How are you liking your new private school?

[Anonymous]

We are at Norwood, and so far very pleased. Everything seems well organized. So far all very friendly.

[Anonymous]

We're at Washington Episcopal. DC is very happy, and bounces around in the carseat with excitement all the way to school. I thought the long day (9 to 3:25) would be an issue, but it hasn't been at all.

[Anonymous]

We're at Beauvoir. When I asked DC about school?

Response - I love Beauvoir!

That is all I needed to hear.

[Anonymous]

Love, love, love NPS!

[Anonymous]

Only one complaint. We're already being slammed with fundraising appeals and being pushed to sell useless junk to raise money for the school.

Couldn't they have waited just one month as we get used to paying $2,500 monthly?

[Anonymous]

pp, I will agree. The fund raising is odd. I have noticed that there are some carefully selected parents who seem to be planted to spread the good word about the school, and encourage the fund raising. They are obvious to me. They also seem to be spies who report back to the head of school. I tend to give them information that I really do want the heads of school to know.

[Anonymous]

Good points about the fundraising. They are already making noises about the "gap per student" between tuition and operating costs. Why don't they just go ahead and charge for tuition the real cost? It's not like that extra $1,500 - $2,000 is going to mean much to an already astronomical tuition bill.

[Anonymous]

one reason is that your donation is tax deductable. tuition is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good points about the fundraising. They are already making noises about the "gap per student" between tuition and operating costs. Why don't they just go ahead and charge for tuition the real cost? It's not like that extra $1,500 - $2,000 is going to mean much to an already astronomical tuition bill.

A major reason for doing it this way is so wealthier people can in part subsidize the less-wealthy. For example, at the school DC attends, the gap between tuition and the real operating cost is approximately $2500 per student. When it comes time to donate, the school has a fair number of heavy hitters (I know how many since the school publicizes the number who give $2500 or more--not the names, but the number of people) who can give MORE than $2500, thus making up for those who cannot (like us, for example. We contribute what we can, but tuition is already a huge strain for us and so we don't usually give more than $1000). For every super-wealthy family that gives $5000, that is one struggling family less that "has to" pay that. If instead the school simply raised the tuition by $2500, it would price out a lot of people. This way they can draw from a wider pool of people and still cover operating costs, and it is a slightly more progressive way of raising funds.

[Anonymous]

It's so nice to read that you all have it like that!!! Just raise the tuition!!!! What's is a mere $4000 a month!??

[Anonymous]

I think like the other viewer explained the $1500-$2000 difference in tuition can affect a lot of families that do have the ability to pay. The economy is not the same as it use to be and the millionaires in DC are becoming the middle class. Additionally a lot of kids that attend private schools in DC have parents that may be young and straight out of graduate and professional school with student loans and need any type of financial assistance available.

The difference in the tuition gap may not matter to you but I bet that if something were to happen and cause you to need the $1500-$2000 that you would jump on it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good points about the fundraising. They are already making noises about the "gap per student" between tuition and operating costs. Why don't they just go ahead and charge for tuition the real cost? It's not like that extra $1,500 - $2,000 is going to mean much to an already astronomical tuition bill.

A major reason for doing it this way is so wealthier people can in part subsidize the less-wealthy. For example, at the school DC attends, the gap between tuition and the real operating cost is approximately $2500 per student. When it comes time to donate, the school has a fair number of heavy hitters (I know how many since the school publicizes the number who give $2500 or more--not the names, but the number of people) who can give MORE than $2500, thus making up for those who cannot (like us, for example. We contribute what we can, but tuition is already a huge strain for us and so we don't usually give more than $1000). For every super-wealthy family that gives $5000, that is one struggling family less that "has to" pay that. If instead the school simply raised the tuition by $2500, it would price out a lot of people. This way they can draw from a wider pool of people and still cover operating costs, and it is a slightly more progressive way of raising funds.

[Anonymous]

Beauvoir seems to be bending over backwards to show they have learned a few lessons from "the scandal." I hope they share those lessons with those outside of the community, because they sure do seem like they are doing things quite thoughtfully.

As for the school, DC loves it. We come from relatively modest means, background, and occupation. So it's been a bit harder for DH and me, being surrounded by so many of those with power and wealth. But it's more our issue, as everyone has been so welcoming.

[Anonymous]

Another happy Norwood parent here. DD loves it! I had a little nervousness about it and whether it was really worth the money for the first few days, but, seeing how happy and engaged she is, I now know we actually knew what we were doing when we applied there!

[Anonymous]

Parent of DC at one of Big Three. Nice teachers. Beautiful grounds. But no discernable difference between quality here and quality would be receiving at public. Only "advantage," if you want to call it that, is that most of other families seem highly accomplished, which I think is probably not a bad thing overall. Otherwise, am spending 25K per year as a place holder for the high school years. The sound you heard is me pounding my head against the wall.

[Anonymous]

Really pleased here. My pre-k'er can't wait to go to school each morning, the teachers are wonderful and have done an excellent job of informing us what learning/development goes on in and outside of the classroom each day. DC does not want to leave when I pick up from aftercare because the activities are so much fun. So much for long days - DC is loving it.