Parents who went to Big 3 private who chose to send their kids public

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, not only the gut but the science is on your side. The Economist this week, specifically about DC, confirming that private adds no value, not when it comes to academics anyway. The article uses it to inform the voucher question but the analysis underpinning it basically asks the question whether "one and the same child" (controlling for all sorts of variables) does differently in private vs. public school. The result is that "one and the same child" learns more and faster in public school. So you'd want to choose private to slow your child's academic progress. I'm guessing there could be good reasons to do that but the rest is conspicuous consumption, i.e. should be considered only if you don't what to do with your money.
http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21721640-should-you-spend-your-voucher-one-private-schools-are-doing-worse-washington-dc

Does someone know the link to the original study at the basis of that article?

DO you mean this? " The Institute of Education Sciences, the research arm of the Department of Education, analysed the results of children in Washington, DC’s scheme between 2012 and 2014. It found that, on average, pupils who attended private school had lower maths scores at the end of their first year than those who did not."

I think that's a well known fact that Publics push math more. It's the English and writing areas that are weak.

[Anonymous]

I went to NCS. My kids go to a DCPS school and were very happy with it.

[Anonymous]

Went to ncs. No plans to send my sons to STA. Many if not most of my classmates who stayed in area are sending their kids to public. We chose a non big 3 private for elementary. Not excited about $$$$$ but we wanted more outside time and more art and music. Our public was a great option too.

[Anonymous]

Not a big 3, but my husband attended privates elsewhere, including a pretty fancy boarding school for high school. We are happy at our neighborhood public for now. We will consider private for middle and high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is me as well and like one of the PPs, there are a bunch of Big 3 parents at our school as well. Part of it is that the costs are that much higher, but part of it is that we know what the benefits are -- and aren't.

+1

There is also much more of a 'culture of celebrity' than there used to be, and a lot of us don't want our kids (or ourselves!) in that environment. We live in MoCo and one thing I really missed as a kid was going to our neighborhood school.

This is an interesting point -- regarding the backdrop: I've noticed at my child's "elite" private preschool there are many social climbers who seem just as vested in what the school can do for them (from a social/networking standpoint) as they are in what the school is doing for their child's development. Luckily the school is excellent in terms of teaching and nurturing the kid's in a developmentally appropriate way, which was important for these crucial first 5 years. But these are the same folks that will be going on to the Big 3 privates. These Big 3s have drastically changed since we were growing up, like a PP said. And SO much is focused on soliciting donations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, not only the gut but the science is on your side. The Economist this week, specifically about DC, confirming that private adds no value, not when it comes to academics anyway. The article uses it to inform the voucher question but the analysis underpinning it basically asks the question whether "one and the same child" (controlling for all sorts of variables) does differently in private vs. public school. The result is that "one and the same child" learns more and faster in public school. So you'd want to choose private to slow your child's academic progress. I'm guessing there could be good reasons to do that but the rest is conspicuous consumption, i.e. should be considered only if you don't what to do with your money.
http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21721640-should-you-spend-your-voucher-one-private-schools-are-doing-worse-washington-dc

Does someone know the link to the original study at the basis of that article?

This is the report that you're looking for:

https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/20174022/pdf/20174022.pdf

[Anonymous]

H went to his city's big 3, I went to a big 5. My parents were really into status. We're not. Live in an excellent school district and intend to use it.

I think the private education is great for people who have endless $$. It's a factor for us. It's not a huge factor, private would be doable, but we don't see the need.

BTW, most of my peer group from HS is the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is me as well and like one of the PPs, there are a bunch of Big 3 parents at our school as well. Part of it is that the costs are that much higher, but part of it is that we know what the benefits are -- and aren't.

+1

There is also much more of a 'culture of celebrity' than there used to be, and a lot of us don't want our kids (or ourselves!) in that environment. We live in MoCo and one thing I really missed as a kid was going to our neighborhood school.

This is an interesting point -- regarding the backdrop: I've noticed at my child's "elite" private preschool there are many social climbers who seem just as vested in what the school can do for them (from a social/networking standpoint) as they are in what the school is doing for their child's development. Luckily the school is excellent in terms of teaching and nurturing the kid's in a developmentally appropriate way, which was important for these crucial first 5 years. But these are the same folks that will be going on to the Big 3 privates. These Big 3s have drastically changed since we were growing up, like a PP said. And SO much is focused on soliciting donations.

This is 100% why we are not going private.
- big 3 grad

[Anonymous]

I went to sidwell. no way in hell my kid(s) will go there. we just don't have that kind of money. it will be DCPS for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is me as well and like one of the PPs, there are a bunch of Big 3 parents at our school as well. Part of it is that the costs are that much higher, but part of it is that we know what the benefits are -- and aren't.

+1

There is also much more of a 'culture of celebrity' than there used to be, and a lot of us don't want our kids (or ourselves!) in that environment. We live in MoCo and one thing I really missed as a kid was going to our neighborhood school.

This is an interesting point -- regarding the backdrop: I've noticed at my child's "elite" private preschool there are many social climbers who seem just as vested in what the school can do for them (from a social/networking standpoint) as they are in what the school is doing for their child's development. Luckily the school is excellent in terms of teaching and nurturing the kid's in a developmentally appropriate way, which was important for these crucial first 5 years. But these are the same folks that will be going on to the Big 3 privates. These Big 3s have drastically changed since we were growing up, like a PP said. And SO much is focused on soliciting donations.

This is 100% why we are not going private.
- big 3 grad

My in-laws are very status oriented and in my opinion weren't wealthy enough to send their kids to fancy privates, especially since they were zoned for great publics. I pretty much want to do the exact opposite of everything they did. I want a neighborhood school with normal kids and money in the bank. I don't want my kids in some pressure cooker or around a bunch of social climbers. We do extremely well professionally and financially and I don't have any need to send my kids to a private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, a friend (whose opinion I respect) was shocked when I told her I wasn't going to apply to send my 5 year old to the Big 3 private we attended. We are inbound for a good public. I'm pregnant again, so we will soon have two that we'd need to pay for if we chose the private route. Could we swing it? Sure -- if we downsized our house, moved to a crappier neighborhood (or one further out), nixed vacations, and scrimped and budgeted every dollar. But I'd rather use that money to pay for other experiences for them -- trips abroad, music lessons, art, supplemental activities and, if they need it, private tutoring. And we live in a great family-friendly neighborhood that we love.

There is no doubt that the Big 3 we attended is a superior school to the good public we're in bound for. But we don't think it's worth the sacrifices we'd have to make. That said, she is making me second guess our decision. "Why wouldn't you want the best for them?" That hurt, but we're close enough that we're always brutally honest with each other.

Are there any other parents here who went to a Big 3 (or other private in the area) who decided to send their kids public? And why did you make that choice?

I am also in your situation OP. I do feel like my private school education was a great education. But I don't feel like it was sufficiently better than public school (DC charter) to justify the price, and I feel like if we add enrichment and such at home, our kids will end up with a great education in the end. (We're still in early elementary, my attitude may change down the road.) One thing that swayed me was looking at my DH (who went to NOVA public schools all the way) and some of my other friends who went to public schools and are now as successful in their careers (or more so!) than my private school friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you are ok with the sacrifices your parents made, but aren't willing to do the same for your kids?

Some people think the public education is BETTER.

Lol. Only because they don't really comprehend the differences

Really? Have you seen the list of most-challenging high schools in the area in today's WaPost?

Our kids inbound school (BCC) was no. 9, I think.

Didn't see Sidwell, Maret, St. Albans, Landon, Georgetown Day, Georgetown Prep, Potomac in the top 50.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is me as well and like one of the PPs, there are a bunch of Big 3 parents at our school as well. Part of it is that the costs are that much higher, but part of it is that we know what the benefits are -- and aren't.

+1

There is also much more of a 'culture of celebrity' than there used to be, and a lot of us don't want our kids (or ourselves!) in that environment. We live in MoCo and one thing I really missed as a kid was going to our neighborhood school.

This is an interesting point -- regarding the backdrop: I've noticed at my child's "elite" private preschool there are many social climbers who seem just as vested in what the school can do for them (from a social/networking standpoint) as they are in what the school is doing for their child's development. Luckily the school is excellent in terms of teaching and nurturing the kid's in a developmentally appropriate way, which was important for these crucial first 5 years. But these are the same folks that will be going on to the Big 3 privates. These Big 3s have drastically changed since we were growing up, like a PP said. And SO much is focused on soliciting donations.

This is 100% why we are not going private.
- big 3 grad

My in-laws are very status oriented and in my opinion weren't wealthy enough to send their kids to fancy privates, especially since they were zoned for great publics. I pretty much want to do the exact opposite of everything they did. I want a neighborhood school with normal kids and money in the bank. I don't want my kids in some pressure cooker or around a bunch of social climbers. We do extremely well professionally and financially and I don't have any need to send my kids to a private.

Yes, public school can be BETTER. And for all these reasons. School is about culture as much as science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is me as well and like one of the PPs, there are a bunch of Big 3 parents at our school as well. Part of it is that the costs are that much higher, but part of it is that we know what the benefits are -- and aren't.

+1

There is also much more of a 'culture of celebrity' than there used to be, and a lot of us don't want our kids (or ourselves!) in that environment. We live in MoCo and one thing I really missed as a kid was going to our neighborhood school.

This is an interesting point -- regarding the backdrop: I've noticed at my child's "elite" private preschool there are many social climbers who seem just as vested in what the school can do for them (from a social/networking standpoint) as they are in what the school is doing for their child's development. Luckily the school is excellent in terms of teaching and nurturing the kid's in a developmentally appropriate way, which was important for these crucial first 5 years. But these are the same folks that will be going on to the Big 3 privates. These Big 3s have drastically changed since we were growing up, like a PP said. And SO much is focused on soliciting donations.

This is 100% why we are not going private.
- big 3 grad

My in-laws are very status oriented and in my opinion weren't wealthy enough to send their kids to fancy privates, especially since they were zoned for great publics. I pretty much want to do the exact opposite of everything they did. I want a neighborhood school with normal kids and money in the bank. I don't want my kids in some pressure cooker or around a bunch of social climbers. We do extremely well professionally and financially and I don't have any need to send my kids to a private.

Yes, public school can be BETTER. And for all these reasons. School is about culture as much as science.

Exactly! And seriously, OP, is Janney really soooooo awful that it's worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to get away from it? Is it really that different, ffs?

[Anonymous]

OP here. I think the fact that we aren't considering our current inbound options for middle and highschool as options for us, and for many of the Big 3s and other good privates, your best shot at getting in is at the Pre-K and K levels. We'd like to stay in DC, but at this point if all things stay the same we'll be moving after elementary (or shortly before). I haven't been so impressed with the charters either.