Switching from public to private

[Anonymous]

Are there people who went with public for the early years, intending to switch to private in 3, 6, or 9, but couldn't find a place in private school? Should I be worried if we go with this plan (we live in DC, so we're limited in the number of private schools available to us). thx!

[Anonymous]

Hi. I went to an elite private school for the last few years of high school.

Everyone knew, but no one really talked about it, but those of us who started late were clearly smarter on average - the bottom of the graduating class was filled with the group that attended since Year 1.

I suppose that means competition increased as we aged, but it could also mean the elementary admission test didn't really pick the students the school intended.

[Anonymous]

I think the kids chosen in early grades are chosen (primarily) for reasons other than stellar intelligence. Their families play much more of a role in whether they are admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the kids chosen in early grades are chosen (primarily) for reasons other than stellar intelligence. Their families play much more of a role in whether they are admitted.

What are you basing this on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there people who went with public for the early years, intending to switch to private in 3, 6, or 9, but couldn't find a place in private school? Should I be worried if we go with this plan (we live in DC, so we're limited in the number of private schools available to us). thx!

It really depends. If you are aiming for Sidwell, STA/NCS, Maret, your best bet is to try to get in as early as possible. It's still exceedingly difficult, but numbers-wise, the odds are more in your favor earlier rather than later. Also, in high school, recruitment of athletes takes place, and sometimes related, sometimes not, attempts to increase diversity occurs, further weighing against most of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Also, in high school, recruitment of athletes takes place, and sometimes related, sometimes not, attempts to increase diversity occurs, further weighing against most of us.

There's much innuendo in your comment whether intended or not. Regardless the statement is more perception than reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really depends. If you are aiming for Sidwell, STA/NCS, Maret, your best bet is to try to get in as early as possible. It's still exceedingly difficult, but numbers-wise, the odds are more in your favor earlier rather than later.

Can you expand on the logic behind this statement? While pre-K and K are relatively large intake years, many siblings and alumni candidates are heavily represented in the applicant pool in these years. Also, I expect that you would see more differentiation among applicants as they get older, making it less of a pure numbers game for highly qualified applicants. Not true?

[Anonymous]

It's still exceedingly difficult, but numbers-wise, the odds are more in your favor earlier rather than later.

The ADs at two very competitive DC schools said unequivocally otherwise. From a purely numbers perspective the above statement is untrue, according to these two.

Now that said, the competition gets more difficult in other, less quantifiable respects. Some of these have been mentioned already.

[Anonymous]

I have lost sleep over this scenario...
Although I know a few kids who've made the transition, I also have heard from some high schools that 90 odd percent of their students come from private feeder schools

[Anonymous]

I posted a similar question last month. The answer I got is yes, you will have less of a chance at several of the best private schools in the area b/c there are limited slots. Most slots come from kids from their elementary and/or middle school and/or private feeder school.

But of course it is not impossible.

If it were that easy, I suppose many more families would not spend $25,000 a year for a kindergarden through 8th grade. Many do it to ensure a slot in the elite private HS. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

[Anonymous]

I think the idea that your odds are higher is purely in the number of bites of the apple. If you wait until 9th grade, that will be your one shot. If you try in 3rd, 6th, and 9th, then you increase your odds.

Of course, the older the student the more quantifiable the testing and other variables are for the applicant. It is much harder to rate the success of a high school student when the are 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It's still exceedingly difficult, but numbers-wise, the odds are more in your favor earlier rather than later.

The ADs at two very competitive DC schools said unequivocally otherwise. From a purely numbers perspective the above statement is untrue, according to these two.

Now that said, the competition gets more difficult in other, less quantifiable respects. Some of these have been mentioned already.

This is a government sponsered website that shows enrollment per grade for schools. The search function is in the middle of the top bar:

http://nces.ed.gov/


Mater Dei [Georgetown Prep feeder ] had 40 in grade 8. Georgetown Prep had over 100 in grade 9. St. Patrick's Episcopal [K-8] had
47 in grade 6 and 20 in grade 7. Many move onto the larger environment for middle school in public or private. The same thing happens at Nysmith in Herndon VA.

Anecdotally, I know of students moving from highly ranked public to private after grade 9 but the reverse only seems to happen if there are extenuating circumstances .

[Anonymous]

Sorry--what is the point you're making? Can you clarify?

[Anonymous]

Here's a parent of a soon to be 5th grader who is seriously thinking of switching to a private school. I just was not that aware of private schools 6 years ago.
Either way, I would just love it if my kid could switch to private for middle school.
We have already started extra math prepping. DD is strugling with some subjects, others she does very well in.
At times I am very discouraged, the schools seem very picky with the personalities of the kids that they are looking for. I have what I would describe as an ordinary child, prone to childishness that comes with being that age, not a super athlete, works when she has to, is not always a pleasure to teach etc.
But I think she would do well in the private school setting that I have my hearts set on.

I just hope I am not doing the wrong thing by having her apply and then be disappointed with the results.
On the other hand, the exorbitant fees make me change my opinion on this frequently as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I just hope I am not doing the wrong thing by having her apply and then be disappointed with the results.

I should note that we live in-boundaries for Eastern High in DC so our plan all along was to get dd into a magnet school at the high school level. However, the application process coincided with a rough time for her emotionally and her grades dropped so it didn't help that there was all this pressure about school. So even for public schools, it can be an emotional roller coaster.