Do large class sizes in FCPS make you consider paying $25K for private?

[Anonymous]

My kids are in classes of 29 and 30 students (lower elementary) in FCPS. I have always looked at public school as sufficient, if not perfect, b/c I wasn't willing to pay $25-30K per kid for private. That amount would have a serious impact on our lives. We could do it, but we would not be able to save anything for retirement and our living expenses would take up all other earned income. But, I do feel that my kids are just getting by in public school b/c they are not behavior problems and they are meeting/exceeding benchmarks.

If they had 20-22 in a class, I'd feel a lot more relieved (although the behavior problems would still be in the class, but at least they wouldn't be so anonymous).

Do you ever seriously consider going private b/c of the huge classes and huge school sizes? What do you do to make public school work for your child?

[Anonymous]

$25K? No. But I am going to send my child to private K at his current preschool to the tune of $8k. He will then move on to our neighborhood elementary FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$25K? No. But I am going to send my child to private K at his current preschool to the tune of $8k. He will then move on to our neighborhood elementary FCPS.

Our plan.

[Anonymous]

Class size has no correlation to student achievment, FYI.

[Anonymous]

I thought I read a study where DCPS classes are the smallest in the country-doesn't seem to make a difference there
Plus my friends who teach in private schools say almost all their classes are 21+ students

[Anonymous]

Yes. I've considered it. My child would probably do better in a smaller class based on her personality. I've done the math and I can't seem to make it work. Also, where are you finding a $25K school. Many seem to be $30-35K for next year.

[Anonymous]

Throwing money at your kids education does not always work. Parents involvement with their kids education is always better especially in elementary school. We taught our kids at home as much as we can and use public school as social life and reinforce what we taught at home. Results, both of them went to TJ and went on to top universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought I read a study where DCPS classes are the smallest in the country-doesn't seem to make a difference there
Plus my friends who teach in private schools say almost all their classes are 21+ students

Really? Most privates I'm familiar with have classes between 10-18 students. The exceptions are the parochial schools, where classes are much larger. Then again, I don't think those schools usually have the 30k tuition price tag.

[Anonymous]

My kids in FCPS have 22 and 23 in their classes. Last year, DS had 18 in his class. We've never had 29 or 30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Class size has no correlation to student achievment, FYI.

This is dead wrong. Do a little bit of research before making such a claim.

http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/cheri/upload/cheri_wp136.pdf

[Anonymous]

Here's more:

http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2011/0511_class_size_whitehurst_chingos.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids in FCPS have 22 and 23 in their classes. Last year, DS had 18 in his class. We've never had 29 or 30.

Class sizes increase at the GT centers. But my DS loves the GT center even with the larger class size.

To answer the OP question - we have not found a private that is similarly advanced as our GT center, so we'll stick with public for now. (Nysmith and Edlin may be able to meet it, but those schools are too far away for us logistically.) We may consider private high school, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Throwing money at your kids education does not always work. Parents involvement with their kids education is always better especially in elementary school. We taught our kids at home as much as we can and use public school as social life and reinforce what we taught at home. Results, both of them went to TJ and went on to top universities.

As a former teacher I agree with this 100%. Forget Kumon. Forget paying for private. Buy a homeschooling curriculum and spend 30 minutes a day teaching them on your own. We've been doing this with our kids and they are both several grade levels above the norm in reading and math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids in FCPS have 22 and 23 in their classes. Last year, DS had 18 in his class. We've never had 29 or 30.

Class sizes increase at the GT centers. But my DS loves the GT center even with the larger class size.

To answer the OP question - we have not found a private that is similarly advanced as our GT center, so we'll stick with public for now. (Nysmith and Edlin may be able to meet it, but those schools are too far away for us logistically.) We may consider private high school, however.

DC is in the above average program (AAP) also. 30 in class. Still getting a good education, about same as I got in regular school 25 years ago. Alot depends on the teacher you get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Class size has no correlation to student achievment, FYI.

This is dead wrong. Do a little bit of research before making such a claim.

http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/cheri/upload/cheri_wp136.pdf

I've done plenty of research. The empirical research shows time and time again teaching methods matter, not class size, and that teachers generally don't change their methods based on class size. So proud that you can Google, but you skipped the more relevant literature.

There are some exceptions when lower income populations are involved, but that's not relevant to FCPS.

You're the one who's dead wrong. Don't chime in when you're ignorant of the facts.

Here's one meta analysis: http://qje.oxfordjournals.org/content/115/4/1239.short. Right in the abstract (since I know you wouldn't understand the report itself): "The estimates indicate that class size does not have a statistically significant effect on student achievement."

Or maybe you prefer: http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ431933&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=EJ431933 Abstract: "Reduced class size may improve school tone and morale, but it is not an adequate policy alone for significantly accelerating student achievement"

Dutch study points out research from educators is different from that of economists: http://www1.fee.uva.nl/scholar/wp/wp04-99.pdf