Thoughts on families with expensive houses and cars who send kids to public school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This questions presumes:
1. Private school is better.
2. Parents should sacrifice their comfort or convenience for their kids.
3. People should spend as much money as they are able to.

I disagree with all of those statements.

On your question #1 there is statistics. Here's what google gives you right away: "Mean SAT scores for students in public schools were 529 in ERW and 520 in math, while comparable scores for students in religious schools were 581 and 572. Students in independent schools had an average ERW score of 580 and an average math score of 608."

520 average vs 608 average math score is a big difference! And these are just average schools, not top private like Sidwell where presents' kids go.


On the other 2 questions - it's individual choice. If people can afford a $3mm house given all equal I don't understand what exact "inconvenience" is to send your kids private. If a family is scrambling to save for a car, the inconvenience is obvious.

Yes, it's true that mean SAT scores are higher for private school than public school. Not at all clear if that's BECAUSE of the school. Personally, I got a 1500 on the SATs back when they only went up to 1600, and if public school was good enough for me, it's good enough for my kids.

Your last sentence is not necessarily true: public schools have changed since you were a child, and not necessarily for the better. Private schools also changed, and often for the better since they have more resources, access to better professionals, attend more educational exchange programs with best other schools etc.

Great, sure. I have no doubt private schools have very good PowerPoints about all the ways they've improved. My point remains: Good public schools were just fine for me. I have no doubt they'll be just fine for my kids, who have the same socioeconomic advantages I did when I was there age.

Ha, THEIR age, autocorrect typo threatening to undermine my entire point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This questions presumes:
1. Private school is better.
2. Parents should sacrifice their comfort or convenience for their kids.
3. People should spend as much money as they are able to.

I disagree with all of those statements.

On your question #1 there is statistics. Here's what google gives you right away: "Mean SAT scores for students in public schools were 529 in ERW and 520 in math, while comparable scores for students in religious schools were 581 and 572. Students in independent schools had an average ERW score of 580 and an average math score of 608."

520 average vs 608 average math score is a big difference! And these are just average schools, not top private like Sidwell where presents' kids go.


On the other 2 questions - it's individual choice. If people can afford a $3mm house given all equal I don't understand what exact "inconvenience" is to send your kids private. If a family is scrambling to save for a car, the inconvenience is obvious.

What a dumb take.

Aside from the fact that any generalization about private school and public school is basically useless given the broad spectrum of quality among each, average higher SAT scores at privates could by explained by myriad factors having zero to do with the quality of the education, such as: on average more intelligent students, higher average parental education levels and intelligence, higher average resources for tutoring, etc. It's called correlation vs causation. Doesn't mean if you take Kid A and put them in private instead of public they'll have better outcomes. It also doesn't not mean that, but it's situation dependent.

As others have stated upthread, spending money on a house vs private school is also fact specific. The number of kids you have is obviously pretty important. There are very few people--even those who can afford a $3m house--who wouldn't consider spending $160k+ on school tuition for 3-4 kids every year to be a serious commitment that's on a whole other plane from having an expensive mortgage/house.

I say this as someone who went to private k-12 and whose parents sacrificed for it--including by not having a fancy house. I'm grateful for their decision and I'd make the same one for my kids in their situation--one kid, terrible public schools--but it's not the right call for everyone.

Well, having your child studying with classmates whose parents are education-oriented is a serious reason for many parents go private.
On costs - at my child's private school 70% are paying reduced tuition, many kids have merits based tuition; some expats have corporate coverage for private school. It has to be the same level of education their kids would have gotten in France or Germany, and somehow their companies agreed that only US private would be an "equivalent" level to German public school

There are plenty of kids at my kids' public schools in upper NW whose parents are entitled to tuition coverage if they sent them to private school. They're in public school despite that.

It's nearly impossible to move your child into top DC private school after middle school. They would most often have to repeat a grade, even if accepted. There are 2-3 spots available each year (our private school guarantees return to families who moved temporarily abroad). If it's a bilingual program, "private" kids are fluent in 2-3 languages by 7th grade- yet another impediment. It's like average Joe getting into Thomas Jefferson without any prep.

The only family who got in our private from a public school for the HS had an older child graduate the same school a few years prior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This questions presumes:
1. Private school is better.
2. Parents should sacrifice their comfort or convenience for their kids.
3. People should spend as much money as they are able to.

I disagree with all of those statements.

On your question #1 there is statistics. Here's what google gives you right away: "Mean SAT scores for students in public schools were 529 in ERW and 520 in math, while comparable scores for students in religious schools were 581 and 572. Students in independent schools had an average ERW score of 580 and an average math score of 608."

520 average vs 608 average math score is a big difference! And these are just average schools, not top private like Sidwell where presents' kids go.


On the other 2 questions - it's individual choice. If people can afford a $3mm house given all equal I don't understand what exact "inconvenience" is to send your kids private. If a family is scrambling to save for a car, the inconvenience is obvious.

Yes, it's true that mean SAT scores are higher for private school than public school. Not at all clear if that's BECAUSE of the school. Personally, I got a 1500 on the SATs back when they only went up to 1600, and if public school was good enough for me, it's good enough for my kids.

Your last sentence is not necessarily true: public schools have changed since you were a child, and not necessarily for the better. Private schools also changed, and often for the better since they have more resources, access to better professionals, attend more educational exchange programs with best other schools etc.

Great, sure. I have no doubt private schools have very good PowerPoints about all the ways they've improved. My point remains: Good public schools were just fine for me. I have no doubt they'll be just fine for my kids, who have the same socioeconomic advantages I did when I was there age.

Ok - can you tell us what are these excellent public schools in DC where you send your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This questions presumes:
1. Private school is better.
2. Parents should sacrifice their comfort or convenience for their kids.
3. People should spend as much money as they are able to.

I disagree with all of those statements.

On your question #1 there is statistics. Here's what google gives you right away: "Mean SAT scores for students in public schools were 529 in ERW and 520 in math, while comparable scores for students in religious schools were 581 and 572. Students in independent schools had an average ERW score of 580 and an average math score of 608."

520 average vs 608 average math score is a big difference! And these are just average schools, not top private like Sidwell where presents' kids go.


On the other 2 questions - it's individual choice. If people can afford a $3mm house given all equal I don't understand what exact "inconvenience" is to send your kids private. If a family is scrambling to save for a car, the inconvenience is obvious.

Yes, it's true that mean SAT scores are higher for private school than public school. Not at all clear if that's BECAUSE of the school. Personally, I got a 1500 on the SATs back when they only went up to 1600, and if public school was good enough for me, it's good enough for my kids.

Your last sentence is not necessarily true: public schools have changed since you were a child, and not necessarily for the better. Private schools also changed, and often for the better since they have more resources, access to better professionals, attend more educational exchange programs with best other schools etc.

Great, sure. I have no doubt private schools have very good PowerPoints about all the ways they've improved. My point remains: Good public schools were just fine for me. I have no doubt they'll be just fine for my kids, who have the same socioeconomic advantages I did when I was there age.

Ok - can you tell us what are these excellent public schools in DC where you send your kids?

No, I don't feel the need to justify to you my choice not to spend tens of thousands of dollars a year on private school (I think the entire premise of this thread is absurd, for one, and for another, since it seems to be talking about people in $3 million homes lately, I'm not even the subject of it). You can send your kids to private school or do whatever you want. That's your decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This questions presumes:
1. Private school is better.
2. Parents should sacrifice their comfort or convenience for their kids.
3. People should spend as much money as they are able to.

I disagree with all of those statements.

On your question #1 there is statistics. Here's what google gives you right away: "Mean SAT scores for students in public schools were 529 in ERW and 520 in math, while comparable scores for students in religious schools were 581 and 572. Students in independent schools had an average ERW score of 580 and an average math score of 608."

520 average vs 608 average math score is a big difference! And these are just average schools, not top private like Sidwell where presents' kids go.


On the other 2 questions - it's individual choice. If people can afford a $3mm house given all equal I don't understand what exact "inconvenience" is to send your kids private. If a family is scrambling to save for a car, the inconvenience is obvious.

Yes, it's true that mean SAT scores are higher for private school than public school. Not at all clear if that's BECAUSE of the school. Personally, I got a 1500 on the SATs back when they only went up to 1600, and if public school was good enough for me, it's good enough for my kids.

Your last sentence is not necessarily true: public schools have changed since you were a child, and not necessarily for the better. Private schools also changed, and often for the better since they have more resources, access to better professionals, attend more educational exchange programs with best other schools etc.

Great, sure. I have no doubt private schools have very good PowerPoints about all the ways they've improved. My point remains: Good public schools were just fine for me. I have no doubt they'll be just fine for my kids, who have the same socioeconomic advantages I did when I was there age.

Ok - can you tell us what are these excellent public schools in DC where you send your kids?

No, I don't feel the need to justify to you my choice not to spend tens of thousands of dollars a year on private school (I think the entire premise of this thread is absurd, for one, and for another, since it seems to be talking about people in $3 million homes lately, I'm not even the subject of it). You can send your kids to private school or do whatever you want. That's your decision.

Cool, thanks. No further comment needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shrewd consumers or greedy selfish parents?

It really depends on what you mean by public. TJ and SWW are technically public schools but they're de facto private. Or secluded rich bubbles like Scarsdale and Bronxville and various hamlets on Long Island, which have zero homes under $1m, are also de facto private. But when I see a middle class family sending their kids to mediocre public schools when they have new cars and a new boat, I think they're low class morons. Just being frank.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have done 3 years of private school for my kids and now at a DCPS public. Both options have pros and cons but I prefer public schools at this point. Beside the cost factor, I think it’s better not to cut off children from their communities. Private school kids are generally more lonely and likely in the future to compare themselves to their wealthier friends and therefore feel less than.

Oh bull. All the rich kids hang with each other and all the poor kids hang with each other. Unless your LC or MC kid is lucky enough to be a sports prodigy, then maybe the rich kids will invite him or her to some parties. Maybe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have done 3 years of private school for my kids and now at a DCPS public. Both options have pros and cons but I prefer public schools at this point. Beside the cost factor, I think it’s better not to cut off children from their communities. Private school kids are generally more lonely and likely in the future to compare themselves to their wealthier friends and therefore feel less than.

Oh bull. All the rich kids hang with each other and all the poor kids hang with each other. Unless your LC or MC kid is lucky enough to be a sports prodigy, then maybe the rich kids will invite him or her to some parties. Maybe.

You seem mad bro. Relax

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This questions presumes:
1. Private school is better.
2. Parents should sacrifice their comfort or convenience for their kids.
3. People should spend as much money as they are able to.

I disagree with all of those statements.

On your question #1 there is statistics. Here's what google gives you right away: "Mean SAT scores for students in public schools were 529 in ERW and 520 in math, while comparable scores for students in religious schools were 581 and 572. Students in independent schools had an average ERW score of 580 and an average math score of 608."

520 average vs 608 average math score is a big difference! And these are just average schools, not top private like Sidwell where presents' kids go.


On the other 2 questions - it's individual choice. If people can afford a $3mm house given all equal I don't understand what exact "inconvenience" is to send your kids private. If a family is scrambling to save for a car, the inconvenience is obvious.

Yes, it's true that mean SAT scores are higher for private school than public school. Not at all clear if that's BECAUSE of the school. Personally, I got a 1500 on the SATs back when they only went up to 1600, and if public school was good enough for me, it's good enough for my kids.

Your last sentence is not necessarily true: public schools have changed since you were a child, and not necessarily for the better. Private schools also changed, and often for the better since they have more resources, access to better professionals, attend more educational exchange programs with best other schools etc.

Great, sure. I have no doubt private schools have very good PowerPoints about all the ways they've improved. My point remains: Good public schools were just fine for me. I have no doubt they'll be just fine for my kids, who have the same socioeconomic advantages I did when I was there age.

Ok - can you tell us what are these excellent public schools in DC where you send your kids?

My kids are in a language immersion program at a public school. We have had a very positive experience overall, are saving a ton of money, and I think our kids are learning to advocate for themselves. My mom taught at a private school and those kids were coddled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP grow up.

Clearly, you have no idea what you are talking about.

We have an absurdly high income. Multiple Homes in the high $10 million range Yes, my kids went to public school. Had part-time jobs, worked in college, and omg actually paid for their own graduate school.

Making them work in college and pay for grad school when you are that wealthy is not something you should be proud of.

PP, Are you kidding me? I couldn;t disagree more! Big kudos. to the PP's for teaching their children to be self reliant, productive members of society with a good work ethic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This questions presumes:
1. Private school is better.
2. Parents should sacrifice their comfort or convenience for their kids.
3. People should spend as much money as they are able to.

I disagree with all of those statements.

On your question #1 there is statistics. Here's what google gives you right away: "Mean SAT scores for students in public schools were 529 in ERW and 520 in math, while comparable scores for students in religious schools were 581 and 572. Students in independent schools had an average ERW score of 580 and an average math score of 608."

520 average vs 608 average math score is a big difference! And these are just average schools, not top private like Sidwell where presents' kids go.


On the other 2 questions - it's individual choice. If people can afford a $3mm house given all equal I don't understand what exact "inconvenience" is to send your kids private. If a family is scrambling to save for a car, the inconvenience is obvious.

Yes, it's true that mean SAT scores are higher for private school than public school. Not at all clear if that's BECAUSE of the school. Personally, I got a 1500 on the SATs back when they only went up to 1600, and if public school was good enough for me, it's good enough for my kids.

Your last sentence is not necessarily true: public schools have changed since you were a child, and not necessarily for the better. Private schools also changed, and often for the better since they have more resources, access to better professionals, attend more educational exchange programs with best other schools etc.

Great, sure. I have no doubt private schools have very good PowerPoints about all the ways they've improved. My point remains: Good public schools were just fine for me. I have no doubt they'll be just fine for my kids, who have the same socioeconomic advantages I did when I was there age.

Ok - can you tell us what are these excellent public schools in DC where you send your kids?

My kids are in a language immersion program at a public school. We have had a very positive experience overall, are saving a ton of money, and I think our kids are learning to advocate for themselves. My mom taught at a private school and those kids were coddled.

Most of these DC public school immersion programs run through middle school only. Theodor Roosevelt runs through HS, has terrible parents' reviews (like, teaches don't teach etc.) and way below average SAT score (960 which is basically not studying at all, community college guaranteed).

Some folks do send kids to Oyster and similar till end of primary school and then move to private schools. Knowing a second language makes it easier to get into bilingual private programs but there is a very big competition as kids tend to stay in private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This questions presumes:
1. Private school is better.
2. Parents should sacrifice their comfort or convenience for their kids.
3. People should spend as much money as they are able to.

I disagree with all of those statements.

On your question #1 there is statistics. Here's what google gives you right away: "Mean SAT scores for students in public schools were 529 in ERW and 520 in math, while comparable scores for students in religious schools were 581 and 572. Students in independent schools had an average ERW score of 580 and an average math score of 608."

520 average vs 608 average math score is a big difference! And these are just average schools, not top private like Sidwell where presents' kids go.


On the other 2 questions - it's individual choice. If people can afford a $3mm house given all equal I don't understand what exact "inconvenience" is to send your kids private. If a family is scrambling to save for a car, the inconvenience is obvious.

What a dumb take.

Aside from the fact that any generalization about private school and public school is basically useless given the broad spectrum of quality among each, average higher SAT scores at privates could by explained by myriad factors having zero to do with the quality of the education, such as: on average more intelligent students, higher average parental education levels and intelligence, higher average resources for tutoring, etc. It's called correlation vs causation. Doesn't mean if you take Kid A and put them in private instead of public they'll have better outcomes. It also doesn't not mean that, but it's situation dependent.

As others have stated upthread, spending money on a house vs private school is also fact specific. The number of kids you have is obviously pretty important. There are very few people--even those who can afford a $3m house--who wouldn't consider spending $160k+ on school tuition for 3-4 kids every year to be a serious commitment that's on a whole other plane from having an expensive mortgage/house.

I say this as someone who went to private k-12 and whose parents sacrificed for it--including by not having a fancy house. I'm grateful for their decision and I'd make the same one for my kids in their situation--one kid, terrible public schools--but it's not the right call for everyone.

Well, having your child studying with classmates whose parents are education-oriented is a serious reason for many parents go private.
On costs - at my child's private school 70% are paying reduced tuition, many kids have merits based tuition; some expats have corporate coverage for private school. It has to be the same level of education their kids would have gotten in France or Germany, and somehow their companies agreed that only US private would be an "equivalent" level to German public school

There are plenty of kids at my kids' public schools in upper NW whose parents are entitled to tuition coverage if they sent them to private school. They're in public school despite that.

Hold your pockets wider - their parents may wish sending their kids to Sidwell and think they are entitled to whatever! Wishful thinking. "Sending" and "accepted" is not the same. Kids who are accepted are counted in single digits and these are most typically winners of international sports competitions, state level math or chess competitions, kids of influential politicians and siblings at the same school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP grow up.

Clearly, you have no idea what you are talking about.

We have an absurdly high income. Multiple Homes in the high $10 million range Yes, my kids went to public school. Had part-time jobs, worked in college, and omg actually paid for their own graduate school.

Making them work in college and pay for grad school when you are that wealthy is not something you should be proud of.

PP, Are you kidding me? I couldn;t disagree more! Big kudos. to the PP's for teaching their children to be self reliant, productive members of society with a good work ethic.

I disagree: working in college if it's a demanding science program or similar is not necessarily the most productive use of your time. Except if you work as a teaching assistant

[Anonymous]

Well, you can’t buy a house for less than $1.2M in our public school district so… it’s a lovely public school… full of kids who all live within a few miles of each other… and very involved parents… I have trouble understanding why families would choose private for the elementary years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This questions presumes:
1. Private school is better.
2. Parents should sacrifice their comfort or convenience for their kids.
3. People should spend as much money as they are able to.

I disagree with all of those statements.

On your question #1 there is statistics. Here's what google gives you right away: "Mean SAT scores for students in public schools were 529 in ERW and 520 in math, while comparable scores for students in religious schools were 581 and 572. Students in independent schools had an average ERW score of 580 and an average math score of 608."

520 average vs 608 average math score is a big difference! And these are just average schools, not top private like Sidwell where presents' kids go.


On the other 2 questions - it's individual choice. If people can afford a $3mm house given all equal I don't understand what exact "inconvenience" is to send your kids private. If a family is scrambling to save for a car, the inconvenience is obvious.

Yes, it's true that mean SAT scores are higher for private school than public school. Not at all clear if that's BECAUSE of the school. Personally, I got a 1500 on the SATs back when they only went up to 1600, and if public school was good enough for me, it's good enough for my kids.

Your last sentence is not necessarily true: public schools have changed since you were a child, and not necessarily for the better. Private schools also changed, and often for the better since they have more resources, access to better professionals, attend more educational exchange programs with best other schools etc.

Great, sure. I have no doubt private schools have very good PowerPoints about all the ways they've improved. My point remains: Good public schools were just fine for me. I have no doubt they'll be just fine for my kids, who have the same socioeconomic advantages I did when I was there age.

Ok - can you tell us what are these excellent public schools in DC where you send your kids?

My kids are in a language immersion program at a public school. We have had a very positive experience overall, are saving a ton of money, and I think our kids are learning to advocate for themselves. My mom taught at a private school and those kids were coddled.

Most of these DC public school immersion programs run through middle school only. Theodor Roosevelt runs through HS, has terrible parents' reviews (like, teaches don't teach etc.) and way below average SAT score (960 which is basically not studying at all, community college guaranteed).

Some folks do send kids to Oyster and similar till end of primary school and then move to private schools. Knowing a second language makes it easier to get into bilingual private programs but there is a very big competition as kids tend to stay in private schools.

Arlington's Spanish immersion program runs through high school, if that interests anyone. We've had a great experience but are still in ES. So far what I've heard about MS and HS is encouraging. We started immersion planning to stick with it through HS.