Is it worth it for a few years?

[Anonymous]

I am wondering if going private would be worth it even if we can only afford it for a couple years. I think smaller class sizes are really important particularly in the lower grades so I'm considering private for as long as we can do it. Would it be a really hard transition to public in mid-elementary?

[Anonymous]

I know families that have switched for 3rd grade and reportedly the kids are fine - they adapt. The parents say its harder on them because public schools don't have the social aspect for parents like private schools do, and there is less feedback too. The kids lose some extras, and the parents miss that, but the kids go with the flow in the new school.

[Anonymous]

I think it's fine as long as the private school you're in ends and the kids don't all go on to the same place. You want to make sure your DC doesn't feel like they're being pulled away from their peer group when you make the switch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's fine as long as the private school you're in ends and the kids don't all go on to the same place. You want to make sure your DC doesn't feel like they're being pulled away from their peer group when you make the switch.

are there private schools that end at grade 3? the ones we are looking at end at grade 8.

[Anonymous]

100% not worth it. Save your money for high school and make it worth it then. Signed private school mom with 3 kids in schools. just be your child's advocate now and see how it goes first. Small class size is overrated.

[Anonymous]

Primary Day School in Bethesda ends in 2nd and Concord Hill in Chevy Chase ends in 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

I agree with poster above who said save your money and try public first, in our experience the private school experience was FAR FAR more valuable for high school, then middle school, least in elementary, at least as long as your local public is reasonable and you spend time with your kids outside of school reading and engaging them in current events, talking about science, making sure they are using math effectively in their activities every day. In elementary school being with neighborhood children most important socially, and unless your child has some significant learning differences or issues, or your local school is just awful, most kids can do well and learn what they need to learn in public. In lower school one child went to an excellent private and one to neighborhood public (we moved out of an area with a very troubled elementary school) and while there were more "bells and whistles" for non-core subjects in public, we really did not feel our money was being as well spent in the private until middle and upper schools, where the differences in richness of curriculum, real input into writing, art, drama and music opportunities, and the complete lack of having to waste time on preparation for standardized tests (other than eventually the SAT) was a real plus compared to our two DD's peers and original public classmates that stayed in public for high school. Also, one DD now in college and she says she is definitely well-prepared for the writing and critical thinking demands placed on her, compared to many classmates who despite 2300-2400 SATs are struggling with the writing and analysis being asked of them in particularly non-STEM classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's fine as long as the private school you're in ends and the kids don't all go on to the same place. You want to make sure your DC doesn't feel like they're being pulled away from their peer group when you make the switch.

are there private schools that end at grade 3? the ones we are looking at end at grade 8.

Yes, Beauvoir is Pre-K through 3rd grade. Kids go to about 12 different schools afterwards and every family in 3rd garde spends the year sussing out what choice to make.