Is Private School tuition a BARGIN?

[Anonymous]

What I mean is, you rarely hear about people trying to get approval for paying tuition at a public school and not getting approved (thus my poorly-worded comment about no waiting lists at public schools). Usually, if someone seeks approval to go to a public school not in their district, and pay tuition, they are usually approved to do so. People may not think of that as a bargain, but it is to that family. However, if public school was such a bargain, you'd have lots more families choosing to do that (or seeking permission to) instead of choosing to go to a private school. I think the price range for paying tuition at a public school is about $11,000, last time I talked with someone who was doing that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is the better bargain: paying tuition at a private school, or paying tuition to go to a public school at a neighboring district? I would guess, maybe, that if paying tuition at a public school was such a bargain, lots more people would do that instead of sending their student to a private school. You never hear about huge waiting lists at the public schools, as far as I now.

Public schools don't do waiting lists. Instead, people pay big bucks to buy houses in desirable school districts. The price phenomenon you're wondering about can be seen in the $100,000 or $200,000 spread between prices for similar houses in Bethesda or Potomac vs. a bad school district.

God, some right-wingers are stupid.

Several public school divisions in this area are regularly approached by parents/guardians seeking admission for their children on a paid-tuition basis. It generally does not happen because, notwithstanding the views of the PP, most of the divisions in this area are over-capacity and do indeed have waiting lists for their own resident, eligible children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The real question is whether the privates could do as well or better, using the same funds and their current approach to education, with the same pool of students.

As a big supporter of private education, I would like to think so, but it has never been tried. And I admit fully that the key to private schools success likely lie with whom they admit. The sort of parents who choses private school rear the sort of child who will do better in any circumstance: the parent who values education (or at least 'achievement') and is proactive in their parenting.

I get so tired of this view that some people "value" education. Some parents may have more time and resources available to support their children's education. They may have more skills for doing so. But parents across the economic spectrum value their children's education.

+1.

Where did I imply that valuing education was determined by economic status?

My point is that we don't know if private schools would do a better job educating kids with relatively neglectful or less educationally-mindful parents, because in no case have the kids of those parents been placed in private school in significant numbers.

There are plenty of parents who choose private schools because it gives Dad bragging rights at the law firm, or let's Mom not feel guilty about ignoring her kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is the better bargain: paying tuition at a private school, or paying tuition to go to a public school at a neighboring district? I would guess, maybe, that if paying tuition at a public school was such a bargain, lots more people would do that instead of sending their student to a private school. You never hear about huge waiting lists at the public schools, as far as I now.

Public schools don't do waiting lists. Instead, people pay big bucks to buy houses in desirable school districts. The price phenomenon you're wondering about can be seen in the $100,000 or $200,000 spread between prices for similar houses in Bethesda or Potomac vs. a bad school district.

God, some right-wingers are stupid.

Several public school divisions in this area are regularly approached by parents/guardians seeking admission for their children on a paid-tuition basis. It generally does not happen because, notwithstanding the views of the PP, most of the divisions in this area are over-capacity and do indeed have waiting lists for their own resident, eligible children.

True. Schools like BCC get approached frequently by parents looking to buy into certain MoCo schools. BCC used to accept a few kids per year, but I've heard that BCC hasn't taken any out-of-bounds kids due to capacity issues.

Although, wait lists for in-bounds kids, or turning kids away? I've never heard of this. In fact, a public education is basically an entitlement, in the sense that if you live in-bounds, they have to give you an education. I have heard of area public schools bringing in trailers, aka "learning cottages," to handle the over-capacity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is the better bargain: paying tuition at a private school, or paying tuition to go to a public school at a neighboring district? I would guess, maybe, that if paying tuition at a public school was such a bargain, lots more people would do that instead of sending their student to a private school. You never hear about huge waiting lists at the public schools, as far as I now.

Public schools don't do waiting lists. Instead, people pay big bucks to buy houses in desirable school districts. The price phenomenon you're wondering about can be seen in the $100,000 or $200,000 spread between prices for similar houses in Bethesda or Potomac vs. a bad school district.

God, some right-wingers are stupid.

Several public school divisions in this area are regularly approached by parents/guardians seeking admission for their children on a paid-tuition basis. It generally does not happen because, notwithstanding the views of the PP, most of the divisions in this area are over-capacity and do indeed have waiting lists for their own resident, eligible children.

True. Schools like BCC get approached frequently by parents looking to buy into certain MoCo schools. BCC used to accept a few kids per year, but I've heard that BCC hasn't taken any out-of-bounds kids due to capacity issues.

Although, wait lists for in-bounds kids, or turning kids away? I've never heard of this. In fact, a public education is basically an entitlement, in the sense that if you live in-bounds, they have to give you an education. I have heard of area public schools bringing in trailers, aka "learning cottages," to handle the over-capacity.

^^^^ but I've heard that BCC hasn't taken any out-of-bounds kids recently due to capacity issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The real question is whether the privates could do as well or better, using the same funds and their current approach to education, with the same pool of students.

As a big supporter of private education, I would like to think so, but it has never been tried. And I admit fully that the key to private schools success likely lie with whom they admit. The sort of parents who choses private school rear the sort of child who will do better in any circumstance: the parent who values education (or at least 'achievement') and is proactive in their parenting.

I get so tired of this view that some people "value" education. Some parents may have more time and resources available to support their children's education. They may have more skills for doing so. But parents across the economic spectrum value their children's education.

+1.

Where did I imply that valuing education was determined by economic status?

My point is that we don't know if private schools would do a better job educating kids with relatively neglectful or less educationally-mindful parents, because in no case have the kids of those parents been placed in private school in significant numbers.

There are plenty of parents who choose private schools because it gives Dad bragging rights at the law firm, or let's Mom not feel guilty about ignoring her kid.

I have a feeling that this horse is getting ridden further than I meant it to be when I sattled it up.

But if we are going to go there: this is not much of a counter-example. The socialite mother and pompous professional father in your example are not actually educationally disinterested. Enrolling in private school for bragging rights or easing one's conscience is still reflective of a family culture where education is valued: not in itself, perhaps, but as a meal ticket to respect, a job, and status. The socialite and the bragger are not interested in "education" the way that I would use the word as an idealistic person. But they are going to have expectations of their kids that promote them at least completing homework and earning the gold stars handed out by the powers-that-be.

This is decidely not the same thing as parents who are neglectful in different ways, at least not if we are discussing educational outcomes.

Also, although I share your ire against privileged persons without real interest in the arts or children, I think we all have to admit that real people are not so one-dimensional as you imply in your example. Even if there is some truth in your accusation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But if we are going to go there: this is not much of a counter-example. The socialite mother and pompous professional father in your example are not actually educationally disinterested. Enrolling in private school for bragging rights or easing one's conscience is still reflective of a family culture where education is valued: not in itself, perhaps, but as a meal ticket to respect, a job, and status. The socialite and the bragger are not interested in "education" the way that I would use the word as an idealistic person. But they are going to have expectations of their kids that promote them at least completing homework and earning the gold stars handed out by the powers-that-be.

This is decidely not the same thing as parents who are neglectful in different ways, at least not if we are discussing educational outcomes.

Also, although I share your ire against privileged persons without real interest in the arts or children, I think we all have to admit that real people are not so one-dimensional as you imply in your example. Even if there is some truth in your accusation.

If you are ready to ditch the idea that "real people are not one-dimensional" then you should definitely drop the assumption that underlies most of your posts -- that private school parents care about education while public school parents don't. Drop it STAT, because this assumption makes you look like a total twit. An ignorant, total twit.

[Anonymous]

Somehow I missed the idea that most of that poster's posts assume that public school parents don't value education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Somehow I missed the idea that most of that poster's posts assume that public school parents don't value education.

But it is rare to see ANYONE argue that public schools are BETTER than private. The most common argument is that the publics are as good or that the privates aren't worth it. If you live in DC, you need to consider private if you can swing it. In MD or VA you should only consider private if you can easily afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I mean is, you rarely hear about people trying to get approval for paying tuition at a public school and not getting approved (thus my poorly-worded comment about no waiting lists at public schools). Usually, if someone seeks approval to go to a public school not in their district, and pay tuition, they are usually approved to do so. People may not think of that as a bargain, but it is to that family. However, if public school was such a bargain, you'd have lots more families choosing to do that (or seeking permission to) instead of choosing to go to a private school. I think the price range for paying tuition at a public school is about $11,000, last time I talked with someone who was doing that.

We applied to pay tuition to a public school, and were turned away. The school my child attends also turns away applicants. In that case there's no waiting list because they don't accept applications, not because no one wants to go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Somehow I missed the idea that most of that poster's posts assume that public school parents don't value education.

But it is rare to see ANYONE argue that public schools are BETTER than private. The most common argument is that the publics are as good or that the privates aren't worth it. If you live in DC, you need to consider private if you can swing it. In MD or VA you should only consider private if you can easily afford it.

Hmm, I wouldn't generalize to that extreme. (we are a private school family...but...) I've seen families argue that for their particular child, public schools like TJ or MoCo magnets are better than the DC private options. And..plenty of families have their children rejected from those public options...

[Anonymous]

DFCPS are a bargain. Private schools are no bargain, but many of the best are worth the high price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But if we are going to go there: this is not much of a counter-example. The socialite mother and pompous professional father in your example are not actually educationally disinterested. Enrolling in private school for bragging rights or easing one's conscience is still reflective of a family culture where education is valued: not in itself, perhaps, but as a meal ticket to respect, a job, and status. The socialite and the bragger are not interested in "education" the way that I would use the word as an idealistic person. But they are going to have expectations of their kids that promote them at least completing homework and earning the gold stars handed out by the powers-that-be.

This is decidely not the same thing as parents who are neglectful in different ways, at least not if we are discussing educational outcomes.

Also, although I share your ire against privileged persons without real interest in the arts or children, I think we all have to admit that real people are not so one-dimensional as you imply in your example. Even if there is some truth in your accusation.

If you are ready to ditch the idea that "real people are not one-dimensional" then you should definitely drop the assumption that underlies most of your posts -- that private school parents care about education while public school parents don't. Drop it STAT, because this assumption makes you look like a total twit. An ignorant, total twit.

I think you missed the fact that I am actually arguing for your point, in part. I don't think pubic school parents fail to value education or that a quality public education cannot be found. My point was simply that because publi schools take on the task of educating both kids from interested families and relatively disinterested or disadvantaged families, their stats will be lower and their problems different. Thus I, while a supporter of the private school option, do not think it is fair to say that privates are alwys in a whole other or lowr league from the privates. The privates have the unfair statistical advantage of starting off with a pool of students who are supported educationally at home...or at least hail from families were care to and can see out lternative options. If privates dealt with thewhole population, theb wed have an interesting experiment on seeing if tey do better. But w don't have aclear test case.

Do I make sense now? I think you are reading into my argument or maybe I'm just explaining it badly.

[Anonymous]

Btw, sorry for the typos. I am composing this on a cell phone that does not permit easy editing.

[Anonymous]

We called BCC to ask about buying in and they said they had no openings. They don't maintain a waiting list. It seems to be first come, first serve if they have openings, and they simply don't take any kids if they don't have openings.