Sidwell tuition increase

[Anonymous]

Has anyone who is "speaking up" on this anonymous forum also speaking up by asking questions of the HOS or board members?

I know people think that schools read these forums and the hope is they will see the threats to pull annual fund contributions, etc. and act accordingly, but they don't follow the forum unless it is a really big controversial thread.

If you want to affect a change, you are going to have to take this to the school directly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am also appalled at the yearly increase but I don't understand why every year there is a long discussion on Sidwell's increase and not the other schools. Are they released later? Is that why Sidwell always leads the pack for complaints.

I'm pretty sure at least 2/3 of this thread has used the Sidwell increase as the jumping-off point for a discussion of the price of private school in the DMV, period, particularly the "elite" privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to admit I have stopped donating after all these yearly increases. I have no interest in contributing to the new unified school. It's a pay forward we will never see the benefit of and if anything it is a distraction.

So other people, decades ago, contributed money so your kid could have the faculty and campus that they enjoyed and you withhold for the future. That's lovely.

"Decades ago," it was a more modest school, with a (relatively) more modest plan and a sense that families would return to send their children.

[Anonymous]

Decades ago the super rich to which these schools cater were fewer in numbers and less wealthy.

The other running theme in this thread is that Sidwell has changed, and not for the better. We may have to "get over it" as some will say, but it is narrowing the space between Sidwell and other local schools.

The "joy problem" to which Bryan Garman has referred is that he sees SFS as a less joyful place to be compared to when he was there as a teacher.

[Anonymous]

A lot of us feel like the public schools (elementary especially) are focused entirely on getting at-risk and low income kids up to speed, and the private schools are increasingly out of reach.

I can't be the only MC/UMC mom who feels like there is no such thing as a developmentally-appropriate elementary school for a kid who is, and will always be, at or above grade level in all subjects, which I can afford and where that kid isn't going to be pacified with worksheets in his class of almost 30, at least for the few weeks of the year he isn't focused on testing.

There aren't any realistic choices if you're unhappy with your public schools. Advocating, volunteering, etc., doesn't reduce class sizes and doesn't change state and local mandates for testing, limiting recess, etc..

I don't want my kid bored all day and then to have an hour of tutoring in the afternoon. I am willing to pay for something else, but I don't have DMV money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of us feel like the public schools (elementary especially) are focused entirely on getting at-risk and low income kids up to speed, and the private schools are increasingly out of reach.

I can't be the only MC/UMC mom who feels like there is no such thing as a developmentally-appropriate elementary school for a kid who is, and will always be, at or above grade level in all subjects, which I can afford and where that kid isn't going to be pacified with worksheets in his class of almost 30, at least for the few weeks of the year he isn't focused on testing.

There aren't any realistic choices if you're unhappy with your public schools. Advocating, volunteering, etc., doesn't reduce class sizes and doesn't change state and local mandates for testing, limiting recess, etc..

I don't want my kid bored all day and then to have an hour of tutoring in the afternoon. I am willing to pay for something else, but I don't have DMV money.

This is way too negative and gloomy. We have a ton of school options in this area--count yourself lucky. Publics, charters, parochial, coops/alternative models, independent schools. If you want a cheaper traditional private, consider moving out of DC IF you can't afford it here. We all make choices and sometimes we can't afford everything we want. But there are so many other good options; hard for me to feel too sorry for you especially given that you sound like you are very privileged .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of us feel like the public schools (elementary especially) are focused entirely on getting at-risk and low income kids up to speed, and the private schools are increasingly out of reach.

I can't be the only MC/UMC mom who feels like there is no such thing as a developmentally-appropriate elementary school for a kid who is, and will always be, at or above grade level in all subjects, which I can afford and where that kid isn't going to be pacified with worksheets in his class of almost 30, at least for the few weeks of the year he isn't focused on testing.

There aren't any realistic choices if you're unhappy with your public schools. Advocating, volunteering, etc., doesn't reduce class sizes and doesn't change state and local mandates for testing, limiting recess, etc..

I don't want my kid bored all day and then to have an hour of tutoring in the afternoon. I am willing to pay for something else, but I don't have DMV money.

What is your local elementary school? Are you guessing or is your child actually there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fact that you care nothing about people who are actually paying is sad. This is why full pay parents are tired of the increases. You don't even get a good feeling of contributing to a greater good. When people get to a point where they dismiss people who are actually paying for them why then it is sad.

Where do you get a lack of concern or assume that you are replying to a Sidwell parent at all, or a Sidwell parent who is, or isn't also paying full freight? Why do you assume there is no compassion?

There are plenty of full pay parents who knew that there would be increases every year when they first matriculated their kids. It is part of the deal. It isn't a matter of lack of compassion, it is a matter of understanding what you were signing up for when you first decided to send your child to the school.

The solution is to have a conversation with the powers that be at the school. Everyone shares your concern including the Board and the head of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to admit I have stopped donating after all these yearly increases. I have no interest in contributing to the new unified school. It's a pay forward we will never see the benefit of and if anything it is a distraction.

So other people, decades ago, contributed money so your kid could have the faculty and campus that they enjoyed and you withhold for the future. That's lovely.

"Decades ago," it was a more modest school, with a (relatively) more modest plan and a sense that families would return to send their children.

Decades ago, the Clinton's sent their kid. More decades ago, the Nixon's sent their kids. This isn't something new. It has been a place where wealthy people and politicians etc sent their kids. There is more overt wealth today than there was 30 or 50 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of us feel like the public schools (elementary especially) are focused entirely on getting at-risk and low income kids up to speed, and the private schools are increasingly out of reach.

I can't be the only MC/UMC mom who feels like there is no such thing as a developmentally-appropriate elementary school for a kid who is, and will always be, at or above grade level in all subjects, which I can afford and where that kid isn't going to be pacified with worksheets in his class of almost 30, at least for the few weeks of the year he isn't focused on testing.

There aren't any realistic choices if you're unhappy with your public schools. Advocating, volunteering, etc., doesn't reduce class sizes and doesn't change state and local mandates for testing, limiting recess, etc..

I don't want my kid bored all day and then to have an hour of tutoring in the afternoon. I am willing to pay for something else, but I don't have DMV money.

Sadly, there really isn't. That is why many are willing to sacrifice to send their kids to schools like Sidwell, even if it is a financial strain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of us feel like the public schools (elementary especially) are focused entirely on getting at-risk and low income kids up to speed, and the private schools are increasingly out of reach.

I can't be the only MC/UMC mom who feels like there is no such thing as a developmentally-appropriate elementary school for a kid who is, and will always be, at or above grade level in all subjects, which I can afford and where that kid isn't going to be pacified with worksheets in his class of almost 30, at least for the few weeks of the year he isn't focused on testing.

There aren't any realistic choices if you're unhappy with your public schools. Advocating, volunteering, etc., doesn't reduce class sizes and doesn't change state and local mandates for testing, limiting recess, etc..

I don't want my kid bored all day and then to have an hour of tutoring in the afternoon. I am willing to pay for something else, but I don't have DMV money.

Sadly, there really isn't. That is why many are willing to sacrifice to send their kids to schools like Sidwell, even if it is a financial strain.

Disagree. You need to look harder and think outside the box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of us feel like the public schools (elementary especially) are focused entirely on getting at-risk and low income kids up to speed, and the private schools are increasingly out of reach.

I can't be the only MC/UMC mom who feels like there is no such thing as a developmentally-appropriate elementary school for a kid who is, and will always be, at or above grade level in all subjects, which I can afford and where that kid isn't going to be pacified with worksheets in his class of almost 30, at least for the few weeks of the year he isn't focused on testing.

There aren't any realistic choices if you're unhappy with your public schools. Advocating, volunteering, etc., doesn't reduce class sizes and doesn't change state and local mandates for testing, limiting recess, etc..

I don't want my kid bored all day and then to have an hour of tutoring in the afternoon. I am willing to pay for something else, but I don't have DMV money.

What is your local elementary school? Are you guessing or is your child actually there?

MoCo. I can get smaller class sizes, but I can do nothing about the testing or the sitting and filling out worksheets in kindergarten. My older two went to school elsewhere, and I do know what good lower elementary education looks like.

[Anonymous]

And have you looked at the price increases for colleges? Just saying. Private education in general has taken a crazy turn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And have you looked at the price increases for colleges? Just saying. Private education in general has taken a crazy turn.

Public universities as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Decades ago the super rich to which these schools cater were fewer in numbers and less wealthy.

The other running theme in this thread is that Sidwell has changed, and not for the better. We may have to "get over it" as some will say, but it is narrowing the space between Sidwell and other local schools.

The "joy problem" to which Bryan Garman has referred is that he sees SFS as a less joyful place to be compared to when he was there as a teacher.

The Sidwell Head of School (a) throws money at problems; (b) does not show any worry about the budget and models this approach to others in the admin; and (c) is fairly obsessed with a bricks and mortar legacy. (This is not multiple choice -- all of the above are true.) He smiles and says "yes" to everything and has no interest whatsoever in making hard choices. The school shows no hiring discipline and has added FTEs willy-nilly. He will be out of Sidwell in about 3-5 years for a high salaried boarding school job.