If going private from public - when does it actually matter?

[Anonymous]

We ran into an acquaintance who had recently started a preschooler at a private school. Curious, I looked up tuition, which was ASTRONOMICAL. As in, private top-notch law school at full tuition COSTS LESS.

I can understand why some want private school for their kids (probably unlikely for us, but to each his own). However preschool at that price seems insane. I couldn't see how it would possibly work out on a cost-benefit basis.

At what point would it seem to actually matter whether the kid is being educated at private school costs? When would you switch, if you wanted to?

[Anonymous]

I switch to private at college and graduate school. I don't see the need to pay for it prior as no one cares where you went to preschool or elementary school when you are 40. Rather kids be debt free.

[Anonymous]

We are at charter school now (which we love). It goes to 5th grade and we plan to stay until 5th. However, we reevaluate each year - our daughter loves the school, she is doing well and seems to be above her peers in education.

We can afford private, but with charter schools in the city improving so much, we are just going to take it each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I switch to private at college and graduate school. I don't see the need to pay for it prior as no one cares where you went to preschool or elementary school when you are 40. Rather kids be debt free.

I agree.

[Anonymous]

Is the private school full day or just school hours? If it's full day and takes care of all childcare needs, that's a significant factor in the cost/benefit analysis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I switch to private at college and graduate school. I don't see the need to pay for it prior as no one cares where you went to preschool or elementary school when you are 40. Rather kids be debt free.

The kids themselves might care. You and many other people asset that the two educational experiences are equal and interchangeable -- but you're wrong.

The private education my elementary-aged child is getting Is, on balance, superior to what MoCo and dcps is offering (I would never live in Virginia so their offerings are irrelevant).

[Anonymous]

Assert

[Anonymous]

Private school is out of the question financially for us, but if it weren't, I woudl consider it for preschool and elementary school. I think the place it makes the biggest difference is in the younger years. That's when so much learning/development takes place, and what kids learn them sets the stage for what they will learn in middle and high schools.

On the other hand, DC generally has decent options (especially when considering charters) for elementary school, and fewer good options in middle/high school, so I understand why around here people wait to send their kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I switch to private at college and graduate school. I don't see the need to pay for it prior as no one cares where you went to preschool or elementary school when you are 40. Rather kids be debt free.

The kids themselves might care. You and many other people asset that the two educational experiences are equal and interchangeable -- but you're wrong.

The private education my elementary-aged child is getting Is, on balance, superior to what MoCo and dcps is offering (I would never live in Virginia so their offerings are irrelevant).

I'd have to disagree with this. We looked at private (and would have gone had we not got into the charter school we wanted), however, my daughter is learning two languages at her charter school. Her class size is the same at the Big 3 schools we looked at (and smaller then several other DC privates). I would say, MoCo publics and many DCPS schools, probably are not the same education levels but many of the charter school elementry programs (YuYing, MV, CM) are on par with private school education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I switch to private at college and graduate school. I don't see the need to pay for it prior as no one cares where you went to preschool or elementary school when you are 40. Rather kids be debt free.

The kids themselves might care. You and many other people asset that the two educational experiences are equal and interchangeable -- but you're wrong.

The private education my elementary-aged child is getting Is, on balance, superior to what MoCo and dcps is offering (I would never live in Virginia so their offerings are irrelevant).

I'd have to disagree with this. We looked at private (and would have gone had we not got into the charter school we wanted), however, my daughter is learning two languages at her charter school. Her class size is the same at the Big 3 schools we looked at (and smaller then several other DC privates). I would say, MoCo publics and many DCPS schools, probably are not the same education levels but many of the charter school elementry programs (YuYing, MV, CM) are on par with private school education.

I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I switch to private at college and graduate school. I don't see the need to pay for it prior as no one cares where you went to preschool or elementary school when you are 40. Rather kids be debt free.

The kids themselves might care. You and many other people asset that the two educational experiences are equal and interchangeable -- but you're wrong.

The private education my elementary-aged child is getting Is, on balance, superior to what MoCo and dcps is offering (I would never live in Virginia so their offerings are irrelevant).

I'd have to disagree with this. We looked at private (and would have gone had we not got into the charter school we wanted), however, my daughter is learning two languages at her charter school. Her class size is the same at the Big 3 schools we looked at (and smaller then several other DC privates). I would say, MoCo publics and many DCPS schools, probably are not the same education levels but many of the charter school elementry programs (YuYing, MV, CM) are on par with private school education.

We actually looked at YY and my neighbor-friend's kid goes there so I'm very familiar with their day to day experience (staff, staff experience, schedule, curriculum especially, facility) Once you take away the mandarin instruction, it's not so special. For some people, mandarin IS super special and that is great.

CM, IT and the like really can't compare with Maret, Beauvoir, St Albans and their ilk. Possibly in ratios, but that's easy to quantify so that's what charter parents love to hold up as evidence Then they announce they're the same, we're done here, matter settled.

[Anonymous]

What makes a top private better than CM?

[Anonymous]

We are at CM and feel like we are getting free private school?

[Anonymous]

It depends a) who you are and b) which public school you are comparing to which private school. I think, for a middle class, educationally savvy family a less than great elementary school is fine through maybe 3rd or 4th grade. It is disastrous for an at risk child to be in such an elementary school. By 4th or 5th-- when kids are no longer learning to read, but instead need to read to learn -- everybody needs a very good school or permanent deficits will appear or else a less than stimulating learning environment or peer group will turn off even advanced learners. So by middle school if you are not in a good public school, it is time to make the switch. That being said--by DC is at Washington Latin for free and besides some added bells and whistles, I cannot fathom the private schools would offer a better academic grounding through high school. Without WL or Deal we would be gone to private ( unlikely ) or suburbs.

So my opinion: it all depends

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I switch to private at college and graduate school. I don't see the need to pay for it prior as no one cares where you went to preschool or elementary school when you are 40. Rather kids be debt free.

How would your kids acquire debt by going thru private preschool or elementary school? Puzzling.