The Death of Private School As We Know It

[Anonymous]

What does any of this have to do with private and independent schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does any of this have to do with private and independent schools?

The thread started out by asking if private independent secondary schools are changing/dying, and the title post suggested that the main purpose of those schools is to help with admission to elite colleges. The discussion then shifted to whether the elite colleges themselves are going through the same transformation (or some would say death) if they are flooded with students who do not meet minimal grade and SAT scores. Most discussion on the thread seems to assume that the question of "death as we know it" could be asked about both the elite secondary schools and elite colleges. If objective admissions standards are lowered for too many applicants, to the point where the standards no longer mean anything, the make up of the student body and alumni pool will be changed, and as a result the perception of elite schools (secondary and college) and their role in society may change forever. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1000+ applicants for 100 spots at our private. I don’t think it’s dying anytime soon.

As long as there is demand there will be supply.

And there will only be demand if they deliver a superior experience

For some that may be college admission for others that may be something else.

The admit list from our private is pretty impressive so not too worried. And with covid response by the publics vs privates across past 24 months, the roi is beyond there college admissions aside

Really?!? So which private school is this? 1000+ applicants for 100 spots! What a huge school!

Not unusual at all. Any school with 6+ grades would have this many slots (I can rattle off 10 without thinking
that are Pk-8, K-12 or 3-12. Our school just had the most applications of any year for our roughly 100 spots. This is a top private discussed often on this board with several entry years. But I don’t think these numbers are unusual which lands the point that privates are not dying - far from it actually.

[Anonymous]

Agree! The left wing political influence on schools in my own county (Fairfax) caused our family to move all three of our children to private school. That will be the trend for anybody who can afford it.
The private schools should be sending the teachers unions and county school boards generous kickbacks, because the actions of the unions and boards are generating a ton of demand for the privates!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does any of this have to do with private and independent schools?

The thread started out by asking if private independent secondary schools are changing/dying, and the title post suggested that the main purpose of those schools is to help with admission to elite colleges. The discussion then shifted to whether the elite colleges themselves are going through the same transformation (or some would say death) if they are flooded with students who do not meet minimal grade and SAT scores. Most discussion on the thread seems to assume that the question of "death as we know it" could be asked about both the elite secondary schools and elite colleges. If objective admissions standards are lowered for too many applicants, to the point where the standards no longer mean anything, the make up of the student body and alumni pool will be changed, and as a result the perception of elite schools (secondary and college) and their role in society may change forever. Hope this helps.

Sweet Jesus.

So long as the “elite” secondary and post-secondary schools have massive endowments and sub 6% admissions rates they are not “dying” in any meaningful sense.

For example, I just read in another thread that GDS expects over 400 applicants for 15 9th grade spots. If that’s what “death” looks like what are expectations for a flourishing elite private school? No applications accepted, they invite you?

The combination of money and power mean that these institutions are going nowhere anytime soon.

If you believe that Harvard has somehow sullied their brand by admitting too many Black students or Jared Kushner types. I can assure you that Harvard doesn’t care and it’s possible that folks misunderstand how these institutions work.

[Anonymous]

Anyone else have an REM song in their head right now?

[Anonymous]

DEI initiatives are flavor of the month/year

Harvard/ Yale / Princeton are able to ride that out just as they did the civil war, the 1890's panic, the Great war, the '29 crash and the Vietnam / anti-establishment war

The rest is noise and it isn't making it into the Harvard club dining room

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DEI initiatives are flavor of the month/year

Harvard/ Yale / Princeton are able to ride that out just as they did the civil war, the 1890's panic, the Great war, the '29 crash and the Vietnam / anti-establishment war

The rest is noise and it isn't making it into the Harvard club dining room

They may ride it out but they are going to take a hit. Harvard and Yale have a history of discriminating against various racial groups over the years (for example the Jewish quota, which capped the number of Jewish people in Ivy schools.) and this is just one more example and will ultimately be revealed by history.

And as somebody who is in the “Harvard Club dining room” having attended H, I find it embarrassing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I assumed most people were either sending their kids to private schools for the small class size and bad local schools, or because it's just what is done in their social circle.

And when you are rich, why not? You need to spend your money on something.

At least your kids aren't getting cat food for lunch and are in amazing facilities with lots of other wealthy families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DEI initiatives are flavor of the month/year

Harvard/ Yale / Princeton are able to ride that out just as they did the civil war, the 1890's panic, the Great war, the '29 crash and the Vietnam / anti-establishment war

The rest is noise and it isn't making it into the Harvard club dining room

They may ride it out but they are going to take a hit. Harvard and Yale have a history of discriminating against various racial groups over the years (for example the Jewish quota, which capped the number of Jewish people in Ivy schools.) and this is just one more example and will ultimately be revealed by history.

And as somebody who is in the “Harvard Club dining room” having attended H, I find it embarrassing.

+1 . It's the death of meritocracy! Where you are admitted is largely about immutable characteristics--your sex, race, sexuality...if you are smart but the wrong race, good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assumed most people were either sending their kids to private schools for the small class size and bad local schools, or because it's just what is done in their social circle.

And when you are rich, why not? You need to spend your money on something.

At least your kids aren't getting cat food for lunch and are in amazing facilities with lots of other wealthy families.

You select a school based on lunch? My child attends a private school and the meals are nothing to brag about. Also, the building is old and new building not expected to be built for years. Not all have a fresh look. Admitting you are a leech into wealthy people is embarrassing and so desperate. You are so tacky. Private school parents do not want you in their circle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DEI initiatives are flavor of the month/year

Harvard/ Yale / Princeton are able to ride that out just as they did the civil war, the 1890's panic, the Great war, the '29 crash and the Vietnam / anti-establishment war

The rest is noise and it isn't making it into the Harvard club dining room

They may ride it out but they are going to take a hit. Harvard and Yale have a history of discriminating against various racial groups over the years (for example the Jewish quota, which capped the number of Jewish people in Ivy schools.) and this is just one more example and will ultimately be revealed by history.

And as somebody who is in the “Harvard Club dining room” having attended H, I find it embarrassing.

+1 . It's the death of meritocracy! Where you are admitted is largely about immutable characteristics--your sex, race, sexuality...if you are smart but the wrong race, good luck.

Yup very true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree! The left wing political influence on schools in my own county (Fairfax) caused our family to move all three of our children to private school. That will be the trend for anybody who can afford it.
The private schools should be sending the teachers unions and county school boards generous kickbacks, because the actions of the unions and boards are generating a ton of demand for the privates!

Unfortunately the same is now happening in the NOVA private schools. Anyone who dares challenge the curriculum is told “perhaps this isn’t the school for you.” It’s very sad when families who have been at the school for 10+ years are ostracized with an administration change. My kids are now a number at a desk, easily replaced by a kid on the waitlist. Of course all of these changes were made after deposits were due and admissions deadlines at other schools have passed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DEI initiatives are flavor of the month/year

Harvard/ Yale / Princeton are able to ride that out just as they did the civil war, the 1890's panic, the Great war, the '29 crash and the Vietnam / anti-establishment war

The rest is noise and it isn't making it into the Harvard club dining room

They may ride it out but they are going to take a hit. Harvard and Yale have a history of discriminating against various racial groups over the years (for example the Jewish quota, which capped the number of Jewish people in Ivy schools.) and this is just one more example and will ultimately be revealed by history.

And as somebody who is in the “Harvard Club dining room” having attended H, I find it embarrassing.

+1 . It's the death of meritocracy! Where you are admitted is largely about immutable characteristics--your sex, race, sexuality...if you are smart but the wrong race, good luck.

Yup very true

On balance, it as never been a meritocracy. People will continue to be admitted based on characteristics that have little to do with merit. It’s just those characteristics have changed and now favor different groups. But the rich shouldn’t worry too much. They are still rich and their kids are still starting on third.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DEI initiatives are flavor of the month/year

Harvard/ Yale / Princeton are able to ride that out just as they did the civil war, the 1890's panic, the Great war, the '29 crash and the Vietnam / anti-establishment war

The rest is noise and it isn't making it into the Harvard club dining room

They may ride it out but they are going to take a hit. Harvard and Yale have a history of discriminating against various racial groups over the years (for example the Jewish quota, which capped the number of Jewish people in Ivy schools.) and this is just one more example and will ultimately be revealed by history.

And as somebody who is in the “Harvard Club dining room” having attended H, I find it embarrassing.

+1 . It's the death of meritocracy! Where you are admitted is largely about immutable characteristics--your sex, race, sexuality...if you are smart but the wrong race, good luck.

I can’t tell if that’s sarcasm. The initial comment appeared to be saying that Harvard will admit who they want to admit, always has, and always will and even if on paper it seems to be moving away from excluding certain groups the inner sanctum, aka the Harvard Dining Room, is still exclusionary. So I am not sure how it’s a death of meritocracy if you agree that it’s always excluded or limited someone from the very beginning while keeping the true power non-diverse. By that standard it’s never been a meritocracy and that’s stayed consistent.

To be clear, I’m not agreeing with the initial statement - I don’t have enough knowledge about the inner workings of HYP. I just am bewildered how apparently people that are smart and historically have been discriminated against on the basis of gender, race, or sexuality are apparently running the world and oppressing their oppressors yet here I am, earning maybe 80 cents to the dollar of my male counterpart, hoping the bill that prohibits discrimination based on hairstyles primarily worn by people with 4b/4c curl pattern will pass, facing a higher maternal mortality rate and I could go on. So while I can’t specifically say if it’s true for HYP, I agree with what the poster said that it may appear to be one way, but it isn’t really changing the inner sanctum.