If you are wealthy would you send your kids to a W school over private?

[Anonymous]

Yes, and we did. Did not want the private mentality, seems myopic and entitled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and we did. Did not want the private mentality, seems myopic and entitled.

I think most MCPS staff would agree if that’s what you were looking to avoid you fumbled the ball by sending them to a W school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and we did. Did not want the private mentality, seems myopic and entitled.

I think most MCPS staff would agree if that’s what you were looking to avoid you fumbled the ball by sending them to a W school.

Not at all. Kids are in a great school and we have truly avoided the mentality that comes with being in a small, exclusive environment that makes kids immediately feel special simply because they paid for it. Lots of private school friends in the neighborhood and that’s great, but we are very happy to have gone in this direction and don’t feel we have given up anything (in fact, the more extensive class selection and great sports facilities have been a bonus).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With grade inflation through the roof all over MCPS (yes even W schools), I would 100% choose private.

I see stark differences in what my child is learning and doing in school vs. her public school friends...especially in language arts. My daughter is also ahead two years in math, although I understand that math is one area MCPS does somewhat better than their language arts. It's great if your kid is a math whiz, but when they get into the real world, they need to be able to communicate. I have observed that kids in private schools are much better writers and public speakers than kids in public schools, and consequently are much better prepared for college.

Grade inflation is 3 times higher in private schools

Lol no it’s not. Actually that’s one of the reasons people on this forum give as to why they think private school kids are at a disadvantage in college admissions. Of course, that’s BS.

LOL. It is. DCUM is not real world and the private school parents live in a fantasy world.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/07/17/easy-a-nearly-half-hs-seniors-graduate-average/485787001/

Actually, they said, the upward creep is most pronounced in schools with large numbers of white, wealthy students. And its especially noticeable in private schools, where the rate of inflation was about three times higher than in public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With grade inflation through the roof all over MCPS (yes even W schools), I would 100% choose private.

I see stark differences in what my child is learning and doing in school vs. her public school friends...especially in language arts. My daughter is also ahead two years in math, although I understand that math is one area MCPS does somewhat better than their language arts. It's great if your kid is a math whiz, but when they get into the real world, they need to be able to communicate. I have observed that kids in private schools are much better writers and public speakers than kids in public schools, and consequently are much better prepared for college.

Grade inflation is 3 times higher in private schools

PP here. Um, no. For one thing, students don't automatically get put into honors for all classes. Teachers need to recommend them. Also, getting a 79.5 and an 89.5 for each quarter would not give her an A. For one thing, she would need to take a final exam and get an A on that. Plus, you need a 93 to get an A in her school. It is so so so very different...if only you knew lol.

Um, yes.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/07/17/easy-a-nearly-half-hs-seniors-graduate-average/485787001/

Actually, they said, the upward creep is most pronounced in schools with large numbers of white, wealthy students. And its especially noticeable in private schools, where the rate of inflation was about three times higher than in public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's about money but also exposing kids to the real world in a controlled situation.

I am worth millions, personally, but it's in assets, not income. My income is actually quite low. I never wanted to spend my capital on private school, but I was prepared to spend a small portion of it on a house in a wealthy school cluster, since after my kids are done with school, I still have real estate. I have one kid with special needs and one without. For my kid with SN, I feel that our W public with services and accommodations + close parenting + tutoring and therapies has been the optimal solution. The one without is gifted and would have thrived in any school.

I'm also a product of reputable private schools, and getting out of that bubble into the real world was quite an experience. I'd rather my kids go to a wealthy public where they have gentle exposure to actual Life.

Let me guess your age. Early 70s? There is no way - from description you provided of your background you would be satisfied with MCPS if your spec kid had gone there in the past 15 years. No way - and Ws are particularly poor in treating Spec Ed.

To Op - private school if you want offspring to be in C-Suite. Connections cannot be beat. Personally know several Georgetown Prep grads who would have been ranked very low in public school but used their high school connections VERY well. Sidwell friends connections likewise.

Not a parent, but an alumnus of a non-W school in Bethesda. The latter part is completely untrue. I’m on a C-Suite trajectory now and many of my colleagues come from public HS/universities. If anything, most of the Sidwell/Prep kids aren’t living consequential lives (for example, they still think it’s high school, drug & relationship issues, etc.)

In summary, I will always look to send my kids to public school. If I’m making what I’m going to be making in about a decade or so, and my tax money is going towards the schools, why should I use extra money for private when I can save it for college? Kids in UMC families will be fine regardless of where they go to because they have resources to supplement their learning at home, plus the cultural experiences of working with different people, which shows them it’s a wider world out there. Not everything is about status. Public all the way.

Most of the kids you are referring to are not UMC families, they are wealthy families pretending not to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and we did. Did not want the private mentality, seems myopic and entitled.

I think most MCPS staff would agree if that’s what you were looking to avoid you fumbled the ball by sending them to a W school.

Not at all. Kids are in a great school and we have truly avoided the mentality that comes with being in a small, exclusive environment that makes kids immediately feel special simply because they paid for it. Lots of private school friends in the neighborhood and that’s great, but we are very happy to have gone in this direction and don’t feel we have given up anything (in fact, the more extensive class selection and great sports facilities have been a bonus).

You’re living inside the bubble too and you don’t even realize it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We could have afforded it easily (Biglaw) but I place Trump supporters and (non religious) private school parents living in average or better public school districts in the same category: people whose values I don’t share and who I will have nothing to do with.

The feeling is mutual!! How about that. I have absolutely no respect for families who have wealth and instead of spending it on a good education, they choose multiple homes, trips, etc. We have a net worth of $12M plus $1M annual income, and we have only one home and basic cars. We spent $120K on education last year between my college and HS students. Money well spent and they are great kids with wonderful friends. Wouldn't have it any other way and glad they are away from families like yours!!

+1. I don’t get what the point of this money is, if not for their kids. Famous poster Retired Biglaw Partner loves to brag about how little money he spent on his kids’ education which is just bizarre to me. What on earth was it all for, if not for your kids?

Lol I didn’t know I was famous!

My kids went to top ranked public schools, UVA, and top ranked LACs on merit aid. They all have masters degrees, good and productive jobs, and nice spouses. I covered the house in the nice suburb where there schools were located, paid for college, paid for beautiful weddings, provided down payments for houses, have a vacation home that they enjoy immensely, and between my spouse and me in my early retirement have provided them with so much free and loving childcare that they literally have never had to spend a dime on it themselves.

Yes, you’re right - I didn’t spend hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years to keep them away from the great unwashed with a single-eyed drive to get them into an expensive named-brand college that impressed my friends and looked good on a bumper sticker. I knew enough all along to know that, in the end, it would amount to nothing.

If that’s your definition of not “doing it all for the kids,” then I’m guilty as charged. But I’m pretty confident I’d be acquitted if any of them were on your jury.

[Anonymous]

LOL at the W school parents thinking they don’t live in a bubble.

Honey, I grew up in Chappaqua. Same thing as Potomac. You’re all in a bubble and none of you are UMC.

[Anonymous]

My kids are in MCPS and it’s a mess.

We can’t afford a W neighborhood and we can’t afford private.

But I would choose private in a heartbeat if we could afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We could have afforded it easily (Biglaw) but I place Trump supporters and (non religious) private school parents living in average or better public school districts in the same category: people whose values I don’t share and who I will have nothing to do with.

The feeling is mutual!! How about that. I have absolutely no respect for families who have wealth and instead of spending it on a good education, they choose multiple homes, trips, etc. We have a net worth of $12M plus $1M annual income, and we have only one home and basic cars. We spent $120K on education last year between my college and HS students. Money well spent and they are great kids with wonderful friends. Wouldn't have it any other way and glad they are away from families like yours!!

+1. I don’t get what the point of this money is, if not for their kids. Famous poster Retired Biglaw Partner loves to brag about how little money he spent on his kids’ education which is just bizarre to me. What on earth was it all for, if not for your kids?

Lol I didn’t know I was famous!

My kids went to top ranked public schools, UVA, and top ranked LACs on merit aid. They all have masters degrees, good and productive jobs, and nice spouses. I covered the house in the nice suburb where there schools were located, paid for college, paid for beautiful weddings, provided down payments for houses, have a vacation home that they enjoy immensely, and between my spouse and me in my early retirement have provided them with so much free and loving childcare that they literally have never had to spend a dime on it themselves.

Yes, you’re right - I didn’t spend hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years to keep them away from the great unwashed with a single-eyed drive to get them into an expensive named-brand college that impressed my friends and looked good on a bumper sticker. I knew enough all along to know that, in the end, it would amount to nothing.

If that’s your definition of not “doing it all for the kids,” then I’m guilty as charged. But I’m pretty confident I’d be acquitted if any of them were on your jury.

I know you know you’re famous because you posted in the thread about famous DCUM posters.

As annoying here now as always, too.

[Anonymous]

Depends which school. Whitman yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We could have afforded it easily (Biglaw) but I place Trump supporters and (non religious) private school parents living in average or better public school districts in the same category: people whose values I don’t share and who I will have nothing to do with.

The feeling is mutual!! How about that. I have absolutely no respect for families who have wealth and instead of spending it on a good education, they choose multiple homes, trips, etc. We have a net worth of $12M plus $1M annual income, and we have only one home and basic cars. We spent $120K on education last year between my college and HS students. Money well spent and they are great kids with wonderful friends. Wouldn't have it any other way and glad they are away from families like yours!!

+1. I don’t get what the point of this money is, if not for their kids. Famous poster Retired Biglaw Partner loves to brag about how little money he spent on his kids’ education which is just bizarre to me. What on earth was it all for, if not for your kids?

Lol I didn’t know I was famous!

My kids went to top ranked public schools, UVA, and top ranked LACs on merit aid. They all have masters degrees, good and productive jobs, and nice spouses. I covered the house in the nice suburb where there schools were located, paid for college, paid for beautiful weddings, provided down payments for houses, have a vacation home that they enjoy immensely, and between my spouse and me in my early retirement have provided them with so much free and loving childcare that they literally have never had to spend a dime on it themselves.

Yes, you’re right - I didn’t spend hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years to keep them away from the great unwashed with a single-eyed drive to get them into an expensive named-brand college that impressed my friends and looked good on a bumper sticker. I knew enough all along to know that, in the end, it would amount to nothing.

If that’s your definition of not “doing it all for the kids,” then I’m guilty as charged. But I’m pretty confident I’d be acquitted if any of them were on your jury.

Your kids have masters? So you realize they attended MCPS in another era. It is not the same at all, and today they would likely not have been as successful. It is very different now...especially after covid. You lucked out and got a bargain. Sadly, many who bought here thinking they were getting one will find out the hard way. You will have to shell out the money if you want them to get a real education. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in MCPS and it’s a mess.

We can’t afford a W neighborhood and we can’t afford private.

But I would choose private in a heartbeat if we could afford it.

Thanks for your honesty PP. I think many are in denial and although my kids attend private, I do worry about society as a whole based on the severe learning loss, absenteeism, violence, disruption, drugs and other things happening in our public schools. God help them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We could have afforded it easily (Biglaw) but I place Trump supporters and (non religious) private school parents living in average or better public school districts in the same category: people whose values I don’t share and who I will have nothing to do with.

The feeling is mutual!! How about that. I have absolutely no respect for families who have wealth and instead of spending it on a good education, they choose multiple homes, trips, etc. We have a net worth of $12M plus $1M annual income, and we have only one home and basic cars. We spent $120K on education last year between my college and HS students. Money well spent and they are great kids with wonderful friends. Wouldn't have it any other way and glad they are away from families like yours!!

+1. I don’t get what the point of this money is, if not for their kids. Famous poster Retired Biglaw Partner loves to brag about how little money he spent on his kids’ education which is just bizarre to me. What on earth was it all for, if not for your kids?

Lol I didn’t know I was famous!

My kids went to top ranked public schools, UVA, and top ranked LACs on merit aid. They all have masters degrees, good and productive jobs, and nice spouses. I covered the house in the nice suburb where there schools were located, paid for college, paid for beautiful weddings, provided down payments for houses, have a vacation home that they enjoy immensely, and between my spouse and me in my early retirement have provided them with so much free and loving childcare that they literally have never had to spend a dime on it themselves.

Yes, you’re right - I didn’t spend hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years to keep them away from the great unwashed with a single-eyed drive to get them into an expensive named-brand college that impressed my friends and looked good on a bumper sticker. I knew enough all along to know that, in the end, it would amount to nothing.

If that’s your definition of not “doing it all for the kids,” then I’m guilty as charged. But I’m pretty confident I’d be acquitted if any of them were on your jury.

I know you know you’re famous because you posted in the thread about famous DCUM posters.

As annoying here now as always, too.

Annoying to you maybe. But not to everyone - that’s been made clear to me. And it’s pretty sad if your definition of annoying is “someone I disagree with.”