For the public school parents on here who say “private school was a waste if your kid didn’t get

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People say this? That's not even a small reason we chose private. My twelve year old wants to go to West Point. I have no idea is being private will help or hurt him, and I honestly don't care.

You don't care if something is going to hurt his chances getting into his dream school? Not buying it.

Well, I do care. But I can't in good conscience put him in public school, especially watching them all shut down during covid (among other reasons).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would feel worse putting my kid in a “good” public school (read: highly segregated racially, economically & geographically) than in a private school if my goal is social awareness.

Unless you’re massively donating your TIME to your church and a synagogue for visiting the poor and low SES, you’re not really getting much exposure at “diverse,” high SES Wash DC private schools. Reading another new author victim book every trimester doesn’t cut it either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People say this? That's not even a small reason we chose private. My twelve year old wants to go to West Point. I have no idea is being private will help or hurt him, and I honestly don't care.

You don't care if something is going to hurt his chances getting into his dream school? Not buying it.

Well, I do care. But I can't in good conscience put him in public school, especially watching them all shut down during covid (among other reasons).

ok, but then you should also care if him being in private school might hurt his chances for college, per this thread.

My kid is in a public magnet, and in some ways, that has hurt them because they all apply to the same T15 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’ll add that the being able to “succeed in any major” ideal requires time management. I have said this before, but there are certain things that most day & boarding prep schools expect out of ALL their students that public schools do not. Mandatory 3 seasons of sports, mandatory public speaking, table manners, uniforms, showing up on time, no snacking or drinking in class, eating what’s served and learning how interact with adults (especially wealthy/successful/old ones) in the community are just some examples.

This happens in affluent neighborhoods at all public, private and parochial schools. And for sure in affluent township level public schools or IB programs.

NP. Many privates are far more diversity racially, economically & geographically than “affluent township public schools.” Less ostentatious than such publics, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would feel worse putting my kid in a “good” public school (read: highly segregated racially, economically & geographically) than in a private school if my goal is social awareness.

Unless you’re massively donating your TIME to your church and a synagogue for visiting the poor and low SES, you’re not really getting much exposure at “diverse,” high SES Wash DC private schools. Reading another new author victim book every trimester doesn’t cut it either.

Depends on which private. NE boarding schools have significant numbers of students on full financial aid, while local private day schools do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you’re massively donating your TIME to your church and a synagogue for visiting the poor and low SES, you’re not really getting much exposure at “diverse,” high SES Wash DC private schools. Reading another new author victim book every trimester doesn’t cut it either.

Nice dog whistle there with "victim book."

Most if not all of "high SES" DC private schools have extensive public service projects built into the curriculum starting in middle school, if not earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People say this? That's not even a small reason we chose private. My twelve year old wants to go to West Point. I have no idea is being private will help or hurt him, and I honestly don't care.

You don't care if something is going to hurt his chances getting into his dream school? Not buying it.

Well, I do care. But I can't in good conscience put him in public school, especially watching them all shut down during covid (among other reasons).

ok, but then you should also care if him being in private school might hurt his chances for college, per this thread.

My kid is in a public magnet, and in some ways, that has hurt them because they all apply to the same T15 schools.

Yes. Probably. But I've also heard the academies are interested in private school kids because they aren't typically drawn to the military (in the 21st century), so it's a calculated risk, also. This question is too complicated for the four hours of sleep I got last night, and I should have probably just shut up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People say this? That's not even a small reason we chose private. My twelve year old wants to go to West Point. I have no idea is being private will help or hurt him, and I honestly don't care.

You don't care if something is going to hurt his chances getting into his dream school? Not buying it.

Well, I do care. But I can't in good conscience put him in public school, especially watching them all shut down during covid (among other reasons).

ok, but then you should also care if him being in private school might hurt his chances for college, per this thread.

My kid is in a public magnet, and in some ways, that has hurt them because they all apply to the same T15 schools.

It’s absurd to say that private school might hurt a kid’s chances “for college”.

It might, however, hurt a kid’s chances for admittance to a very small number of the most competitive colleges. Luckily, I know that it’s possible to get an excellent education at many different colleges, at least one of which seems likely to accept my child.

We did not have lots of options for getting my kid a great elementary and secondary education. We will have many, many options for a great college education. Even if those options aren’t on the pathetically short list that some DCUMers find acceptable.

[Anonymous]

If you live in a bad school district, private is really the right choice. We get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s absurd to say that private school might hurt a kid’s chances “for college”.

It might hurt his chances at a service academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s absurd to say that private school might hurt a kid’s chances “for college”.

It might hurt his chances at a service academy.

NP. I thought the point of earning & saving money was so that your kid doesn’t have to be treated like a prisoner (service academy student) to afford college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s absurd to say that private school might hurt a kid’s chances “for college”.

It might hurt his chances at a service academy.

NP. I thought the point of earning & saving money was so that your kid doesn’t have to be treated like a prisoner (service academy student) to afford college.

Yikes. Talk about not understanding sacrifice and service. Not that it's relevant to the thread, but DS has his dad's GI Bill, so this isn't a financial move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’ll add that the being able to “succeed in any major” ideal requires time management. I have said this before, but there are certain things that most day & boarding prep schools expect out of ALL their students that public schools do not. Mandatory 3 seasons of sports, mandatory public speaking, table manners, uniforms, showing up on time, no snacking or drinking in class, eating what’s served and learning how interact with adults (especially wealthy/successful/old ones) in the community are just some examples.

Wealthy people don't work in private schools. You're best hope is that larlo makes friends with wealthy students. But it usually doesn't work out that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't need to justify your choices to people on these anonymous boards. There are some people, overrepresented here, who only care about one thing. HYP. Do you really care what such a person thinks?

+1. Cool story. Thanks for sharing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’ll add that the being able to “succeed in any major” ideal requires time management. I have said this before, but there are certain things that most day & boarding prep schools expect out of ALL their students that public schools do not. Mandatory 3 seasons of sports, mandatory public speaking, table manners, uniforms, showing up on time, no snacking or drinking in class, eating what’s served and learning how interact with adults (especially wealthy/successful/old ones) in the community are just some examples.

Wealthy people don't work in private schools. You're best hope is that larlo makes friends with wealthy students. But it usually doesn't work out that way.

Yes, table manners are not emphasized enough at public school and it's shameful. If your child needs Andover to teach them table manners it's too late. You're the parent, Karen, you do that.