If you are wealthy would you send your kids to a W school over private?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public all the way. I have had kids in both. A large percentage of private school teachers are not certified, they do not have a background in teaching, and they make WAY less than public school teachers. In addition, there is no job security. There is no consistency in what is being taught, few professional development opportunities, and basically, there is no curriculum. Teachers can teach whatever they want and however, they want. Smaller class, I get that. But if you have a class of 10 and a terrible teacher, you are getting nothing. There are many advantages to public schools. Do not let a price tag fool you into thinking you are getting more- you're not. Oh, and if you can pay full tuition, private schools will take you and promise you the world and then not be able to deliver. I've been on both sides- very prestigious private schools and public schools. Furthermore, there are many more courses offered in public schools including IB and AP. These are not the private schools of years ago. Much has changed in education. Lastly, I have been in college admissions at some very elite schools. Admissions officers love public school students- sorry, but that's the truth!

Not in my experience. You WERE in college admissions. Things have changed honey. They are very aware of the shit show in public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only difference from the w schools and the others is wealthy families. It depends on the child and their needs and the private but I would consider it.

Surely you are mistaken.

No, we've done both... there is far more money but the most important thing is your kid have good teachers, which sadly is pretty rare in private or public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public all the way. I have had kids in both. A large percentage of private school teachers are not certified, they do not have a background in teaching, and they make WAY less than public school teachers. In addition, there is no job security. There is no consistency in what is being taught, few professional development opportunities, and basically, there is no curriculum. Teachers can teach whatever they want and however, they want. Smaller class, I get that. But if you have a class of 10 and a terrible teacher, you are getting nothing. There are many advantages to public schools. Do not let a price tag fool you into thinking you are getting more- you're not. Oh, and if you can pay full tuition, private schools will take you and promise you the world and then not be able to deliver. I've been on both sides- very prestigious private schools and public schools. Furthermore, there are many more courses offered in public schools including IB and AP. These are not the private schools of years ago. Much has changed in education. Lastly, I have been in college admissions at some very elite schools. Admissions officers love public school students- sorry, but that's the truth!

Not in my experience. You WERE in college admissions. Things have changed honey. They are very aware of the shit show in public schools.

Both are a Sh@t Show. We were shocked at how bad summer classes were at one private last year. The school was completely unresponsive. It really depends on who runs the school and the teachers your child gets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's about money but also exposing kids to the real world in a controlled situation.

I am worth millions, personally, but it's in assets, not income. My income is actually quite low. I never wanted to spend my capital on private school, but I was prepared to spend a small portion of it on a house in a wealthy school cluster, since after my kids are done with school, I still have real estate. I have one kid with special needs and one without. For my kid with SN, I feel that our W public with services and accommodations + close parenting + tutoring and therapies has been the optimal solution. The one without is gifted and would have thrived in any school.

I'm also a product of reputable private schools, and getting out of that bubble into the real world was quite an experience. I'd rather my kids go to a wealthy public where they have gentle exposure to actual Life.

Let me guess your age. Early 70s? There is no way - from description you provided of your background you would be satisfied with MCPS if your spec kid had gone there in the past 15 years. No way - and Ws are particularly poor in treating Spec Ed.

To Op - private school if you want offspring to be in C-Suite. Connections cannot be beat. Personally know several Georgetown Prep grads who would have been ranked very low in public school but used their high school connections VERY well. Sidwell friends connections likewise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public all the way. I have had kids in both. A large percentage of private school teachers are not certified, they do not have a background in teaching, and they make WAY less than public school teachers. In addition, there is no job security. There is no consistency in what is being taught, few professional development opportunities, and basically, there is no curriculum. Teachers can teach whatever they want and however, they want. Smaller class, I get that. But if you have a class of 10 and a terrible teacher, you are getting nothing. There are many advantages to public schools. Do not let a price tag fool you into thinking you are getting more- you're not. Oh, and if you can pay full tuition, private schools will take you and promise you the world and then not be able to deliver. I've been on both sides- very prestigious private schools and public schools. Furthermore, there are many more courses offered in public schools including IB and AP. These are not the private schools of years ago. Much has changed in education. Lastly, I have been in college admissions at some very elite schools. Admissions officers love public school students- sorry, but that's the truth!

Not in my experience. You WERE in college admissions. Things have changed honey. They are very aware of the shit show in public schools.

Both are a Sh@t Show. We were shocked at how bad summer classes were at one private last year. The school was completely unresponsive. It really depends on who runs the school and the teachers your child gets.

Not in my school. 30% matriculated to top 20 universities last year in my child's HS. If I write to HOS, I get a response same day and always very accommodating. Sorry you had a bad experience...but the beauty of private schools is you have a choice...you can go elsewhere!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We could have afforded it easily (Biglaw) but I place Trump supporters and (non religious) private school parents living in average or better public school districts in the same category: people whose values I don’t share and who I will have nothing to do with.

The feeling is mutual!! How about that. I have absolutely no respect for families who have wealth and instead of spending it on a good education, they choose multiple homes, trips, etc. We have a net worth of $12M plus $1M annual income, and we have only one home and basic cars. We spent $120K on education last year between my college and HS students. Money well spent and they are great kids with wonderful friends. Wouldn't have it any other way and glad they are away from families like yours!!

And mine are “great kids with wonderful friends” as well. You don’t need private school for that.

[Anonymous]

We are wealthy and had one in each for high school. Our W is Whitman and DC had an excellent experience there, after private school through 8th grade. Our other DC needed more attention and smaller classes so continuing in private school was a better fit. Money was not a factor in the decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public all the way. I have had kids in both. A large percentage of private school teachers are not certified, they do not have a background in teaching, and they make WAY less than public school teachers. In addition, there is no job security. There is no consistency in what is being taught, few professional development opportunities, and basically, there is no curriculum. Teachers can teach whatever they want and however, they want. Smaller class, I get that. But if you have a class of 10 and a terrible teacher, you are getting nothing. There are many advantages to public schools. Do not let a price tag fool you into thinking you are getting more- you're not. Oh, and if you can pay full tuition, private schools will take you and promise you the world and then not be able to deliver. I've been on both sides- very prestigious private schools and public schools. Furthermore, there are many more courses offered in public schools including IB and AP. These are not the private schools of years ago. Much has changed in education. Lastly, I have been in college admissions at some very elite schools. Admissions officers love public school students- sorry, but that's the truth!

Not in my experience. You WERE in college admissions. Things have changed honey. They are very aware of the shit show in public schools.

+1. They can tell smart and ‘normalize’ students with a core. The schools that have implemented a core have done this largely to offset major decline in quality of public schools. My Ivy alma mater implemented their core in 2004 - and early 2000s I’m guessing is when they saw a shift in quality of their public school applicants/students - and moved to ensure they could graduate and represent the place as well as earlier generations when they left the campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's about money but also exposing kids to the real world in a controlled situation.

I am worth millions, personally, but it's in assets, not income. My income is actually quite low. I never wanted to spend my capital on private school, but I was prepared to spend a small portion of it on a house in a wealthy school cluster, since after my kids are done with school, I still have real estate. I have one kid with special needs and one without. For my kid with SN, I feel that our W public with services and accommodations + close parenting + tutoring and therapies has been the optimal solution. The one without is gifted and would have thrived in any school.

I'm also a product of reputable private schools, and getting out of that bubble into the real world was quite an experience. I'd rather my kids go to a wealthy public where they have gentle exposure to actual Life.

Let me guess your age. Early 70s? There is no way - from description you provided of your background you would be satisfied with MCPS if your spec kid had gone there in the past 15 years. No way - and Ws are particularly poor in treating Spec Ed.

To Op - private school if you want offspring to be in C-Suite. Connections cannot be beat. Personally know several Georgetown Prep grads who would have been ranked very low in public school but used their high school connections VERY well. Sidwell friends connections likewise.

Not a parent, but an alumnus of a non-W school in Bethesda. The latter part is completely untrue. I’m on a C-Suite trajectory now and many of my colleagues come from public HS/universities. If anything, most of the Sidwell/Prep kids aren’t living consequential lives (for example, they still think it’s high school, drug & relationship issues, etc.)

In summary, I will always look to send my kids to public school. If I’m making what I’m going to be making in about a decade or so, and my tax money is going towards the schools, why should I use extra money for private when I can save it for college? Kids in UMC families will be fine regardless of where they go to because they have resources to supplement their learning at home, plus the cultural experiences of working with different people, which shows them it’s a wider world out there. Not everything is about status. Public all the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's about money but also exposing kids to the real world in a controlled situation.

I am worth millions, personally, but it's in assets, not income. My income is actually quite low. I never wanted to spend my capital on private school, but I was prepared to spend a small portion of it on a house in a wealthy school cluster, since after my kids are done with school, I still have real estate. I have one kid with special needs and one without. For my kid with SN, I feel that our W public with services and accommodations + close parenting + tutoring and therapies has been the optimal solution. The one without is gifted and would have thrived in any school.

I'm also a product of reputable private schools, and getting out of that bubble into the real world was quite an experience. I'd rather my kids go to a wealthy public where they have gentle exposure to actual Life.

Let me guess your age. Early 70s? There is no way - from description you provided of your background you would be satisfied with MCPS if your spec kid had gone there in the past 15 years. No way - and Ws are particularly poor in treating Spec Ed.

To Op - private school if you want offspring to be in C-Suite. Connections cannot be beat. Personally know several Georgetown Prep grads who would have been ranked very low in public school but used their high school connections VERY well. Sidwell friends connections likewise.

Not a parent, but an alumnus of a non-W school in Bethesda. The latter part is completely untrue. I’m on a C-Suite trajectory now and many of my colleagues come from public HS/universities. If anything, most of the Sidwell/Prep kids aren’t living consequential lives (for example, they still think it’s high school, drug & relationship issues, etc.)

In summary, I will always look to send my kids to public school. If I’m making what I’m going to be making in about a decade or so, and my tax money is going towards the schools, why should I use extra money for private when I can save it for college? Kids in UMC families will be fine regardless of where they go to because they have resources to supplement their learning at home, plus
the cultural experiences of working with different people, which shows them it’s a wider world out there. Not everything is about status. Public all the way.

How many Sidwell and Prep alumni could you possibly know? Anecdotes are not data. Didn’t you learn that in school?

Also, there’s more cultural diversity in top private schools than in most affluent public schools.

[Anonymous]

Also, lol on “C suite trajectory.” What the hell does that even mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in this position and send my kids to a non-W school. Gasp.

Same, and my kids are in GEN POP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We could have afforded it easily (Biglaw) but I place Trump supporters and (non religious) private school parents living in average or better public school districts in the same category: people whose values I don’t share and who I will have nothing to do with.

The feeling is mutual!! How about that. I have absolutely no respect for families who have wealth and instead of spending it on a good education, they choose multiple homes, trips, etc. We have a net worth of $12M plus $1M annual income, and we have only one home and basic cars. We spent $120K on education last year between my college and HS students. Money well spent and they are great kids with wonderful friends. Wouldn't have it any other way and glad they are away from families like yours!!

You sound delightful!

Just kidding. You sound like an a$$.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We could have afforded it easily (Biglaw) but I place Trump supporters and (non religious) private school parents living in average or better public school districts in the same category: people whose values I don’t share and who I will have nothing to do with.

The feeling is mutual!! How about that. I have absolutely no respect for families who have wealth and instead of spending it on a good education, they choose multiple homes, trips, etc. We have a net worth of $12M plus $1M annual income, and we have only one home and basic cars. We spent $120K on education last year between my college and HS students. Money well spent and they are great kids with wonderful friends. Wouldn't have it any other way and glad they are away from families like yours!!

You sound delightful!

Just kidding. You sound like an a$$.

NP — have fun giving your kid a subpar education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We could have afforded it easily (Biglaw) but I place Trump supporters and (non religious) private school parents living in average or better public school districts in the same category: people whose values I don’t share and who I will have nothing to do with.

The feeling is mutual!! How about that. I have absolutely no respect for families who have wealth and instead of spending it on a good education, they choose multiple homes, trips, etc. We have a net worth of $12M plus $1M annual income, and we have only one home and basic cars. We spent $120K on education last year between my college and HS students. Money well spent and they are great kids with wonderful friends. Wouldn't have it any other way and glad they are away from families like yours!!

+1. I don’t get what the point of this money is, if not for their kids. Famous poster Retired Biglaw Partner loves to brag about how little money he spent on his kids’ education which is just bizarre to me. What on earth was it all for, if not for your kids?