Is private school REALLY different than public school??

[Anonymous]

^^^ True.

Our private is about 25% diverse and our local public is less than 2% from my non-scientific poll. SES is more varied at public.

The personal attention and accelerated curriculum are worth all of grandma's dollars!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private: Uniforms, spoiled kids, higher HHI with often a single earner and a SAH parent; club sports, travel lacrosse participation; travel (any sport) participation; big trips for most breaks; kids not as quick to grow up (girls don't wear makeup or questionable clothing); lack of socioeconomic and racial diversity, with the exception of children of Asian MDs.

Actually I pay 19k a year so that my 2nd grade white DS has diversity, both race and socioeconomicly. Over 30% of his school is on financial, half of those on full. There are students from housing projects and kids that live in $4mil homes in his class. Outside of school the kids wear the same clothing as peers, plenty of the girls wear make up. The students at his school enjoy learning are, are proud of the work they do. Kids are taught and given work based on there skill level, not the average level of class or a quota. Self respect, self worth, and pride are incorporated into learning. The kids police each other and are taught how to work out disagreements in calm and productive ways. In public you can definitely see a behavior and knowledge of social norms difference between his fellow students at peers of similar age that are taught in the same enviroment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private: Uniforms, spoiled kids, higher HHI with often a single earner and a SAH parent; club sports, travel lacrosse participation; travel (any sport) participation; big trips for most breaks; kids not as quick to grow up (girls don't wear makeup or questionable clothing); lack of socioeconomic and racial diversity, with the exception of children of Asian MDs.

Actually I pay 19k a year so that my 2nd grade white DS has diversity, both race and socioeconomicly. Over 30% of his school is on financial, half of those on full. There are students from housing projects and kids that live in $4mil homes in his class. Outside of school the kids wear the same clothing as peers, plenty of the girls wear make up. The students at his school enjoy learning are, are proud of the work they do. Kids are taught and given work based on there skill level, not the average level of class or a quota. Self respect, self worth, and pride are incorporated into learning. The kids police each other and are taught how to work out disagreements in calm and productive ways. In public you can definitely see a behavior and knowledge of social norms difference between his fellow students at peers of similar age that are taught in the same enviroment.

Well, many of us get that for free. My local public is 30% free lunch,

[Anonymous]

Sorry, posted too soon. 30% free lunch, 60% nonwhite from a wide variety of places. I just figured I'd balance your anecdote of "I go private for the diversity" with my anecdote of "I stay public for the diversity."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know how your kid mingling with some of the dregs of society helps "build character" or whatever DCPS parents try to spin. DCPS parents bend over backwards to rationalize their choice but if they had the dough we all know their kids would be in privates. If you have the means there is no more fulfilling way to spend your money than a quality private education.

Dregs of society? Looks like you could do with some character-building yourself.

PS. Don't come back here crying when your kid's rich private school classmate sells him coke.

Ok so dregs of society was a bit harsh, but the poster overall makes a valid point. I've seen the public school kids and their parents in our neighborhood. They lack manners and aren't very intellectual. Some even have the means to afford private, but prefer to spend money on their cars, clothes, or home. Education is not priority for these people. If you have to ask what's the difference, I'm sorry you're too obtuse to see it with your own eyes.

Please stop speaking on behalf of private school parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private: Uniforms, spoiled kids, higher HHI with often a single earner and a SAH parent; club sports, travel lacrosse participation; travel (any sport) participation; big trips for most breaks; kids not as quick to grow up (girls don't wear makeup or questionable clothing); lack of socioeconomic and racial diversity, with the exception of children of Asian MDs.

I guess my child and I would surprise you then. He is Hispanic and living with his single mother who earns around $50k per year (we get about 20% FA). No school sports and the only vacation is to visit family every few years (and we drive).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private: Uniforms, spoiled kids, higher HHI with often a single earner and a SAH parent; club sports, travel lacrosse participation; travel (any sport) participation; big trips for most breaks; kids not as quick to grow up (girls don't wear makeup or questionable clothing); lack of socioeconomic and racial diversity, with the exception of children of Asian MDs.

I guess my child and I would surprise you then. He is Hispanic and living with his single mother who earns around $50k per year (we get about 20% FA). No school sports and the only vacation is to visit family every few years (and we drive).

I think we're talking about different types of private schools. The poster above is talking about Big 3-type schools that cost $35,000 a year and generally are filled with the children she describes. You can't be talking about that kind of school because you would have to be paying $28,000 a year (if you're getting 20% FA) on an after-tax income around $40k which doesn't seem possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private: Uniforms, spoiled kids, higher HHI with often a single earner and a SAH parent; club sports, travel lacrosse participation; travel (any sport) participation; big trips for most breaks; kids not as quick to grow up (girls don't wear makeup or questionable clothing); lack of socioeconomic and racial diversity, with the exception of children of Asian MDs.

I guess my child and I would surprise you then. He is Hispanic and living with his single mother who earns around $50k per year (we get about 20% FA). No school sports and the only vacation is to visit family every few years (and we drive).

I think we're talking about different types of private schools. The poster above is talking about Big 3-type schools that cost $35,000 a year and generally are filled with the children she describes. You can't be talking about that kind of school because you would have to be paying $28,000 a year (if you're getting 20% FA) on an after-tax income around $40k which doesn't seem possible.

Or so you tell yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private: Uniforms, spoiled kids, higher HHI with often a single earner and a SAH parent; club sports, travel lacrosse participation; travel (any sport) participation; big trips for most breaks; kids not as quick to grow up (girls don't wear makeup or questionable clothing); lack of socioeconomic and racial diversity, with the exception of children of Asian MDs.

I guess my child and I would surprise you then. He is Hispanic and living with his single mother who earns around $50k per year (we get about 20% FA). No school sports and the only vacation is to visit family every few years (and we drive).

I think we're talking about different types of private schools. The poster above is talking about Big 3-type schools that cost $35,000 a year and generally are filled with the children she describes. You can't be talking about that kind of school because you would have to be paying $28,000 a year (if you're getting 20% FA) on an after-tax income around $40k which doesn't seem possible.

My DS' school is full of the wealthy kids the PP described even though it doesn't cost $40K. We aren't in DC so the price of his school (around $10K) is a lot for this area. His friends live in very wealthy neighborhoods and go on vacations to nice locations a few times per year (MV/Nantucket, skiing in the NE, trips to the Caribbean, etc). Lots of SAHMs even with school aged kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private: Uniforms, spoiled kids, higher HHI with often a single earner and a SAH parent; club sports, travel lacrosse participation; travel (any sport) participation; big trips for most breaks; kids not as quick to grow up (girls don't wear makeup or questionable clothing); lack of socioeconomic and racial diversity, with the exception of children of Asian MDs.

I guess my child and I would surprise you then. He is Hispanic and living with his single mother who earns around $50k per year (we get about 20% FA). No school sports and the only vacation is to visit family every few years (and we drive).

I think we're talking about different types of private schools. The poster above is talking about Big 3-type schools that cost $35,000 a year and generally are filled with the children she describes. You can't be talking about that kind of school because you would have to be paying $28,000 a year (if you're getting 20% FA) on an after-tax income around $40k which doesn't seem possible.

Or so you tell yourself.

Ok. I'm not sure what I'm telling myself. But it sounds like your situation is working out. Public working well for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know how your kid mingling with some of the dregs of society helps "build character" or whatever DCPS parents try to spin. DCPS parents bend over backwards to rationalize their choice but if they had the dough we all know their kids would be in privates. If you have the means there is no more fulfilling way to spend your money than a quality private education.

Dregs of society? Looks like you could do with some character-building yourself.

PS. Don't come back here crying when your kid's rich private school classmate sells him coke.

Ok so dregs of society was a bit harsh, but the poster overall makes a valid point. I've seen the public school kids and their parents in our neighborhood. They lack manners and aren't very intellectual. Some even have the means to afford private, but prefer to spend money on their cars, clothes, or home. Education is not priority for these people. If you have to ask what's the difference, I'm sorry you're too obtuse to see it with your own eyes.

Please stop speaking on behalf of private school parents.

+1. Private school has too many idiots like this. And by "too many" I man that even one parent like this is enough to induce barfing.

***** SHORT ESSAY ON PUBLIC VS PRIVATE PARENTS ********

My kids have been in private and public schools. Fortunately the number of parents at private schools who are like the snobs above is very small. Plus, nothing says "insecure arriviste" like trash talking other peoples' kids.

At private you do get lots of gimlet-eyed social climbers who gunning to get their kids into the next MS or HS or Ivy. The mom of the class bully, in her pursuit of a big 3, actually trash-talked other kids, including mine, to the AD (the AD laughed when she told me).

You also get gimlet-eyed parents at publics--those are the ones who want their kids to get into the next MS or HS magnet. The only real difference is that the magnets are by merit only, so instead of sucking up to the principal, the public gunners are trying to figure out who is applying, how your kid did on the entry test and who they're asking for teacher recs.

[Anonymous]

I have kids in both. One is at a top 5 and the other in a MCPS public school.


Class sizes are high 20's in public and low teens in private.

Teachers have more time to actually teach in private because they don't have the common core, lots of write-ups, horrible report cards, testing, standardized testing to worry about.

Uniforms are the best

Students are diverse in both of our schools but sadly, in public the diverse kids (minus the Asians) tend to be on the lower end of the learning curve. At private there are kids in every race/culture at top levels. It is very nice for my child to see this. Much to my surprise, there is much more respect for a child's culture, race, sexual orientation, economic status at a private.

Kids with behavior issues or kids who aren't really trying and acting "too cool for school" get sent packing. It is actually cool to be smart in private school. You won't be made fun of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have kids in both. One is at a top 5 and the other in a MCPS public school.


Class sizes are high 20's in public and low teens in private.

Teachers have more time to actually teach in private because they don't have the common core, lots of write-ups, horrible report cards, testing, standardized testing to worry about.

Uniforms are the best

Students are diverse in both of our schools but sadly, in public the diverse kids (minus the Asians) tend to be on the lower end of the learning curve. At private there are kids in every race/culture at top levels. It is very nice for my child to see this. Much to my surprise, there is much more respect for a child's culture, race, sexual orientation, economic status at a private.

Kids with behavior issues or kids who aren't really trying and acting "too cool for school" get sent packing. It is actually cool to be smart in private school. You won't be made fun of.

This is a great description!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have kids in both. One is at a top 5 and the other in a MCPS public school.


Class sizes are high 20's in public and low teens in private.

Teachers have more time to actually teach in private because they don't have the common core, lots of write-ups, horrible report cards, testing, standardized testing to worry about.

Uniforms are the best

Students are diverse in both of our schools but sadly, in public the diverse kids (minus the Asians) tend to be on the lower end of the learning curve. At private there are kids in every race/culture at top levels. It is very nice for my child to see this. Much to my surprise, there is much more respect for a child's culture, race, sexual orientation, economic status at a private.

Kids with behavior issues or kids who aren't really trying and acting "too cool for school" get sent packing. It is actually cool to be smart in private school. You won't be made fun of.

If you actually believe this, the. shy do you still have one of your children in public school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have kids in both. One is at a top 5 and the other in a MCPS public school.


Class sizes are high 20's in public and low teens in private.

Teachers have more time to actually teach in private because they don't have the common core, lots of write-ups, horrible report cards, testing, standardized testing to worry about.

Uniforms are the best

Students are diverse in both of our schools but sadly, in public the diverse kids (minus the Asians) tend to be on the lower end of the learning curve. At private there are kids in every race/culture at top levels. It is very nice for my child to see this. Much to my surprise, there is much more respect for a child's culture, race, sexual orientation, economic status at a private.

Kids with behavior issues or kids who aren't really trying and acting "too cool for school" get sent packing. It is actually cool to be smart in private school. You won't be made fun of.

If you actually believe this, the. shy do you still have one of your children in public school?

1. Money. We can't afford 40K for early years. It would be tight.
2. Neighborhood friends (forgot to mention that is a plus for public)
3. Entrance year coming up in one more year and fingers crossed she will be in same school.
4. Kid appreciates private instead of expects it. Knows what they will go back to if they F up in private.