Are private schools really that special or just overpriced?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems like every parent in DC is convinced private school is the only path to a good education, but I am wondering how much of that is perception versus reality. Between tuition that rivals college and the pressure to get in, are we truly paying for better academics or just smaller classes, nicer facilities, and the right peer group? If you strip away the brand names, are the results such as college placement, student well being, and critical thinking skills really that different from the top public and charter options? What do you think?

I think it is a legitimate question a human parent had. I am a human and have the same question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like every parent in DC is convinced private school is the only path to a good education, but I am wondering how much of that is perception versus reality. Between tuition that rivals college and the pressure to get in, are we truly paying for better academics or just smaller classes, nicer facilities, and the right peer group? If you strip away the brand names, are the results such as college placement, student well being, and critical thinking skills really that different from the top public and charter options? What do you think?

I think it is a legitimate question a human parent had. I am a human and have the same question.

It is really sad nobody care to answer this question. I think for vast majority of private schools, it isn’t really worth it. For selective few, it might be a try. At the end it also depends on the school, the kid and the specific teachers. But they are definitely over priced. It is unbelievable how hard it is to get a good education in this country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha no. My MCPS school produced more NMSF designees than nearly every DMV area private school, despite accepting every kid, at every income level with any level of English language ability and kids with significant disabilities.

And I didn’t spend 55k a year on it.

Why are you on the private school forum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha no. My MCPS school produced more NMSF designees than nearly every DMV area private school, despite accepting every kid, at every income level with any level of English language ability and kids with significant disabilities.

And I didn’t spend 55k a year on it.

Wait to hear how the parents that pay 55k justify themselves. It’s pretty funny I might say.

I can smell the envy,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha no. My MCPS school produced more NMSF designees than nearly every DMV area private school, despite accepting every kid, at every income level with any level of English language ability and kids with significant disabilities.

And I didn’t spend 55k a year on it.

Wait to hear how the parents that pay 55k justify themselves. It’s pretty funny I might say.

I can smell the envy,

Please keep going with the justifications

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha no. My MCPS school produced more NMSF designees than nearly every DMV area private school, despite accepting every kid, at every income level with any level of English language ability and kids with significant disabilities.

And I didn’t spend 55k a year on it.

Why are you on the private school forum?

Yes, the previous poster does not have the VIP pass. What is she thinking ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like every parent in DC is convinced private school is the only path to a good education, but I am wondering how much of that is perception versus reality. Between tuition that rivals college and the pressure to get in, are we truly paying for better academics or just smaller classes, nicer facilities, and the right peer group? If you strip away the brand names, are the results such as college placement, student well being, and critical thinking skills really that different from the top public and charter options? What do you think?

I think it is a legitimate question a human parent had. I am a human and have the same question.

It is really sad nobody care to answer this question. I think for vast majority of private schools, it isn’t really worth it. For selective few, it might be a try. At the end it also depends on the school, the kid and the specific teachers. But they are definitely over priced. It is unbelievable how hard it is to get a good education in this country.

Fully agree with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems like every parent in DC is convinced private school is the only path to a good education, but I am wondering how much of that is perception versus reality. Between tuition that rivals college and the pressure to get in, are we truly paying for better academics or just smaller classes, nicer facilities, and the right peer group? If you strip away the brand names, are the results such as college placement, student well being, and critical thinking skills really that different from the top public and charter options? What do you think?

Compare overall SAT scores, graduation rate and Top College acceptances and it will speak for itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like every parent in DC is convinced private school is the only path to a good education, but I am wondering how much of that is perception versus reality. Between tuition that rivals college and the pressure to get in, are we truly paying for better academics or just smaller classes, nicer facilities, and the right peer group? If you strip away the brand names, are the results such as college placement, student well being, and critical thinking skills really that different from the top public and charter options? What do you think?

Compare overall SAT scores, graduation rate and Top College acceptances and it will speak for itself.

The SAT scores are higher in magnet schools. If you ignore legacy admissions, I don’t see anything impressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like every parent in DC is convinced private school is the only path to a good education, but I am wondering how much of that is perception versus reality. Between tuition that rivals college and the pressure to get in, are we truly paying for better academics or just smaller classes, nicer facilities, and the right peer group? If you strip away the brand names, are the results such as college placement, student well being, and critical thinking skills really that different from the top public and charter options? What do you think?

I think it is a legitimate question a human parent had. I am a human and have the same question.

It is really sad nobody care to answer this question. I think for vast majority of private schools, it isn’t really worth it. For selective few, it might be a try. At the end it also depends on the school, the kid and the specific teachers. But they are definitely over priced. It is unbelievable how hard it is to get a good education in this country.

What is "over priced" in this context? It's worth whatever people will pay for it. Do you get all your clothes from Walmart? Why not? Everything else is likely "over priced" yet you make the choices you do.

[Anonymous]

Overpriced, yes.

Worthless, depends on your goal and child’s needs

It does (usually) provide:
Smaller class size
More critical thinking
Grammar and writing instruction
Less behavior problems in class
Less tech in lower grades

It will (likely) not:
Get you child in the Ivy League
Magically cure behavior problems
Support your child’s special needs, unless the school specially cater to diagnosis
Provide a greatly varied peer group
Have every level of academic option due to school population size

[Anonymous]

I only can see a benefit if you can get your kid into one of the top schools where the rich and famous 0.01% send their own kids. To make connections.

I don't believe that a rando private school down the street is better than a top public pyramid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like every parent in DC is convinced private school is the only path to a good education, but I am wondering how much of that is perception versus reality. Between tuition that rivals college and the pressure to get in, are we truly paying for better academics or just smaller classes, nicer facilities, and the right peer group? If you strip away the brand names, are the results such as college placement, student well being, and critical thinking skills really that different from the top public and charter options? What do you think?

I think it is a legitimate question a human parent had. I am a human and have the same question.

It is really sad nobody care to answer this question. I think for vast majority of private schools, it isn’t really worth it. For selective few, it might be a try. At the end it also depends on the school, the kid and the specific teachers. But they are definitely over priced. It is unbelievable how hard it is to get a good education in this country.

What is "over priced" in this context? It's worth whatever people will pay for it. Do you get all your clothes from Walmart? Why not? Everything else is likely "over priced" yet you make the choices you do.

Well, relative to college tuition (just tuition) it’s almost the same. Are you going to tell me that college education is as expensive as the education received at school? And do you pay $1000 for a Walmart shirt? So you can understand the concept of overpriced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Overpriced, yes.

Worthless, depends on your goal and child’s needs

It does (usually) provide:
Smaller class size
More critical thinking
Grammar and writing instruction
Less behavior problems in class
Less tech in lower grades

It will (likely) not:
Get you child in the Ivy League
Magically cure behavior problems
Support your child’s special needs, unless the school specially cater to diagnosis
Provide a greatly varied peer group
Have every level of academic option due to school population size

This is the correct answer.

Hope OP is satisfied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha no. My MCPS school produced more NMSF designees than nearly every DMV area private school, despite accepting every kid, at every income level with any level of English language ability and kids with significant disabilities.

And I didn’t spend 55k a year on it.

Which MCPS school is this?

Also what do the presence of kids with significant disabilities have to do with this?

Maybe you can ponder that question and let us know given that most private schools refuse to admit kids with significant disabilities (absent a few that were established to serve kids with special needs).

This is actually one of the benefits of private schools - teachers and budgets aren't forsaking the majority of the kids to meet the needs of one or two. (Not saying this is a "fault" of public schools, rather its the fault of underfunding sped and other programs to support those kids.)