Top private (Sidwell, GDS) versus top public (JKLM) for early years: what are the differences?

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. I have taught K or 1 in FCPS, a private ( but not big 3) and a JKLM.

FCPS - largest classes, more curriculum based, no sense of community
Private small class, great school community
JKLMM a bit smaller class than fcps and a great community.

Education wise, the kids at JKLM are getting the best/ most dynamic exciting early childhood education. In addition the special needs, specials, services the JKLM and FCPS schools give top the private by a mile.

In 1-4th, at this particular private, the kids were really far behind both public schools. I was shocked when I compaired the price vs quality.

If I were choosing for my child - JKLMM would be my first choice, followed by FCPS. Followed by private.

[Anonymous]

I think class sizes are starting to balloon in at least the J school, and maybe the others.

[Anonymous]

Class sizes at Murch are less than 25 in all grades, closer to 20 in most.

[Anonymous]

All DCPS non Title-1 schools have the same mandated class sizes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I have taught K or 1 in FCPS, a private ( but not big 3) and a JKLM.

FCPS - largest classes, more curriculum based, no sense of community
Private small class, great school community
JKLMM a bit smaller class than fcps and a great community.

Education wise, the kids at JKLM are getting the best/ most dynamic exciting early childhood education. In addition the special needs, specials, services the JKLM and FCPS schools give top the private by a mile.

In 1-4th, at this particular private, the kids were really far behind both public schools. I was shocked when I compaired the price vs quality.

If I were choosing for my child - JKLMM would be my first choice, followed by FCPS. Followed by private.

You really must name the "private" or this comparison means little. FCPS and DCPS have standardized curriculum benchmarks, so one could say with a straight face that, say, "early childhood math instruction in K-2 at Dogwood ES in FCPS is probably better than early childhood math in K-2 at Stoddert ES in DCPS." You could make a reasonably accurate prediction about what's on the menu in each -- even if your child didn't attend.

But to announce that kids at, to pick one, Key ES in DCPS are getting the BEST early childhood education over EVERY SINGLE PRIVATE SCHOOL, EVER is intellectually lazy. What's more, nobody -- you, me, Susan -- is qualified to make this pronouncement.

[Anonymous]

Teacher poster here. You are correct, I can not claim knowledge of every school everywhere. My opinion is just based purely on my own experiemces at my schools

From my three school experiences. In addition to my child's school experience which has never been the same as where I teach. The classrooms, teachers, units of study I saw at my DCPS school and PDs were superior to the other places I have worked.

FWIW. Of the big three, I have only toured GDS. And that was very similar to the DCPS. Magical, love of learning in early childhood. I'm sure several others have the same feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, so your thread on the public schools forum devolved into a discussion of large class sizes and your thread on the private schools forum is now a fight over whose kid is actually fluent in a language. Take this as a non-scientific sample of what people are like at these schools and therein lies the problem with your choice: JKLMs are full of wonderful kids and families dealing with an imperfect education system and private schools are fabulous schools filled with hyper competitive, status oriented parents and kids. The choice is yours!

LOL - this does appear to be a good social science experiment, posting identical questions in the private and public fora!

Meh. This is DCUM. Just as quickly, one could have turned into a debate over SAHM/WOHM, and the other into a discussion of how much TV kids should watch. You're just projecting your own stereotypes onto the situation. Sharpshooter fallacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I have taught K or 1 in FCPS, a private ( but not big 3) and a JKLM.

FCPS - largest classes, more curriculum based, no sense of community
Private small class, great school community
JKLMM a bit smaller class than fcps and a great community.

Education wise, the kids at JKLM are getting the best/ most dynamic exciting early childhood education. In addition the special needs, specials, services the JKLM and FCPS schools give top the private by a mile.

In 1-4th, at this particular private, the kids were really far behind both public schools. I was shocked when I compaired the price vs quality.

If I were choosing for my child - JKLMM would be my first choice, followed by FCPS. Followed by private.

What private school? You realize not all are the same, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I have taught K or 1 in FCPS, a private ( but not big 3) and a JKLM.

FCPS - largest classes, more curriculum based, no sense of community
Private small class, great school community
JKLMM a bit smaller class than fcps and a great community.

Education wise, the kids at JKLM are getting the best/ most dynamic exciting early childhood education. In addition the special needs, specials, services the JKLM and FCPS schools give top the private by a mile.

In 1-4th, at this particular private, the kids were really far behind both public schools. I was shocked when I compaired the price vs quality.

If I were choosing for my child - JKLMM would be my first choice, followed by FCPS. Followed by private.

You really must name the "private" or this comparison means little. FCPS and DCPS have standardized curriculum benchmarks, so one could say with a straight face that, say, "early childhood math instruction in K-2 at Dogwood ES in FCPS is probably better than early childhood math in K-2 at Stoddert ES in DCPS." You could make a reasonably accurate prediction about what's on the menu in each -- even if your child didn't attend.

But to announce that kids at, to pick one, Key ES in DCPS are getting the BEST early childhood education over EVERY SINGLE PRIVATE SCHOOL, EVER is intellectually lazy. What's more, nobody -- you, me, Susan -- is qualified to make this pronouncement.

It's fun watching private school parents squirm when a nerve is hit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, so your thread on the public schools forum devolved into a discussion of large class sizes and your thread on the private schools forum is now a fight over whose kid is actually fluent in a language. Take this as a non-scientific sample of what people are like at these schools and therein lies the problem with your choice: JKLMs are full of wonderful kids and families dealing with an imperfect education system and private schools are fabulous schools filled with hyper competitive, status oriented parents and kids. The choice is yours!

LOL - this does appear to be a good social science experiment, posting identical questions in the private and public fora!

Both perspectives are important!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher poster here. You are correct, I can not claim knowledge of every school everywhere. My opinion is just based purely on my own experiemces at my schools

From my three school experiences. In addition to my child's school experience which has never been the same as where I teach. The classrooms, teachers, units of study I saw at my DCPS school and PDs were superior to the other places I have worked.

FWIW. Of the big three, I have only toured GDS. And that was very similar to the DCPS. Magical, love of learning in early childhood. I'm sure several others have the same feel.

pp again. I'd have to agree to an extent, that if we're only talking about preK and K -- "early childhood" -- then all of these schools are going to be warm and sweet. I don't know what OP meant exactly by "early YEARS."

If s/he meant "K all the way through 5th grade," I feel strongly there are very important differences in curriculum and the day-to-day academic experience among Janney/Mann/Key/Lafayette/Murch and Beauvoir/GDS/Sidwell.

These differences have already been discussed in many threads, but generally, it has to do with test-driven curriculum; huge differences in humanities offerings in 1st-5th; and music-studio art-PE frequency. And foreign language during the day, not as an aftercare choice for a fee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I have taught K or 1 in FCPS, a private ( but not big 3) and a JKLM.

FCPS - largest classes, more curriculum based, no sense of community
Private small class, great school community
JKLMM a bit smaller class than fcps and a great community.

Education wise, the kids at JKLM are getting the best/ most dynamic exciting early childhood education. In addition the special needs, specials, services the JKLM and FCPS schools give top the private by a mile.

In 1-4th, at this particular private, the kids were really far behind both public schools. I was shocked when I compaired the price vs quality.

If I were choosing for my child - JKLMM would be my first choice, followed by FCPS. Followed by private.

You really must name the "private" or this comparison means little. FCPS and DCPS have standardized curriculum benchmarks, so one could say with a straight face that, say, "early childhood math instruction in K-2 at Dogwood ES in FCPS is probably better than early childhood math in K-2 at Stoddert ES in DCPS." You could make a reasonably accurate prediction about what's on the menu in each -- even if your child didn't attend.

But to announce that kids at, to pick one, Key ES in DCPS are getting the BEST early childhood education over EVERY SINGLE PRIVATE SCHOOL, EVER is intellectually lazy. What's more, nobody -- you, me, Susan -- is qualified to make this pronouncement.

It's fun watching private school parents squirm when a nerve is hit.

I think the point, while made maybe too "vigorously" is valid. By the way, the "nerve hitting thing" happens as well with public school parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, so your thread on the public schools forum devolved into a discussion of large class sizes and your thread on the private schools forum is now a fight over whose kid is actually fluent in a language. Take this as a non-scientific sample of what people are like at these schools and therein lies the problem with your choice: JKLMs are full of wonderful kids and families dealing with an imperfect education system and private schools are fabulous schools filled with hyper competitive, status oriented parents and kids. The choice is yours!

Jajaja... OP here, you are right, the posts might have degenerate a little bit, but they are full of interesting perspectives! (like yours, by the way).
Thanks everyone for sharing your views.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher poster here. You are correct, I can not claim knowledge of every school everywhere. My opinion is just based purely on my own experiemces at my schools

From my three school experiences. In addition to my child's school experience which has never been the same as where I teach. The classrooms, teachers, units of study I saw at my DCPS school and PDs were superior to the other places I have worked.

FWIW. Of the big three, I have only toured GDS. And that was very similar to the DCPS. Magical, love of learning in early childhood. I'm sure several others have the same feel.

pp again. I'd have to agree to an extent, that if we're only talking about preK and K -- "early childhood" -- then all of these schools are going to be warm and sweet. I don't know what OP meant exactly by "early YEARS."

If s/he meant "K all the way through 5th grade," I feel strongly there are very important differences in curriculum and the day-to-day academic experience among Janney/Mann/Key/Lafayette/Murch and Beauvoir/GDS/Sidwell.

These differences have already been discussed in many threads, but generally, it has to do with test-driven curriculum; huge differences in humanities offerings in 1st-5th; and music-studio art-PE frequency. And foreign language during the day, not as an aftercare choice for a fee.

Thanks. OP here, your point about what I meant with "early years" is very valid. I meant lower school, but with an emphasis in prek, k, 1st, and 2nd. I know it might sound confusing. I am interested in the whole LS experience, but as of now I want to focus on those "early years" as I read they are the most important ones. One of my work colleagues is an education specialist, she has told me as well how important those "early years" are. She gave me a ton of statistics, not only about ECD, but about 1st and 2nd too.

[Anonymous]

"pp again. I'd have to agree to an extent, that if we're only talking about preK and K -- "early childhood" -- then all of these schools are going to be warm and sweet. I don't know what OP meant exactly by "early YEARS."

If s/he meant "K all the way through 5th grade," I feel strongly there are very important differences in curriculum and the day-to-day academic experience among Janney/Mann/Key/Lafayette/Murch and Beauvoir/GDS/Sidwell.

These differences have already been discussed in many threads, but generally, it has to do with test-driven curriculum; huge differences in humanities offerings in 1st-5th; and music-studio art-PE frequency. And foreign language during the day, not as an aftercare choice for a fee."

You really sound like you need to take some Xanex; you are way too over the top with the ax that you have to grind. Huge differences in curriculum, really? I'm sorry, but the vast majority of "top" privates in and near NW DC have essentially the same curriculum as the JKLMs - readers and writers workshop, everyday or singapore math, responsive classroom and responsive recess. Do you really think that a bunch of masters-degreed public school teachers can't come up as good a curriculum as less experienced and prepared privates school teachers? Basically, what you get at a private is a secure class size. Most of the rest that you prattle on about ("humanities," really?) is smoke and mirrors.