If money weren't an issue (or a major issue), would you do public or private for ES in MoCo?

[Anonymous]

Applied and got in to our top choice private, but having serious concerns about the financial commitment. However, a grandparent has very generously offered to help with a portion of tuition (around 40%). We're very grateful, but want to find the best fit for dc, which I'm not 100% convinced is the private route. DC is bright (not over the top, but above average), quiet/introverted, and overwhelmed in an environment that's too big/too rowdy (likes more structure). My concerns with MoCo public are:
- class sizes are big (mid to high 20s at our school)
- 2.0 in itself, and implementation issues
- teachers seem to be a crapshoot (some parents we talked to loved their teacher, others really disliked, and they said you can't request a specific teacher for your child).
- lack of play/recess and extras, like PE, arts, etc.
- "social curriculum" not as strong
My concern with private are:
- smaller pool of friends
- less diversity (albeit not significantly so)
- "bubble factor" - the private is lovely, and I loved everything about it, and I think the fit would be great for dc. But I worry about raising a sheltered child, who gets used to everyone being kind to them, everything being just so... only to have their bubble burst when they hit "the real world", whenever that may be (and not being able to deal with it).
Advice?

[Anonymous]

Money was no factor for us, and I suspect for most of our neighbors(town of cc). We went public because it is an excellent school, and I wanted our kids to benefit from diversity and have friends in the hood. As for large class sizes, evidence suggests quality of teachers is most important. I have found the teachers at rhps to be excellent.

[Anonymous]

Public and save money for college and graduate school.

[Anonymous]

I went to a top DC private and am sending my kid to MoCo public. The bubble factor is my biggest concern - it's huge, much bigger than when I graduated 20 yrs ago. It's about the parents, not the kids. We moved to the Churchill district.

[Anonymous]

We are at a small private school and could not be happier. I don't know if we will stay private, but my son is getting everything I had hoped for in kindergarten. Creative curriculum, no testing, very little homework (and what is assigned is on point, not busy worksheets), lots of physical exercise, lots of "specials" like art and music and Spanish, differentiated instruction, and a focus on character.

Mostly though, it has fostered my child's love of learning. I was very worried our public, which has a total Tiger Mom mentality, would kill that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a top DC private and am sending my kid to MoCo public. The bubble factor is my biggest concern - it's huge, much bigger than when I graduated 20 yrs ago. It's about the parents, not the kids. We moved to the Churchill district.

And the Churchill district isn't a bubble of sorts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public and save money for college and graduate school.

I am a teacher in a private high school with children in MCPS. I love my kids schools and appreciate your way of thinking. However what I will say is how much better my private is in setting up our graduates for college admission. The College Admissions Office office sends these kids to conferences, service projects, edits their essays, resumes, pay for SAT/ACT preparation etc etc. I am shocked at the admissions and scholarships some of these kids get just because of the knowledge of the CAO. I have had numerous parents tell me they spend money in high school because it will save them in College.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to a top DC private and am sending my kid to MoCo public. The bubble factor is my biggest concern - it's huge, much bigger than when I graduated 20 yrs ago. It's about the parents, not the kids. We moved to the Churchill district.

And the Churchill district isn't a bubble of sorts?

+50

[Anonymous]

I have 1 kid in a grade above 2.0 and 2 kids in grades with 2.0. If money were no object, I would do private. I see a big difference between what my older child was able and encouraged to do versus what my younger kids are experiencing with 2.0. I don't think its implementation or training issues. They just are not teaching the same things and the work is very easy and boring. I feel bad that my older kid got a better education than my younger kids but we can't afford private school for 3 kids.

[Anonymous]

I would add teacher crapshoot to your list for private too. Just because you are paying for it doesn't guarantee quality.

We've been in both public and private and they are both bubbles. Our public school is maybe more bubble like than our private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Money was no factor for us, and I suspect for most of our neighbors(town of cc). We went public because it is an excellent school, and I wanted our kids to benefit from diversity and have friends in the hood. As for large class sizes, evidence suggests quality of teachers is most important. I have found the teachers at rhps to be excellent.

Tell us about the diversity in the town of Chevy Chase, where most of your neighbors can swing $60-90k every year for tuition. What kind of diversity is present in CC elemtary that is not found in, for example, Maret?

[Anonymous]

Money is no factor for us. For kids one and two, public was a better fit. For,number three who is really ahead for her age, we went private and feel it is such a good fit that we contracted for next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Money was no factor for us, and I suspect for most of our neighbors(town of cc). We went public because it is an excellent school, and I wanted our kids to benefit from diversity and have friends in the hood. As for large class sizes, evidence suggests quality of teachers is most important. I have found the teachers at rhps to be excellent.

Tell us about the diversity in the town of Chevy Chase, where most of your neighbors can swing $60-90k every year for tuition. What kind of diversity is present in CC elemtary that is not found in, for example, Maret?

Let me guess, could it be you don't know what the fuck you are talking about? RHPS is 20 percent farms, what percentage of Maret need free/reduced price meals?

[Anonymous]

If money were not a factor I'd do private.

[Anonymous]

If I could find my ideal school I'd do private in a heartbeat, but I think in the real world there are upsides and downside to both sides, and I'd probably start with public and see how it went.

Going to the neighborhood park today to sled (in the mud) and seeing friends from school is pretty cool and not necessarily something that happens with private.