I don't understand why parents waste so much money on private schools in this area.

[Anonymous]

If you had gone to private school, you would have developed strong enough critical thinking skills to understand why different people may make different choices and value different things.

[Anonymous]

I've noticed a lot of posts recently about whether private is "worth it" and I may post one myself. I honestly don't know if it's worth it in our situation. But to answer the OP headline, there definitely are understandable reasons -- even without covid which is a pretty glaring reason in itself.

DD was in FCPS for K and 1st and it went great: fantastic teachers, good mix of students, competent principal. Then, because of covid, we moved to private in 2nd for the in-person learning. Stayed for 3rd. Still on the fence about 4th.

I still like a lot of things about our public, but it cannot offer what private does -- especially art, music, and foreign language. This year DD's classroom has 2 teachers for 16 kids. Each kid a spelling word list that is tailored to their reading level; they go to library twice a week and put on two plays during the year. I know our public cannot do that. I might not have missed those things if we'd stayed with FCPS, but now that we're here, I'm not sure we'll go back.

[Anonymous]

I really don't think public school parents understand just how much better private is for kids. It's so much more than college matriculation. You think the public and private school kids really have the same level of education going into college? Having a public and private student score the same on the SAT does not mean they had remotely the same educational experience. LOL that OP thinks that.

The resources, the opportunities, the attention to detail, the level of teaching, the other students, the buildings, the land, the field trips, the plays, the public speaking....

[Anonymous]

We are new to public and so far, my kids are happy with it, but I can see as they get older that both 1) they made need different things from a learning perspective and 2) I will get really sick of chasing around behind them to supplement all the sports/arts/music and even tutoring that they are not getting at school. In summary, you get what you pay for. Whether it's good for the student is one question, but I think there is no doubt that private offers the parents a chance to sit back and take a break. You don't need to be a parent volunteer, or bring an army into an IEP meeting, you don't need to supplement with reading or wonder if you should get a spanish tutor - the school will just do it. And if something is going on, they'll call you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a public school in the 90s, it was one of the top public high schools in California. When I went to university, I noticed very little difference between those who went to public vs private schools. The SAT scores in DC private schools are basically comparable to the top publics. I don't get it, i mean if you got millions to burn, so be it. I rather give my kids a house.

You don't have to "get it". Not your kid, not your problem to get!

[Anonymous]

It’s weird to me that you can’t tell a difference.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell grad with kids in public. All about status and impressing others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really don't think public school parents understand just how much better private is for kids. It's so much more than college matriculation. You think the public and private school kids really have the same level of education going into college? Having a public and private student score the same on the SAT does not mean they had remotely the same educational experience. LOL that OP thinks that.

The resources, the opportunities, the attention to detail, the level of teaching, the other students, the buildings, the land, the field trips, the plays, the public speaking....

Wow you really drank that kool aid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The people complaining about VA or MD public schools or saying that private schools are better are either ignoring or don't know the most important part of the private school education: teaching students that they're very important, more important than public schools kids, more important than most adults including their teachers. Kids learn it. Parents should know about it and decide if that's what they want. Or not.

So so true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The people complaining about VA or MD public schools or saying that private schools are better are either ignoring or don't know the most important part of the private school education: teaching students that they're very important, more important than public schools kids, more important than most adults including their teachers. Kids learn it. Parents should know about it and decide if that's what they want. Or not.

Covid proved how very little the public school community in the DMV actually cares about kids. They do not. Me, me, me - teacher demands, parents complaints, lack of leadership, lack of outreach to kids, lack of planning. The publics were embarrassing shit shows. Disgraceful.

So your jealousy aside (and bitterness). Covid laid bare how pathetic those who run the public school systems are. Privates took care of their teachers and students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The people complaining about VA or MD public schools or saying that private schools are better are either ignoring or don't know the most important part of the private school education: teaching students that they're very important, more important than public schools kids, more important than most adults including their teachers. Kids learn it. Parents should know about it and decide if that's what they want. Or not.

We’ve been in both a “good” W public and a private. There are entitled kids in both. So far, it hasn’t been any worse in private.

[Anonymous]

Another reason in favor of private is that MCPS is just too big a ship to steer. They need to break it up. Seeing how quickly our private could pivot and deal with new covid protocols while MCPS still floundered was eye opening. It’s far too big and too many differing needs to be met.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Combination of many things - you want people to think you are rich (even if you are on FA or barely getting by every month; you want people to believe your kids are too smart for public; you want to believe privates offer something publics don't; you want to believe private will give you advantage applying to top tier colleges...etc. It's all misguided egotistic approach to kid's schooling. Nothing more.

You want to believe that.

In truth, people have many of their own reasons, none of which are on your list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people complaining about VA or MD public schools or saying that private schools are better are either ignoring or don't know the most important part of the private school education: teaching students that they're very important, more important than public schools kids, more important than most adults including their teachers. Kids learn it. Parents should know about it and decide if that's what they want. Or not.

Covid proved how very little the public school community in the DMV actually cares about kids. They do not. Me, me, me - teacher demands, parents complaints, lack of leadership, lack of outreach to kids, lack of planning. The publics were embarrassing shit shows. Disgraceful.

So your jealousy aside (and bitterness). Covid laid bare how pathetic those who run the public school systems are. Privates took care of their teachers and students.

Completely honestly – there are a lot of us on here who went to private, can afford private, and still choose public. Are you just going to tell us that we are naïve? We don’t know what we’re talking about? You’re all so much smarter? I really wonder. Because there are definitely people on the other side of this argument. Many people who went to private in this area choose public. It is the new money people that go for private. Especially if they went to public themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Combination of many things - you want people to think you are rich (even if you are on FA or barely getting by every month; you want people to believe your kids are too smart for public; you want to believe privates offer something publics don't; you want to believe private will give you advantage applying to top tier colleges...etc. It's all misguided egotistic approach to kid's schooling. Nothing more.

You want to believe that.

In truth, people have many of their own reasons, none of which are on your list.

That previous post is absolutely spot on.