Are private school kids returning to public next year?

[Anonymous]

We switched to private and think it’s the best money we ever spent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are many private school kids returning to public next year since they will be fully in person again?

We are returning to public. Our private school is not as academically challenging as it touted itself to be. And also, our observation has been that the kids get away with a lot more (behavior issues and not doing homework) than in our well regarded 'W' zoned school. As a public school parent, I never wondered what it was like "on the other side" but am glad I got to observe for these past couple of years. I'm sure people will say every private school is different and of course that's true. But given the school we are zoned for, I do not think I'd waste money on any school (even a 'top 3') after this experience. My kid is/was easily one of the brightest/top scoring students in his private school class, which was not the case in public. In public he was considered a 'smart' kid but there was definitely a group of kids that outpaced him, which I like to see because that means he has room to grow and healthy competition. I am not knocking private school at all but it's just our own personal experience at this particular private school and in light of the school we are zoned for. And I recognize this is a difficult decision for most parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are many private school kids returning to public next year since they will be fully in person again?

We are returning to public. Our private school is not as academically challenging as it touted itself to be. And also, our observation has been that the kids get away with a lot more (behavior issues and not doing homework) than in our well regarded 'W' zoned school. As a public school parent, I never wondered what it was like "on the other side" but am glad I got to observe for these past couple of years. I'm sure people will say every private school is different and of course that's true. But given the school we are zoned for, I do not think I'd waste money on any school (even a 'top 3') after this experience. My kid is/was easily one of the brightest/top scoring students in his private school class, which was not the case in public. In public he was considered a 'smart' kid but there was definitely a group of kids that outpaced him, which I like to see because that means he has room to grow and healthy competition. I am not knocking private school at all but it's just our own personal experience at this particular private school and in light of the school we are zoned for. And I recognize this is a difficult decision for most parents.

I would love to know what school this is, if you wouldn't mind saying or giving clues. This is one fear I have for my child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I imagine this will be more the case at less competitive and less expensive schools (parochial, for example).

Why? They are getting bigger bang for the buck. The more pricey schools are probably not worth it for many people with limited funds, especially if they are already in a "good" school district.

It is the reverse. The pricey ones are a big difference from public, the less expensive not so much except for class size, and the teachers can be far less qualified at either compared to public.

Exactly...the schools around $40K are dramatically different than a public school...the ones around $20K not so much

How are they *dramatically different*… do they get a free trip on SpaceX?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I imagine this will be more the case at less competitive and less expensive schools (parochial, for example).

Why? They are getting bigger bang for the buck. The more pricey schools are probably not worth it for many people with limited funds, especially if they are already in a "good" school district.

It is the reverse. The pricey ones are a big difference from public, the less expensive not so much except for class size, and the teachers can be far less qualified at either compared to public.

Exactly...the schools around $40K are dramatically different than a public school...the ones around $20K not so much

We had a "pilot child" at a 15K school, but are sending all of them next year because the differences between the local public -- highly performing, based on its test scores -- and the private are staggering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are many private school kids returning to public next year since they will be fully in person again?

We are returning to public. Our private school is not as academically challenging as it touted itself to be. And also, our observation has been that the kids get away with a lot more (behavior issues and not doing homework) than in our well regarded 'W' zoned school. As a public school parent, I never wondered what it was like "on the other side" but am glad I got to observe for these past couple of years. I'm sure people will say every private school is different and of course that's true. But given the school we are zoned for, I do not think I'd waste money on any school (even a 'top 3') after this experience. My kid is/was easily one of the brightest/top scoring students in his private school class, which was not the case in public. In public he was considered a 'smart' kid but there was definitely a group of kids that outpaced him, which I like to see because that means he has room to grow and healthy competition. I am not knocking private school at all but it's just our own personal experience at this particular private school and in light of the school we are zoned for. And I recognize this is a difficult decision for most parents.

We are in a very similar situation. Our private school is not that challenging and has much more limited offerings than our very solid neighborhood school. Also, the behavior at our private school is crazy -- cheating, bullying, substance abuse, so much garbage on social media. These things are obviously everywhere, but the administration deals with situations very inconsistently, which is a tough environment for kids to be in.

Every school is different, and everyone's experience is too, but my kid is definitely looking forward to a change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are many private school kids returning to public next year since they will be fully in person again?

We are returning to public. Our private school is not as academically challenging as it touted itself to be. And also, our observation has been that the kids get away with a lot more (behavior issues and not doing homework) than in our well regarded 'W' zoned school. As a public school parent, I never wondered what it was like "on the other side" but am glad I got to observe for these past couple of years. I'm sure people will say every private school is different and of course that's true. But given the school we are zoned for, I do not think I'd waste money on any school (even a 'top 3') after this experience. My kid is/was easily one of the brightest/top scoring students in his private school class, which was not the case in public. In public he was considered a 'smart' kid but there was definitely a group of kids that outpaced him, which I like to see because that means he has room to grow and healthy competition. I am not knocking private school at all but it's just our own personal experience at this particular private school and in light of the school we are zoned for. And I recognize this is a difficult decision for most parents.

I would love to know what school this is, if you wouldn't mind saying or giving clues. This is one fear I have for my child.

Unfortunately, I can't. I will say that it is obviously not one of the top 3 or 5 that is mentioned on here but it is referenced frequently. That said, I have two nieces who did go to one of the 'top 3' schools for a couple of years but their parents reluctantly pulled them out due to financial reasons after a job change. When they enrolled the kids in their local public, they discovered that they were behind their peers academically at their local 'W' elementary school. I do suspect that there are fewer behavior problems at what are considered the top schools because parents are eager to be there and their kids know not to jeopardize their spots by not completing work or being a constant behavior problem. I think it is the middle tier schools and the religious schools that present most of the problems that I've referenced. If you are zoned for what is considered a good public school system, I would think carefully about spending money on private - not only are you passing up an excellent academic opportunity but your kids will miss out on some of the bonds that other kids who attend the local school develop with one another, which could impact their summers, after school hang outs - basically their social life in general. There really is no price you can put on that. You may not want to shuttle your kid all over the DMV for them to spend time with/visit.

[Anonymous]

*You may not want to shuttle your kid all over the DMV for them to spend time with/visit their friends. (hit send too soon).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are many private school kids returning to public next year since they will be fully in person again?

We are returning to public. Our private school is not as academically challenging as it touted itself to be. And also, our observation has been that the kids get away with a lot more (behavior issues and not doing homework) than in our well regarded 'W' zoned school. As a public school parent, I never wondered what it was like "on the other side" but am glad I got to observe for these past couple of years. I'm sure people will say every private school is different and of course that's true. But given the school we are zoned for, I do not think I'd waste money on any school (even a 'top 3') after this experience. My kid is/was easily one of the brightest/top scoring students in his private school class, which was not the case in public. In public he was considered a 'smart' kid but there was definitely a group of kids that outpaced him, which I like to see because that means he has room to grow and healthy competition. I am not knocking private school at all but it's just our own personal experience at this particular private school and in light of the school we are zoned for. And I recognize this is a difficult decision for most parents.

I would love to know what school this is, if you wouldn't mind saying or giving clues. This is one fear I have for my child.

Unfortunately, I can't. I will say that it is obviously not one of the top 3 or 5 that is mentioned on here but it is referenced frequently. That said, I have two nieces who did go to one of the 'top 3' schools for a couple of years but their parents reluctantly pulled them out due to financial reasons after a job change. When they enrolled the kids in their local public, they discovered that they were behind their peers academically at their local 'W' elementary school. I do suspect that there are fewer behavior problems at what are considered the top schools because parents are eager to be there and their kids know not to jeopardize their spots by not completing work or being a constant behavior problem. I think it is the middle tier schools and the religious schools that present most of the problems that I've referenced. If you are zoned for what is considered a good public school system, I would think carefully about spending money on private - not only are you passing up an excellent academic opportunity but your kids will miss out on some of the bonds that other kids who attend the local school develop with one another, which could impact their summers, after school hang outs - basically their social life in general. There really is no price you can put on that. You may not want to shuttle your kid all over the DMV for them to spend time with/visit.

So this is an elementary school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I imagine this will be more the case at less competitive and less expensive schools (parochial, for example).

Why? They are getting bigger bang for the buck. The more pricey schools are probably not worth it for many people with limited funds, especially if they are already in a "good" school district.

It is the reverse. The pricey ones are a big difference from public, the less expensive not so much except for class size, and the teachers can be far less qualified at either compared to public.

Exactly...the schools around $40K are dramatically different than a public school...the ones around $20K not so much

Our $26K HS is drastically better than our public in ever way.

Name the school. At that price point, the odds are that the better public schools out perform it in almost every way

Not where I live.

DP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I imagine this will be more the case at less competitive and less expensive schools (parochial, for example).

Why? They are getting bigger bang for the buck. The more pricey schools are probably not worth it for many people with limited funds, especially if they are already in a "good" school district.

It is the reverse. The pricey ones are a big difference from public, the less expensive not so much except for class size, and the teachers can be far less qualified at either compared to public.

Exactly...the schools around $40K are dramatically different than a public school...the ones around $20K not so much

Our $26K HS is drastically better than our public in ever way.

Name the school. At that price point, the odds are that the better public schools out perform it in almost every way

Nope. My kids were in all the honors/intensified/GT/advanced pathways in APS and didn't have to do a damn thing to get all As. And they were not challenged at all. The courses and instructors and environment are so much better. Most kids with all As and intensified don't even pass the course exemption tests for courses they received As and 600 SOLs. We are incredibly pleased with the private HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hell no! And my 8th grader will joining my oldest at private HS next year.

APS went downhill and they are adding 200 more kids to an already very large incoming Freshmen class at our public HS next year.

Same!

[Anonymous]

My son, formerly at APS, is thriving, challenged and motivated at a diocese Catholic school and he is now disciplined--no more class clown antics! We are staying through MS.

His APS friends are still a grade year behind according to their parents who we are regularly in touch with.

[Anonymous]

DD moved from FCPS to an independent K-8 for 2nd grade in 2020, stayed for 3rd, and will stay for 4th next year. If we move her back at all I think it will be for 5th so she can get settled before junior high. We did the paperwork for AAP admissions last year so that she'd always have that option.

Financially private school is a big stretch for us, even with financial aid. But, DD is thriving. If DD is socially happy and also learning, I don't want to change anything.

I definitely think this year (2021-2022) was too soon to go back, with the staffing issues and other kinks not completely worked out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm on the board at my kid's PreK-8, (not DC), and this upcoming year (22-23) is the largest applicant pool and class sizes in our history.

I think a lot of people who stuck with public this year became very dissatisfied very quickly. The staffing shortages, transportation issues, food service snafus, lack of aftercare, constant quarantines... it has just been an endless cluster.

For the dual-income working families I know at privates, the cost of private school is an insurance policy for one's own sanity.

(I work in public education, so I am in touch with both the public & private worlds).

Are you worried about inflation affecting applications going forward or do you feel confident that your school’s outreach areas will continue to be able to pay (plus the yearly increases)?