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Private School Parents Question...
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Anonymous
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If your dc got one of the coveted lottery spots at the "elite" charters (haynes or cap city), would you have enrolled your dc there instead of private?
Thanks! |
Anonymous
| Because your question is so straightforward I am going to anser it as simply and directly as possible. Please do not construe this as anything other than an equally starightforward answer: No. We choose private because we want our kids in private school, not as a reflection on the public or other school offerings. We did not consider anything else, not charter nor lottery nor catholic schools. |
Anonymous
| oh, and please forgive all my typos, I am exhausted... |
Anonymous
PP here, thanks! There are people who are morally opposed to private and there are people who are vehemently against public or charter. I had my heart set on private, private, private... I went to Boarding school and I know the advantages and disadvantages of an Independent school education. There are parents that have access to excellent public schools and excellent charters but private is all they want for their kids. I am leaning toward that but I have two children and we make a fairly decent living but the prospect of zero financial aid and $55+ every year for 12 years is pretty scary. No matter how you slice a good private school education is priceless. I really asked the question to get a sense of how finances impact your final decision when parents have access to really excellent charters and publics. Thanks. |
Anonymous
| PP here. Yes, the money aspect is a bit mind-boggling. It is a lot of cash outlay every year. DH and I were just talking a few a days ago about how our lives would be different if we had a free $55,000 lying around every year (basically nicer or newer cars, more frequent vacations, more stocks, more savings). However, we both agree with your last statement and it was the conclusion of our discussion. HTH. |
Anonymous
| These days, with our stock portfolios in the tank, we are feeling pretty good about the money we "invest" in private education for our child. His wonderful experience does not go up and down in value from week to week and will hopefully benefit him all his life! |
Anonymous
What makes those charters "elite" is not what drew us to an "elite" private school. Our son is very bright and well behaved. He would have done well at any school. But it was the opportunity for our son to have access to and the same connections shared by the elite families that convinced us that private school was the way to go. I'm being honest here, hoping it might help in OP's decision-making process, though feel free to flame away. |
Anonymous
| Has your decision paid off, or have you found those elite networks difficult to penetrate? |
Anonymous
OP here... This is great! I agree. Bill Clinton said it best when he said, you leave "certain" schools with something invaluable... A Rolodex!!! I actually put a premium on the connections and access that private schools provide. Do you know how many jobs (and other things) I have gotten because I went to school with some very high profile individuals [and their parents are gazillionaires]. I've also gotten access to some things that are mindblowing. It's staggering. Please don't take that as boasting or bragging or anything of the sort... it's just part of the payoff for going to private and ivy league schools. Whether you agree or disagree, it's a fact!!! I am not knocking public or charter schools because we may very well end up there but I do recognize the value that a private school education affords. Maybe my connections can rub off on my dc's!!! But I'm getting old and all of our contacts will be dying off soon so my dc's better start their rolodexes now!!! 
Thanks for the insight!!! |
Anonymous
If by "paid off," you mean that we've befriended many "elite" families . . . yes. But really, I've come to realize that they're just like everyone else. Their houses may be bigger. Their cars and vacations fancier. But apart from that, they're just like us. They have the same problems and issues we all do. Whether it's "paid off" for my kids - check back in 20 years! |
Anonymous
| How do you define elite? |
Anonymous
| I will not consider public schools in DC of any sort for my kids. It has nothing to do with "connections." We are probably at or above the top quarter of our school in terms of family income and are not terribly well connected, just well-paid. That probably does not qualify us as "elite" for this board, thank heavens, because I do not want someone befriending my kid just because we list a week at our vacation house in the auction catalogue! I think the right metrics to use in picking an educational environment for your kid is what kind of education they will get and whether it will make them well-rounded and thoughtful people. My husband and I both went to public schools and then to private colleges and grad schools. We both place a high value on liberal arts education. I have to say I find this connections thing odious. Flame away. |
Anonymous
| the charters are not ELITE, just in demand |
Anonymous
Strange. One poster found the elite to be people like others are, another boasts about their connections late in life. I would think the privates have succeeded in promoting materialism with a sense of entitlement. |
Anonymous
| Back to the question. No. I didn't look at charters. I had a few specific privates in mind, and that is where my son landed. |