Is Private School tuition a BARGIN?

[Anonymous]

There are reports today that the DC school system spends about $18,500 per stundent in direct costs. A report last year estimated that the total cost (including capital outlays) was over $30K.

Thus, the direct cost to DC ($18,500) is about the same as tuition at Gonzaga and the total cost is approaching that of STA and Sidwell.

Does any think that the DC public schools provide that same value as private schools? The difference I believe is that the purpose of private schools remains providing the best education possible. The purpose of the public schools, on the other hand, has become to provide profitable employment and extraordinary benefits for the unionized public school teachers. The retirement and other benefits of private school teachers doesn't come close to matching the public schools.

Let's pray that charter schools can help those poor kids trapped in the DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Bargain?

[Anonymous]

I think that private schools do much better than public schools with the money they have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are reports today that the DC school system spends about $18,500 per stundent in direct costs. A report last year estimated that the total cost (including capital outlays) was over $30K.

Thus, the direct cost to DC ($18,500) is about the same as tuition at Gonzaga and the total cost is approaching that of STA and Sidwell.

Does any think that the DC public schools provide that same value as private schools? The difference I believe is that the purpose of private schools remains providing the best education possible. The purpose of the public schools, on the other hand, has become to provide profitable employment and extraordinary benefits for the unionized public school teachers. The retirement and other benefits of private school teachers doesn't come close to matching the public schools.

Let's pray that charter schools can help those poor kids trapped in the DCPS.

I spent some time a few months ago trying to sort through all those numbers and develop a better understanding of them. It's difficult to draw a one-to-one comparison between private school tuition costs and the public school costs, because a lot of the public school costs are linked to state and federal funding programs. It does seem though that the total cost of public school per student (as distinct from what they spend per student) is much higher than most people realize. On the one hand, public schools have massive infrastructure, they're required to provide education for all students, they're not nimble, and the retirement plans and non-compensation benefits they are required to give employees are hugely expensive. On the other hand, they have big economies of scale, and so can often do more with less.

In the end, I could not draw many clear conclusions as far as comparing the two. It does seem that charter schools may provide an escape route for local public school districts to reduce their excess employee costs, which is probably hated by employee unions, but may be a necessary step to control education spending.

The issues are very complex. I can see why people spend so much time fighting over the details.

Sam2

[Anonymous]

DC is bloated with administrative staff and it is so inept that it basically throws money down the drain. It's a terrible shame that tax dollars go to pay for such a horrible system. If companies provided the level of service the DCPS's do -- they'd be out of business in no time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that private schools do much better than public schools with the money they have.

That, and being able to select the kids with the top WPPSI/SSAT scores while kicking out the problem kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that private schools do much better than public schools with the money they have.

Because fancy new gyms, manicured grounds and award-winning buildings make all the difference to academic success.

[Anonymous]

They are not a "bargain", but at least you get what you pay for, and that is a lot, with most of them.

[Anonymous]

Different cost bases. Public schools also have to take in special-needs children who require 1:1 staffing, and some of whom may cost (at margin) $100k per year each. If you statistically equate, public schools spend less per student and cost less per student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Different cost bases. Public schools also have to take in special-needs children who require 1:1 staffing, and some of whom may cost (at margin) $100k per year each. If you statistically equate, public schools spend less per student and cost less per student.

Many private schools have special needs children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that private schools do much better than public schools with the money they have.

Because fancy new gyms, manicured grounds and award-winning buildings make all the difference to academic success.

Do you mean like Wilson and Alice Deal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Different cost bases. Public schools also have to take in special-needs children who require 1:1 staffing, and some of whom may cost (at margin) $100k per year each. If you statistically equate, public schools spend less per student and cost less per student.

Many private schools have special needs children.

But they are not required to take them - public schools have a much higher number.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Different cost bases. Public schools also have to take in special-needs children who require 1:1 staffing, and some of whom may cost (at margin) $100k per year each. If you statistically equate, public schools spend less per student and cost less per student.

Many private schools have special needs children.

But they are not required to take them - public schools have a much higher number.

Some school sare 100% special needs. Some only admit a certain amount. Pual VI has a special education program. Many schools have programs within the school for all kinds of needs. Almost every Catholic school has a program for kids with learning disabilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that private schools do much better than public schools with the money they have.

Because fancy new gyms, manicured grounds and award-winning buildings make all the difference to academic success.

Do you mean like Wilson and Alice Deal?

How many awards have their buildings won, exactly? And I know Wilson has a new gym, but their grounds & fields don't impress.

[Anonymous]

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.