Whitman vs private?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is true on both sides, the parents who sent their kids to Whitman are also saying it was far superior to local private schools that they have no experience with. Glad that everyone seems happy with their choices, no need to attack the other side!

I don’t actually think there are a lot of parents saying Whitman or other MoCo schools are superior to top privates for anything other than STEM or the obvious way that they are all vastly superior to all privates ($$).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is true on both sides, the parents who sent their kids to Whitman are also saying it was far superior to local private schools that they have no experience with. Glad that everyone seems happy with their choices, no need to attack the other side!

I don’t actually think there are a lot of parents saying Whitman or other MoCo schools are superior to top privates for anything other than STEM or the obvious way that they are all vastly superior to all privates ($$).

I think a lot are saying it depends on the kid and family. For highly motivated and driven kids, Whitman may be a great fit. Or for kids with unique academic or activity interests who may benefit from the range of options. But for elite athletes in certain sports, kids who don’t want big classes, families looking for a more personal experience or defining school culture, private may be a better option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really? You would pay $40K a year b/c you don't like the sports program at Whitman? That is funny to me! I think the education is far better at Whitman that at most privates. There are so many clubs, drama, music, internship programs that kids can get involved with. I will agree that not all teachers are great (I find it hard to believe that every teacher at a private is good), but the ones that are good, are amazing!

I can think of a few reasons to not go to Whitman. Special Needs being the big one. It's a big school. It's definitely a place for confident kids who can self-advocate.

But sports?

I get that recruited athletes are operating at a different level, but dropping $160,000+ for a a participation trophy?

Lame. Maybe Whitman soccer is recruitable, but everything else is just students doing their thing. It's not a particularly stressful world. Time consuming, yes. But anyone doing sports at Whitman is not getting a D1 scholarship with the possible exception of the occasional soccer player.

The peer group, the campus etc. If you have the money, why not?

[Anonymous]

What percentage of parents at Whitman are high net worth( top 1%). Compare that with the privates, no comparison. Rich people aren't dummies. Obviously, that's why they're rich and not Feds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We took our three boys out of Carderock and Plyle and sent them to local all boys, private schools.

It became obvious to us that the administrations and teachers at these schools answered primarily to the MCPS bureaucracy. The teaching was OK, but the coaching was woeful. We expected this would continue at Whitman.

The differences between the two environments and our son’s enthusiasm for all aspects of school (academic, athletics and social) were noticeable almost immediately. Our only regret was wondering why we didn’t make this switch sooner.

The neighborhood kids who stayed in the Whitman track weren’t harmed by the experience. But, for our active, athletic boys, the private school path was the right one.

Same experience with me. Pulled one child out in 6th the other after 4th grade. Not they enjoy all aspects of school. The experience for them and me as a parent has been far superior. No regrets.

Well, you wouldn't know that it's "far superior" because you didn't send your kids to Whitman, so you don't know what their experience would've been if they went there.

I'm forgetting what this type of bias is, it's when you make a decision and then you are only able to see why you made the right one, because it's too hard for people cognitively to accept the ways in which they might not have made the best decision. OP, you are only going to get people like the above poster who are convinced that their decision was "superior." Crazy to see so many post like this and then to think that this is one of the most educated ZIP Codes in the country.

Look, I’m wealthy. I’m not interested in buying a yacht. I’d rather invest in my kids in a way that gives them what is( in my judgement) a superior experience.

So privates are where I want to spend my extra free cash flow. Others in my financial position would purchase extra fancy cars, more overseas vacations, or Chanel purses. To each his own. [/quote

That is us too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is true on both sides, the parents who sent their kids to Whitman are also saying it was far superior to local private schools that they have no experience with. Glad that everyone seems happy with their choices, no need to attack the other side!

I don’t actually think there are a lot of parents saying Whitman or other MoCo schools are superior to top privates for anything other than STEM or the obvious way that they are all vastly superior to all privates ($$).

I think a lot are saying it depends on the kid and family. For highly motivated and driven kids, Whitman may be a great fit. Or for kids with unique academic or activity interests who may benefit from the range of options. But for elite athletes in certain sports, kids who don’t want big classes, families looking for a more personal experience or defining school culture, private may be a better option.

Yes this is true everywhere- special needs, more attention/small classes needed to learn, particular athletics program.

We found in three different cities now that the #1 reason for k-8 applicants outside of the above reasons, was fear. Fear that their young child wouldn’t make a mark at a “large grade size” school or make the team or arts program, etc. To them private school was a way for them to be on the XYZ team at school, no matter that it was pretty subpar level of play. That’s fun and all, but not the real world. But there are always rec and social teams and good to be well rounded plus have some super powers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What percentage of parents at Whitman are high net worth( top 1%). Compare that with the privates, no comparison. Rich people aren't dummies. Obviously, that's why they're rich and not Feds.

Is that a joke? Our private has a ton of feds and think tank non profit midlevels and associate professors making peanuts income and then big trusts for their real expenses and big purchases.

[Anonymous]

I hate large county public schools.

I like township public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really? You would pay $40K a year b/c you don't like the sports program at Whitman? That is funny to me! I think the education is far better at Whitman that at most privates. There are so many clubs, drama, music, internship programs that kids can get involved with. I will agree that not all teachers are great (I find it hard to believe that every teacher at a private is good), but the ones that are good, are amazing!

I can think of a few reasons to not go to Whitman. Special Needs being the big one. It's a big school. It's definitely a place for confident kids who can self-advocate.

But sports?

I get that recruited athletes are operating at a different level, but dropping $160,000+ for a a participation trophy?

Lame. Maybe Whitman soccer is recruitable, but everything else is just students doing their thing. It's not a particularly stressful world. Time consuming, yes. But anyone doing sports at Whitman is not getting a D1 scholarship with the possible exception of the occasional soccer player.

I know there was a scandal, but Whitman crew is tops...believe the girl's team was again the tops in the area last year. You don't get scholarships for the Ivy league, but kids definitely getting recruited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We took our three boys out of Carderock and Plyle and sent them to local all boys, private schools.

It became obvious to us that the administrations and teachers at these schools answered primarily to the MCPS bureaucracy. The teaching was OK, but the coaching was woeful. We expected this would continue at Whitman.

The differences between the two environments and our son’s enthusiasm for all aspects of school (academic, athletics and social) were noticeable almost immediately. Our only regret was wondering why we didn’t make this switch sooner.

The neighborhood kids who stayed in the Whitman track weren’t harmed by the experience. But, for our active, athletic boys, the private school path was the right one.

Same experience with me. Pulled one child out in 6th the other after 4th grade. Not they enjoy all aspects of school. The experience for them and me as a parent has been far superior. No regrets.

Well, you wouldn't know that it's "far superior" because you didn't send your kids to Whitman, so you don't know what their experience would've been if they went there.

I'm forgetting what this type of bias is, it's when you make a decision and then you are only able to see why you made the right one, because it's too hard for people cognitively to accept the ways in which they might not have made the best decision. OP, you are only going to get people like the above poster who are convinced that their decision was "superior." Crazy to see so many post like this and then to think that this is one of the most educated ZIP Codes in the country.

Look, I’m wealthy. I’m not interested in buying a yacht. I’d rather invest in my kids in a way that gives them what is( in my judgement) a superior experience.

So privates are where I want to spend my extra free cash flow. Others in my financial position would purchase extra fancy cars, more overseas vacations, or Chanel purses. To each his own.

No offense...but nobody wealthy would ever describe paying for private school as "where I want to spend my extra free cash flow". Wealthy people buy yachts, purchase fancy cars, Chanel purses, send their kids to private school....and have lots left over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We took our three boys out of Carderock and Plyle and sent them to local all boys, private schools.

It became obvious to us that the administrations and teachers at these schools answered primarily to the MCPS bureaucracy. The teaching was OK, but the coaching was woeful. We expected this would continue at Whitman.

The differences between the two environments and our son’s enthusiasm for all aspects of school (academic, athletics and social) were noticeable almost immediately. Our only regret was wondering why we didn’t make this switch sooner.

The neighborhood kids who stayed in the Whitman track weren’t harmed by the experience. But, for our active, athletic boys, the private school path was the right one.

Same experience with me. Pulled one child out in 6th the other after 4th grade. Not they enjoy all aspects of school. The experience for them and me as a parent has been far superior. No regrets.

Well, you wouldn't know that it's "far superior" because you didn't send your kids to Whitman, so you don't know what their experience would've been if they went there.

I'm forgetting what this type of bias is, it's when you make a decision and then you are only able to see why you made the right one, because it's too hard for people cognitively to accept the ways in which they might not have made the best decision. OP, you are only going to get people like the above poster who are convinced that their decision was "superior." Crazy to see so many post like this and then to think that this is one of the most educated ZIP Codes in the country.

Look, I’m wealthy. I’m not interested in buying a yacht. I’d rather invest in my kids in a way that gives them what is( in my judgement) a superior experience.

So privates are where I want to spend my extra free cash flow. Others in my financial position would purchase extra fancy cars, more overseas vacations, or Chanel purses. To each his own.

No offense...but nobody wealthy would ever describe paying for private school as "where I want to spend my extra free cash flow". Wealthy people buy yachts, purchase fancy cars, Chanel purses, send their kids to private school....and have lots left over.

Many wealthy live off cash flow from their assets...think of owning a large real estate portfolio and spending the free cash flow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We found the experience in MCPS to feel very impersonal, and have opted into private school.

The main benefits have been that

-my kids have good relationships with all their teachers (except maybe the ones they didn’t like) and feel like teachers care/are invested/know them well
-like being in a community where they know/see familiar faces - they don’t feel anonymous
-if there is a problem, we (parents) at least feel heard by the admin - not saying we get what we want, but i don’t ever feel like I am sending emails into some anonymous black hole where no one responds or cares
-my kids can participate in sports/arts/other activities just to try stuff, even in high school, and will likely get to do it in some meaningful way
-the decisions (like big ones for the school) are being made by people who are at our school, see the kids, and see the teachers, and are only about what is best for the school - I think this is a much better approach than MCPS, where the policies have to be the same even when schools serve very different students.

+ 1
Playing a sport in high school is an incredible value add for our DC. DC has no intention of playing in college, but the relationships formed with teammates and coaches have been hugely important, as has learning to balance sports and academics. At their private school, they can do this three seasons each year.

Do no underestimate the importance of independence and flexibility when it comes to determining policies, curriculum, schedules, hiring decisions etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What percentage of parents at Whitman are high net worth( top 1%). Compare that with the privates, no comparison. Rich people aren't dummies. Obviously, that's why they're rich and not Feds.

The percentage may not be as high as at private schools, but to afford homes in the Whitman district, most families have to be making top 1% HHI or close to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What percentage of parents at Whitman are high net worth( top 1%). Compare that with the privates, no comparison. Rich people aren't dummies. Obviously, that's why they're rich and not Feds.

The percentage may not be as high as at private schools, but to afford homes in the Whitman district, most families have to be making top 1% HHI or close to it.

Not top 1% or even 5% for DC area. There are plenty of unrenovated 1960s homes for under 1 million in the Whitman district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What percentage of parents at Whitman are high net worth( top 1%). Compare that with the privates, no comparison. Rich people aren't dummies. Obviously, that's why they're rich and not Feds.

The percentage may not be as high as at private schools, but to afford homes in the Whitman district, most families have to be making top 1% HHI or close to it.

Puhleez. That's ridiculous. There are many, many small, old, inexpensive properties in addition to townhomes and apartments. Our HHI is $180,000, our house is worth about 1.2 mil now (although we paid less) but (surprise!) We send our kids to private elementary. We will consider Whitman for high school though.