Why racial segregation is unacceptable but socioeconomic segregation is ok in private schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private schools are dependent upon tuition and philanthropy, not taxpayer dollars. How would OP propose funding a private school in a manner substantially differently than the current method? Around 25% of students receive financial aid, largely through the philanthropy of other parents and legacy endowments. The only way to be economically more inclusive would be to grow the financial aid pool, reduce tuition (though tuition only covers 80-90% of the cost at most schools) or sprinkle fairy dust.

I think what OP is pointing out is the hypocrisy.

There is no hypocrisy here. They're not free. They do offer scholarships. It really isn't that complicated.

Of course there is. Scrub the websites of all rhetoric about an inclusive and diverse community dedicated to social justice and update all the photos to reflect the actual diversity. Then you can talk.

Let’s get on that right after corporations do the same thing. Including yours. Lead by example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP were you born yesterday? Public schools are way more segregated than private on this axis. Private schools are paying millions per year for socioeconomic diversity through financial aid. Meanwhile home prices and NIMBY behavior are keeping good public schools behind locked gates for most.

Not in the DC area, apart from a few exceptions in the suburbs like Whitman and Langley. Otherwise the boundaries get drawn to include more economic diversity than you’ll get at most privates.

Give me a break. These diverse schools are not good public schools.

Jackson-Reed, Hardy, Walls -- all solid schools and very diverse economically, from one end of the spectrum to the other (and diverse racially).

Agree. Deal is less so, and also a terrible school. JR much better in terms of student body, though teaching quality varies.

[Anonymous]

There are definitely poor kids at the elite DMV privates but it isn't easy for them. One of my kid's good friends way back when was a full scholarship African American kid from DC who was absolutely miserable at a Big 3 and didn't finish up there. Just too much privilege for the kid to handle.

Our kids grew up with some money -- Biglaw partner parent, etc. -- but we really didn't want them completely surrounded by it. They attended one of the better suburban publics (no, not Langley or a W school) and no, their friends weren't poor but their parents had to work for a living and none was close to being a millionaire. I have no doubt that at least income wise we made far more money than all of them but we certainly didn't live like it and neither did our kids. I think it prepared them better for the reality of life. To each her own, sure, but the private school bubble just wouldn't have worked for us.

[Anonymous]

The DC private schools are not as much of a wealth/privilege bubble as some people here say. It is all relative. For a lot of us this is just normal life in DC and we see schools elsewhere as privileged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The DC private schools are not as much of a wealth/privilege bubble as some people here say. It is all relative. For a lot of us this is just normal life in DC and we see schools elsewhere as privileged.

It is all relative, but my kids have been in class and friends with kids in their public schools that have been living in shelters or didn’t have food to eat when they got home from school (wonderful, sweet kids btw). You don’t see that kind of poverty at DC privates - and arguably these are the kids that need the most help if we are going to truly care about equity and diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The DC private schools are not as much of a wealth/privilege bubble as some people here say. It is all relative. For a lot of us this is just normal life in DC and we see schools elsewhere as privileged.

This is just so untrue. There are more than 200 public high schools in the DMV, the large majority of which are not Langley, McLean or a W school. Most are incredibly racially and economically diverse, with many students qualifying for free or reduced priced lunches. There really is no comparison between the better DMV privates and most of these schools, but you can get an excellent education at virtually all of them.

For you to say that "this is just normal life in DC" just confirms that you live in a bubble. I assure you, it isn't "normal" for the large majority of families living in our area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The DC private schools are not as much of a wealth/privilege bubble as some people here say. It is all relative. For a lot of us this is just normal life in DC and we see schools elsewhere as privileged.

This is just so untrue. There are more than 200 public high schools in the DMV, the large majority of which are not Langley, McLean or a W school. Most are incredibly racially and economically diverse, with many students qualifying for free or reduced priced lunches. There really is no comparison between the better DMV privates and most of these schools, but you can get an excellent education at virtually all of them.

For you to say that "this is just normal life in DC" just confirms that you live in a bubble. I assure you, it isn't "normal" for the large majority of families living in our area.

Normal for people who are educated with a decent career. Not normal for the rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The DC private schools are not as much of a wealth/privilege bubble as some people here say. It is all relative. For a lot of us this is just normal life in DC and we see schools elsewhere as privileged.

This is just so untrue. There are more than 200 public high schools in the DMV, the large majority of which are not Langley, McLean or a W school. Most are incredibly racially and economically diverse, with many students qualifying for free or reduced priced lunches. There really is no comparison between the better DMV privates and most of these schools, but you can get an excellent education at virtually all of them.

For you to say that "this is just normal life in DC" just confirms that you live in a bubble. I assure you, it isn't "normal" for the large majority of families living in our area.

Normal for people who are educated with a decent career. Not normal for the rest.

There you go with your bubble again. The large majority of public school families have educated parents with decent careers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The DC private schools are not as much of a wealth/privilege bubble as some people here say. It is all relative. For a lot of us this is just normal life in DC and we see schools elsewhere as privileged.

This is just so untrue. There are more than 200 public high schools in the DMV, the large majority of which are not Langley, McLean or a W school. Most are incredibly racially and economically diverse, with many students qualifying for free or reduced priced lunches. There really is no comparison between the better DMV privates and most of these schools, but you can get an excellent education at virtually all of them.

For you to say that "this is just normal life in DC" just confirms that you live in a bubble. I assure you, it isn't "normal" for the large majority of families living in our area.

Normal for people who are educated with a decent career. Not normal for the rest.

There you go with your bubble again. The large majority of public school families have educated parents with decent careers.

How can everyone be middle class or upper? That doesn’t make any sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The DC private schools are not as much of a wealth/privilege bubble as some people here say. It is all relative. For a lot of us this is just normal life in DC and we see schools elsewhere as privileged.

This is just so untrue. There are more than 200 public high schools in the DMV, the large majority of which are not Langley, McLean or a W school. Most are incredibly racially and economically diverse, with many students qualifying for free or reduced priced lunches. There really is no comparison between the better DMV privates and most of these schools, but you can get an excellent education at virtually all of them.

For you to say that "this is just normal life in DC" just confirms that you live in a bubble. I assure you, it isn't "normal" for the large majority of families living in our area.

Normal for people who are educated with a decent career. Not normal for the rest.

There you go with your bubble again. The large majority of public school families have educated parents with decent careers.

How can everyone be middle class or upper? That doesn’t make any sense.

Why would we be interested in anything else? The bar for private school is rather low in DC.

[Anonymous]

I am done searching for private schools. There are so many issues that is not worth spending my money on those schools.

[Anonymous]

Any recommendation of a school that is not hypocritical ?

[Anonymous]

DeMatha

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Catholic schools are generally the most socioeconomically diverse among the area’s independent schools. DeMatha, Seton, St. Anselm’s, Gonzaga, etc. have a high degree of diversity in this area among the independents. Their tuitions are generally lower and a higher proportion of their student bodies (40-60%) are on financial aid. For those considering Catholic schools, this is a real strength they have.

Yep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP were you born yesterday? Public schools are way more segregated than private on this axis. Private schools are paying millions per year for socioeconomic diversity through financial aid. Meanwhile home prices and NIMBY behavior are keeping good public schools behind locked gates for most.

You hit the nail on the head.