3.7 at some of these schools is a top GPA. They just don't have kids graduating with straight As.

Top 25% isn't very special.

In small schools, Top 25% is a dozen students. Do you look down on the top 12-20 students at your school? That is the top 4% at a big public school.

This.

I'm a grad of a NYC private school comparable to DC "Top 3" schools. And then I went to an Ivy for college, T5 law school and law review, and elite big law. By far, the smartest cohort top to bottom that I have ever been around was my high school class of ~100 students. This top 25% isn't very special line is uninformed nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did OP ever name the university that rejected her kid's ED application?

3.7 GPA doesn't sound very competitive for any top school. Certainly not T20.

Wasn't there a recent thread about how half of kids have 4.0s??

I am guessing her expectations were really off. A 3.7 in a top private may presumably buy easier access to a desirable, but not top, private university, or public college. I'm not even sure if that would ensure acceptance into a top 50 school honestly.

A 3.7 at NCS or Sidwell is top 25% of the class, possibly top 15%. Just shy of the Ivys, good enough for Chicago. They have grade deflation. NCS has not had a student with a 4.0 in many years.
This is not to say that public or private is better or worse---just that for what it's worth, a 3.7 at some of these schools is a top GPA. They just don't have kids graduating with straight As.

Top 25% isn't very special.

In small schools, Top 25% is a dozen students. Do you look down on the top 12-20 students at your school? That is the top 4% at a big public school.

This.

I'm a grad of a NYC private school comparable to DC "Top 3" schools. And then I went to an Ivy for college, T5 law school and law review, and elite big law. By far, the smartest cohort top to bottom that I have ever been around was my high school class of ~100 students. This top 25% isn't very special line is uninformed nonsense.

I never once mentioned on any resume or application I was top 11% at my private. Seemed embarrassing to me. After top 10%, it's just your grades, scores, extracurriculars no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did OP ever name the university that rejected her kid's ED application?

3.7 GPA doesn't sound very competitive for any top school. Certainly not T20.

Wasn't there a recent thread about how half of kids have 4.0s??

I am guessing her expectations were really off. A 3.7 in a top private may presumably buy easier access to a desirable, but not top, private university, or public college. I'm not even sure if that would ensure acceptance into a top 50 school honestly.

A 3.7 at NCS or Sidwell is top 25% of the class, possibly top 15%. Just shy of the Ivys, good enough for Chicago. They have grade deflation. NCS has not had a student with a 4.0 in many years.
This is not to say that public or private is better or worse---just that for what it's worth, a 3.7 at some of these schools is a top GPA. They just don't have kids graduating with straight As.

Top 25% isn't very special.

In small schools, Top 25% is a dozen students. Do you look down on the top 12-20 students at your school? That is the top 4% at a big public school.

This.

I'm a grad of a NYC private school comparable to DC "Top 3" schools. And then I went to an Ivy for college, T5 law school and law review, and elite big law. By far, the smartest cohort top to bottom that I have ever been around was my high school class of ~100 students. This top 25% isn't very special line is uninformed nonsense.

Well, OP kid just got rejected but ok. Glad you're so awesome from NYC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did OP ever name the university that rejected her kid's ED application?

3.7 GPA doesn't sound very competitive for any top school. Certainly not T20.

Wasn't there a recent thread about how half of kids have 4.0s??

I am guessing her expectations were really off. A 3.7 in a top private may presumably buy easier access to a desirable, but not top, private university, or public college. I'm not even sure if that would ensure acceptance into a top 50 school honestly.

A 3.7 at NCS or Sidwell is top 25% of the class, possibly top 15%. Just shy of the Ivys, good enough for Chicago. They have grade deflation. NCS has not had a student with a 4.0 in many years.
This is not to say that public or private is better or worse---just that for what it's worth, a 3.7 at some of these schools is a top GPA. They just don't have kids graduating with straight As.

Top 25% isn't very special.

In small schools, Top 25% is a dozen students. Do you look down on the top 12-20 students at your school? That is the top 4% at a big public school.

This.

I'm a grad of a NYC private school comparable to DC "Top 3" schools. And then I went to an Ivy for college, T5 law school and law review, and elite big law. By far, the smartest cohort top to bottom that I have ever been around was my high school class of ~100 students. This top 25% isn't very special line is uninformed nonsense.

Well, OP kid just got rejected but ok. Glad you're so awesome from NYC

NYC PP here. My kids go to DC Big 3. I was responding to the obnoxious assertion that "Top 25% isn't very special." It's incredibly offensive, and wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did OP ever name the university that rejected her kid's ED application?

3.7 GPA doesn't sound very competitive for any top school. Certainly not T20.

Wasn't there a recent thread about how half of kids have 4.0s??

I am guessing her expectations were really off. A 3.7 in a top private may presumably buy easier access to a desirable, but not top, private university, or public college. I'm not even sure if that would ensure acceptance into a top 50 school honestly.

A 3.7 at NCS or Sidwell is top 25% of the class, possibly top 15%. Just shy of the Ivys, good enough for Chicago. They have grade deflation. NCS has not had a student with a 4.0 in many years.
This is not to say that public or private is better or worse---just that for what it's worth, a 3.7 at some of these schools is a top GPA. They just don't have kids graduating with straight As.

Top 25% isn't very special.

In small schools, Top 25% is a dozen students. Do you look down on the top 12-20 students at your school? That is the top 4% at a big public school.

This.

I'm a grad of a NYC private school comparable to DC "Top 3" schools. And then I went to an Ivy for college, T5 law school and law review, and elite big law. By far, the smartest cohort top to bottom that I have ever been around was my high school class of ~100 students. This top 25% isn't very special line is uninformed nonsense.

Well, OP kid just got rejected but ok. Glad you're so awesome from NYC

NYC PP here. My kids go to DC Big 3. I was responding to the obnoxious assertion that "Top 25% isn't very special." It's incredibly offensive, and wrong.

Manager, Karen is on line 2 with a complaint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did OP ever name the university that rejected her kid's ED application?

3.7 GPA doesn't sound very competitive for any top school. Certainly not T20.

Wasn't there a recent thread about how half of kids have 4.0s??

I am guessing her expectations were really off. A 3.7 in a top private may presumably buy easier access to a desirable, but not top, private university, or public college. I'm not even sure if that would ensure acceptance into a top 50 school honestly.

A 3.7 at NCS or Sidwell is top 25% of the class, possibly top 15%. Just shy of the Ivys, good enough for Chicago. They have grade deflation. NCS has not had a student with a 4.0 in many years.
This is not to say that public or private is better or worse---just that for what it's worth, a 3.7 at some of these schools is a top GPA. They just don't have kids graduating with straight As.

Top 25% isn't very special.

In small schools, Top 25% is a dozen students. Do you look down on the top 12-20 students at your school? That is the top 4% at a big public school.

This.

I'm a grad of a NYC private school comparable to DC "Top 3" schools. And then I went to an Ivy for college, T5 law school and law review, and elite big law. By far, the smartest cohort top to bottom that I have ever been around was my high school class of ~100 students. This top 25% isn't very special line is uninformed nonsense.

Well, OP kid just got rejected but ok. Glad you're so awesome from NYC

NYC PP here. My kids go to DC Big 3. I was responding to the obnoxious assertion that "Top 25% isn't very special." It's incredibly offensive, and wrong.

Manager, Karen is on line 2 with a complaint.

Someone has some serious reading comprehension issues.

Top 25% at a Big 3 is a top, very academically successful kid. What am I complaining about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am amazed at the number of MC and UMC sending their kids to private school in the DMV. Such a sad state of affairs. Public schools around the country seem way better that what you have here. The rigor and breadth of education in public schools in other states do not even compare, and our schools were open the whole time during the pandemic.

My kid did nothing but color for her almost 2 years of public in NOVA. At a desirable school too. Sad doesn't even come close to describing how pathetic FCPS was. Parents pay for private education while enrolled in public, so their kids can learn the basics like Kumon, Spider Math, etc.

We all collectively need to expect better of our public school systems as this issue affects the country as a whole. The reason I am saying this is because I have first hand experience with well-run public school systems and the so-so ones. And there is a night and day difference between the two, in terms of kids coasting along or kids getting an education on par with private schools. The only thing you cannot control for is the community in the public schools. Everything else can be managed and it just speaks to very poor management if the UMC are leaving the publics in droves.

You do realize that the community is a HUGE variable. In fact its the one that private schools place the most emphasis on. How about we come to your school, throw in a hundred kids at random for a specific grade, from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities, and academic levels. Then we tell your school to have at it, and note that when their behavior or academic level slips or LDs come up you can’t just counsel them out or assume they have the means for expensive private tutoring or support.

Do you think that everything is going to continue to look like sunshine and rainbows. And lets throw in one more key variable about this community. I know you were suppose to have only 100 as stated from above but 15 more decided to enroll late or after the school year started. You need to deal with that as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're right -- good. It's a long time coming. Private schools are for the privileged, and the privileged already have enough advantages.

I took the money and bought Apple (was in the low 30’s in 2016-17) and I bought millions for each of my kids. Those millions are near x 6 and lots of it is Roth protected! Kids got solid educations and are now multi-millionaires!

[Anonymous]

OP is probably just mad her kid is going to a Top 20 instead of a Top 3.