Cons of private school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My twins probably got a better education at their top private, but their college admissions suffered compared to our local public.

+I graduated from a top NE boarding school. I had straight As, but was nowhere near the top of my class, with kids doing NASA level math, etc. I went to a fine university (NYU, though I got into UPenn, Michigan, Berkeley extension, it was my choice to go to New York), but know I would have had even better options from my public school… Still, I don't regret going. It was an amazing experience. But my husband doesn't want to send our kids, and I cant justify the cost based on the outcomes. If you can easily afford it and aren't focused on Ivy League or bust, then go for it. I especially think boarding school can be worth it for many other reasons. But if your kids are happy and thriving in public, no need to switch to private.

I think you are delusional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gate keeping on advanced classes. My 7th grader likes math and always gets As but wasn't allowed to take pre-Algebra this year because her end-of-year standardized test scores from last year didn't meet their threshold.

Sweetie, nobody is gatekeeping, there's no conspiracy to hold your kid down. You're just one of many in denial about your special snowflake's math acuity. Publics let anyone take anything because all the As are fake and most kids don't sit for or bomb the official AP exams and don't get college credit. Publics are full of deluded parents in complete denial about their children's real world achievement.

You clearly don't know much about public as you have to place into math inn 6th grade via MAP and other test scores. So, no, parents aren't deluded as they see other scores that are relevant beyond grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
NP. This is just so school-dependent. We had the opposite experience. Our kid who was in the supposedly hardest classes in his public middle school was shockingly behind when entering competitive private high school. He went from advanced math in public to remedial math in private. I hadn’t realized how far behind he was.

Same here. DD was advanced in public, at least a year ahead of the curve. In public she was at best average and had to work to catch up.

What pyramid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My twins probably got a better education at their top private, but their college admissions suffered compared to our local public.

+I graduated from a top NE boarding school. I had straight As, but was nowhere near the top of my class, with kids doing NASA level math, etc. I went to a fine university (NYU, though I got into UPenn, Michigan, Berkeley extension, it was my choice to go to New York), but know I would have had even better options from my public school… Still, I don't regret going. It was an amazing experience. But my husband doesn't want to send our kids, and I cant justify the cost based on the outcomes. If you can easily afford it and aren't focused on Ivy League or bust, then go for it. I especially think boarding school can be worth it for many other reasons. But if your kids are happy and thriving in public, no need to switch to private.

I think you are delusional.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
NP. This is just so school-dependent. We had the opposite experience. Our kid who was in the supposedly hardest classes in his public middle school was shockingly behind when entering competitive private high school. He went from advanced math in public to remedial math in private. I hadn’t realized how far behind he was.

Same here. DD was advanced in public, at least a year ahead of the curve. In public she was at best average and had to work to catch up.

You mean in private she had to catch up, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gate keeping on advanced classes. My 7th grader likes math and always gets As but wasn't allowed to take pre-Algebra this year because her end-of-year standardized test scores from last year didn't meet their threshold.

Sweetie, nobody is gatekeeping, there's no conspiracy to hold your kid down. You're just one of many in denial about your special snowflake's math acuity. Publics let anyone take anything because all the As are fake and most kids don't sit for or bomb the official AP exams and don't get college credit. Publics are full of deluded parents in complete denial about their children's real world achievement.

What an odd comment. I don't think she's a special snowflake just because she wants to be able to take Algebra in 8th grade along with 80% of other kids her age. She had one test score, from one day when she forgot to take her ADHD medicine, that was below their arbitrary cutoff and that overrode the 4 other benchmarks they used to place kids in classes. I'm not in denial, I'm simply saying that one of the cons of not choosing public is not being able to take as rigorous a course load as a student wants. Because it's not a public school and she doesn't have a 504, they were also under no obligation to let her take that test on a different day when she HAD taken her medicine. In order to catch up to her peers and take Calculus her senior year, she'll have to take Geometry over the summer; I don't see how that's better but it is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gate keeping on advanced classes. My 7th grader likes math and always gets As but wasn't allowed to take pre-Algebra this year because her end-of-year standardized test scores from last year didn't meet their threshold.

Sweetie, nobody is gatekeeping, there's no conspiracy to hold your kid down. You're just one of many in denial about your special snowflake's math acuity. Publics let anyone take anything because all the As are fake and most kids don't sit for or bomb the official AP exams and don't get college credit. Publics are full of deluded parents in complete denial about their children's real world achievement.

What an odd comment. I don't think she's a special snowflake just because she wants to be able to take Algebra in 8th grade along with 80% of other kids her age. She had one test score, from one day when she forgot to take her ADHD medicine, that was below their arbitrary cutoff and that overrode the 4 other benchmarks they used to place kids in classes. I'm not in denial, I'm simply saying that one of the cons of not choosing public is not being able to take as rigorous a course load as a student wants. Because it's not a public school and she doesn't have a 504, they were also under no obligation to let her take that test on a different day when she HAD taken her medicine. In order to catch up to her peers and take Calculus her senior year, she'll have to take Geometry over the summer; I don't see how that's better but it is what it is.

You are very clearly in denial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gate keeping on advanced classes. My 7th grader likes math and always gets As but wasn't allowed to take pre-Algebra this year because her end-of-year standardized test scores from last year didn't meet their threshold.

Sweetie, nobody is gatekeeping, there's no conspiracy to hold your kid down. You're just one of many in denial about your special snowflake's math acuity. Publics let anyone take anything because all the As are fake and most kids don't sit for or bomb the official AP exams and don't get college credit. Publics are full of deluded parents in complete denial about their children's real world achievement.

What an odd comment. I don't think she's a special snowflake just because she wants to be able to take Algebra in 8th grade along with 80% of other kids her age. She had one test score, from one day when she forgot to take her ADHD medicine, that was below their arbitrary cutoff and that overrode the 4 other benchmarks they used to place kids in classes. I'm not in denial, I'm simply saying that one of the cons of not choosing public is not being able to take as rigorous a course load as a student wants. Because it's not a public school and she doesn't have a 504, they were also under no obligation to let her take that test on a different day when she HAD taken her medicine. In order to catch up to her peers and take Calculus her senior year, she'll have to take Geometry over the summer; I don't see how that's better but it is what it is.

Normal is 7th-8th for Algebra and other kids its 6th or 9th as it really varies by kid. If she's struggling why push her forward. We did a private school class for Geometry and I wouldn't recommend it as a full credit class. For supplementing yes, but not full class.

[Anonymous]

In our case:
fewer electives than the public middle that offered astronomy, forensic sciences, etc
fewer sports opportunities (smaller private)
very entitled parent body with attitude about protecting their "snowflakes"

[Anonymous]

Don't understand OP's question... private school IS essentially a giant con... at least for UMC folks. For the very wealthy the cost is immaterial and it's all about just being part of that world and is a precursor to elite colleges (which they have a much higher rate of acceptance to than private UMC kids). For LMC or below then it's a rare opportunity to be a part of that world for a spell via fin aid and likewise can open doors for elite schools, but often comes with the downside of feeling like a fish out of water socially (varies by kid/school of course). For UMC families, they're stretching their finances, not gaining a college admissions advantage, so you've gotta be REALLY sold that your kids are getting a vastly superior educational experience, which I guess may apply if you're zoned for a school with some major issues, but that's not the case for most UMC folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't understand OP's question... private school IS essentially a giant con... at least for UMC folks. For the very wealthy the cost is immaterial and it's all about just being part of that world and is a precursor to elite colleges (which they have a much higher rate of acceptance to than private UMC kids). For LMC or below then it's a rare opportunity to be a part of that world for a spell via fin aid and likewise can open doors for elite schools, but often comes with the downside of feeling like a fish out of water socially (varies by kid/school of course). For UMC families, they're stretching their finances, not gaining a college admissions advantage, so you've gotta be REALLY sold that your kids are getting a vastly superior educational experience, which I guess may apply if you're zoned for a school with some major issues, but that's not the case for most UMC folks.

I’m UMC. My kid went to a good public middle school without major issues. But kids were vaping IN the classroom, there were fights so severe kids were hospitalized, and a teacher got hospitalized from dealing with a disruptive kid. The educational experience was a joke. My kid was assigned two books to read in three years. The rigor of private HS with actual expectations was an enormous shock.

I think you are wildly naive about what most kids experience in public schools. It is appalling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't understand OP's question... private school IS essentially a giant con... at least for UMC folks. For the very wealthy the cost is immaterial and it's all about just being part of that world and is a precursor to elite colleges (which they have a much higher rate of acceptance to than private UMC kids). For LMC or below then it's a rare opportunity to be a part of that world for a spell via fin aid and likewise can open doors for elite schools, but often comes with the downside of feeling like a fish out of water socially (varies by kid/school of course). For UMC families, they're stretching their finances, not gaining a college admissions advantage, so you've gotta be REALLY sold that your kids are getting a vastly superior educational experience, which I guess may apply if you're zoned for a school with some major issues, but that's not the case for most UMC folks.

well damn. the absolute truth.

UMC people are effed. and it’ll only get worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't understand OP's question... private school IS essentially a giant con... at least for UMC folks. For the very wealthy the cost is immaterial and it's all about just being part of that world and is a precursor to elite colleges (which they have a much higher rate of acceptance to than private UMC kids). For LMC or below then it's a rare opportunity to be a part of that world for a spell via fin aid and likewise can open doors for elite schools, but often comes with the downside of feeling like a fish out of water socially (varies by kid/school of course). For UMC families, they're stretching their finances, not gaining a college admissions advantage, so you've gotta be REALLY sold that your kids are getting a vastly superior educational experience, which I guess may apply if you're zoned for a school with some major issues, but that's not the case for most UMC folks.

I’m UMC. My kid went to a good public middle school without major issues. But kids were vaping IN the classroom, there were fights so severe kids were hospitalized, and a teacher got hospitalized from dealing with a disruptive kid. The educational experience was a joke. My kid was assigned two books to read in three years. The rigor of private HS with actual expectations was an enormous shock.

I think you are wildly naive about what most kids experience in public schools. It is appalling.

oh god. shut up already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't understand OP's question... private school IS essentially a giant con... at least for UMC folks. For the very wealthy the cost is immaterial and it's all about just being part of that world and is a precursor to elite colleges (which they have a much higher rate of acceptance to than private UMC kids). For LMC or below then it's a rare opportunity to be a part of that world for a spell via fin aid and likewise can open doors for elite schools, but often comes with the downside of feeling like a fish out of water socially (varies by kid/school of course). For UMC families, they're stretching their finances, not gaining a college admissions advantage, so you've gotta be REALLY sold that your kids are getting a vastly superior educational experience, which I guess may apply if you're zoned for a school with some major issues, but that's not the case for most UMC folks.

I’m UMC. My kid went to a good public middle school without major issues. But kids were vaping IN the classroom, there were fights so severe kids were hospitalized, and a teacher got hospitalized from dealing with a disruptive kid. The educational experience was a joke. My kid was assigned two books to read in three years. The rigor of private HS with actual expectations was an enormous shock.

I think you are wildly naive about what most kids experience in public schools. It is appalling.

oh god. shut up already.

NP: What a rude comment to the PP’s reasonable post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't understand OP's question... private school IS essentially a giant con... at least for UMC folks. For the very wealthy the cost is immaterial and it's all about just being part of that world and is a precursor to elite colleges (which they have a much higher rate of acceptance to than private UMC kids). For LMC or below then it's a rare opportunity to be a part of that world for a spell via fin aid and likewise can open doors for elite schools, but often comes with the downside of feeling like a fish out of water socially (varies by kid/school of course). For UMC families, they're stretching their finances, not gaining a college admissions advantage, so you've gotta be REALLY sold that your kids are getting a vastly superior educational experience, which I guess may apply if you're zoned for a school with some major issues, but that's not the case for most UMC folks.

I’m UMC. My kid went to a good public middle school without major issues. But kids were vaping IN the classroom, there were fights so severe kids were hospitalized, and a teacher got hospitalized from dealing with a disruptive kid. The educational experience was a joke. My kid was assigned two books to read in three years. The rigor of private HS with actual expectations was an enormous shock.

I think you are wildly naive about what most kids experience in public schools. It is appalling.

I could have written this post. This was exactly our experience. Recently we had a weapons at school situation so we are now looking at private for HS. A lot of the antagonistic posters here are assuming that everyone else’s zoned school is as excellent as their zoned school.