At DC privates - Why are VA parents considered "inferior"?

[Anonymous]

Getting back to the original question, I think that folks in MD and DC look down on VA schools because they are very insecure.
Who looks at a large group of people and makes a broad sweeping derogatory statement?

[Anonymous]

Georgetown PP, thanks for the support. You sound very sane.

And 21:51, I agree. The people looking down on VA are terribly insecure.

[Anonymous]

Was born and raised in NOVA. Still live in NOVA. DD got accepted to a Big 3 to begin in the fall. Am very thankful to have met the parents at our school a few weeks back at the acceptance/welcome/reception---thankfully, everyone seemed pretty normal. Based on my experience with those parents, and what I see on DCUM----I believe that many on this thread that are making these stupid comments do not actually attend DC privates---they are just people with too much time on their hands that want to cause others tempers to rise. Please, just because this is an anonymous forum doesn't give you the right to be obnoxious----if you would say this to my face, then I would respect you a bit, but to say it anonymously just shows a fundamental lack of maturity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow - I am glad that we just moved out to VA from DC. We are far from old or new money and couldn't afford to send 3 kids to private. And now I'm really relieved that our children won't be surrounded by so many pompous snobs. I have to imagine that most of the families in our public will be much more down-to-earth.

Welcome to VA! We live in VA but sent our children to a DC private for preschool. We left after a couple of years for our local public school and couldn't be happier. Our children are receiving a great education and the people are much nicer, friendlier and real.

Thank you! We are nervous and excited for the fall.

I can totally understand being nervous. It's hard not to be, but focus more on being excited. Best wishes to you all!!

[Anonymous]

I don't consider Richmond or Middleburg to be NOVA. People on this board talking about NOVA mean Arlington, McLean, Great Falls, Falls Church, etc. I would never want to live in NOVA, but I do like other parts of VA and consider buying a second home there.

And my "native" Washingtonian friends, those who graduated from Big 3 schools, look down on NOVA a lot more than the newcomers I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't consider Richmond or Middleburg to be NOVA. People on this board talking about NOVA mean Arlington, McLean, Great Falls, Falls Church, etc. I would never want to live in NOVA, but I do like other parts of VA and consider buying a second home there.

And my "native" Washingtonian friends, those who graduated from Big 3 schools, look down on NOVA a lot more than the newcomers I know.

Get some new friends. "Look down"? Get a life and some self-esteem........

[Anonymous]

Washingtonian here who went to a big 3 followed by a Virginia Prep school. Here is my experience:

The majority (not all) of families who live in Virginia have a suburban mindset that is not as sophisticated as those who live in DC proper. The Potomac River draws a geographical & psychological line that separates NOVA residents from DC residents in so many ways. As for Maryland, the barrier line to me is the beltway. I believe those outside the beltway have more in common with NOVA residents than DC residents.

I take exception with Old Town and the areas of NOVA immediately across Chain Bridge. Old Town has an urban & historical appeal which is not suburban, and families who live just across Chain Bridge are so close in - they are closer to Georgetown than Tysons. I would never hold it against someone for living in McLean (beyond Crest Road which is practically DC but with a river view), but I would rather kill myself than be stranded out there with all those Real Housewives & people who watch Bravo TV.

[Anonymous]

I love BravoTV!

[Anonymous]

So if you live on Basil you have gone too far? This is so silly. I think the pp poster who said majority of people at the various schools are nice and a few who go on this site and say nasty things are probably the same people that are not held in well regard at the various schools. If you your are nice..you are nice in VA,DC, MD--if you are snotty you are snotty in VA,DC,MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washingtonian here who went to a big 3 followed by a Virginia Prep school. Here is my experience:

The majority (not all) of families who live in Virginia have a suburban mindset that is not as sophisticated as those who live in DC proper. The Potomac River draws a geographical & psychological line that separates NOVA residents from DC residents in so many ways. As for Maryland, the barrier line to me is the beltway. I believe those outside the beltway have more in common with NOVA residents than DC residents.

I take exception with Old Town and the areas of NOVA immediately across Chain Bridge. Old Town has an urban & historical appeal which is not suburban, and families who live just across Chain Bridge are so close in - they are closer to Georgetown than Tysons. I would never hold it against someone for living in McLean (beyond Crest Road which is practically DC but with a river view), but I would rather kill myself than be stranded out there with all those Real Housewives & people who watch Bravo TV.

"I take exception with" =/= "I make an exception for"

I look down on people who, in a smug, snotty post, fail to exhibit a basic grasp of vocabulary.

[Anonymous]

This tread is truly hilarious.

Washington, D.C. has never in it's entire existence been anything more than a backwater town. No one then or now living in Washington, D.C. would have ever been included in Mrs. Astor List of 400. You are arguing the premise that you are at best members of a second or third level social class and others around you are of a fourth or fifth level social status class.

Petty, silly, and utterly ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But this is the entire point. DC is good enough.. better, obviously, for your kids but you yourselves refuse to live there, to invest yourselves in the city. You keep your money in VA because of lower taxes. Don't you see how that comes across as hypocritical?

I think you missed the point. Private schools are not connected to DC in any way other than location. That's why sending kids to private schools located in DC doesn't signify any particular commitment or investment in DC the way a charter school, for instance, may have. I see nothing hypocritical in living where one likes (which may be NOVA) and sending kids to schools one likes (which may be in DC). And anyway, cities are not package deals, they are more like cafeteria menus. One is quite entitled to enjoy parts of them one likes, and pass on the ones one doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't consider Richmond or Middleburg to be NOVA. People on this board talking about NOVA mean Arlington, McLean, Great Falls, Falls Church, etc. I would never want to live in NOVA, but I do like other parts of VA and consider buying a second home there.

And my "native" Washingtonian friends, those who graduated from Big 3 schools, look down on NOVA a lot more than the newcomers I know.

You certainly need to find a new circle of friends. Says a lot about you that they are still your friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This tread is truly hilarious.

Washington, D.C. has never in it's entire existence been anything more than a backwater town. No one then or now living in Washington, D.C. would have ever been included in Mrs. Astor List of 400. You are arguing the premise that you are at best members of a second or third level social class and others around you are of a fourth or fifth level social status class.

Petty, silly, and utterly ridiculous.

Yes! This is what I have been trying to say in a round about way. You hit the nail right on the head. Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This tread is truly hilarious.

Washington, D.C. has never in it's entire existence been anything more than a backwater town. No one then or now living in Washington, D.C. would have ever been included in Mrs. Astor List of 400. You are arguing the premise that you are at best members of a second or third level social class and others around you are of a fourth or fifth level social status class.

Petty, silly, and utterly ridiculous.

While I know nothing about society, I do find that this post touches on my biggest issue with this whole thread -- that some DC people are inflating themselves to make themselves feel better about living in a fringe town.