If you live in NOVA and send your kids to private why?

[Anonymous]

My kid decided to go to private in DC for HS. She feels not challenged enough in her current middle school and kids around are not working hard enough. On the other hand she does not like the cut throat competitive high schools in Fairfax and feels she might not have enough time for extracurricular activities or sleep. I can see paying for private might not lead to better college outcome, but may still worth it for a better education and more balanced life.

[Anonymous]

^ This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m guessing OP chose to ask about NoVa because the private schools in NoVa aren’t that great (I live in NoVa). There’s not a great selection and the ones that are here honestly don’t seem worth it, apart from 1-2. Even those are arguably not better than the best options at public (eg Langley, McLean high). But I think the answer is mostly the same across the board, and is usually one of these—have so much money so what better investment is there; cultural- ie a mix of parents grew up in private school and want the same for their kids / parents want kids to associate with people who are like them financially or in an environment that is predominantly white culture; parents are anxious that their kids won’t stand out in competitive public schools or will be precluded from social networking, elite opportunities etc that happen in private. I think there are some who genuinely l need it for the reasons others listed here but in my experience, those are not as common as parents convincing themselves that their kids need small class sizes etc.

To be fair most people can’t afford to live in the Langley cluster so they tough out private and then have a lower mortgage later that’s what I did in the 2000s living in Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Religion as part of school

+1
Because if I’m going to send my kid out into the world to be influenced by other adults and peers for 7 hours a day, it’s comforting to know that those influencers share our faith and worldview.
DC can always choose to go another way or form friendships later with people of other faiths and worldviews, but his foundation will be as a believer in Christ surrounded by other believers who will encourage his faith to grow.
There’s plenty of time to be challenged and explore questions when he is old enough to discern AND feel secure in who and whose he is.
“Teach your child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

This is us, plus a more traditional education (spelling lists, grammar, lower screens which are basically used to teach typing, slightly more discipline). We also love the opportunities a smaller school provides our kids to try more things.

[Anonymous]

To avoid our zoned middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m guessing OP chose to ask about NoVa because the private schools in NoVa aren’t that great (I live in NoVa). There’s not a great selection and the ones that are here honestly don’t seem worth it, apart from 1-2. Even those are arguably not better than the best options at public (eg Langley, McLean high). But I think the answer is mostly the same across the board, and is usually one of these—have so much money so what better investment is there; cultural- ie a mix of parents grew up in private school and want the same for their kids / parents want kids to associate with people who are like them financially or in an environment that is predominantly white culture; parents are anxious that their kids won’t stand out in competitive public schools or will be precluded from social networking, elite opportunities etc that happen in private. I think there are some who genuinely l need it for the reasons others listed here but in my experience, those are not as common as parents convincing themselves that their kids need small class sizes etc.

Our religious private has a large group of first/second generation immigrant families who share the religion and want that for their kids. My white kid feels awkward as the only one of their friends who isn't multilingual. Maybe other privates our very white, but I would not describe ours that way at all. It's nearly as multicultural as our former FCPS public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would the answer be different if poster lived in Moco or DC? What’s special about NOVA that a parent needs to justify sending their kid to private?

I guess op thought if NOVA is more expensive then both of the aforementioned places that parents would make their kids tough it out. Which to be fair is common in the DC area.

This.

[Anonymous]

(1) Catholic religious education as part of school
(2) No screens in the lower school to allow our kids to focus on reading, writing, and math without distraction
(3) No woke content
(4) Student body that doesn't have the well-documented behavior problems in our neighborhood public school
(5) Our neighborhood school has some of the worst test scores in the state and our academically-advanced children would be receiving only a remedial education if they were to stay in public school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Class sizes, discipline, just overall preference — I’ve always wondered.

All of this. Plus better facilities. I went to private K-12 and loved it. My husband went to MCPS K-12 and hated it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because in the public schools half the kids don't speak English as a first language

I read somewhere once that Fairfax County had more languages spoken by its students than any other county in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because in the public schools half the kids don't speak English as a first language

I read somewhere once that Fairfax County had more languages spoken by its students than any other county in the US.

Yes FCPS has 200 languages spoken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many reasons- Google ACHS.

This. To avoid metal detectors and the occasional stabbing.

This. But really because I’ve heard of too many kids just doing nothing with their lives. I went to private school and everyone went to college and became productive members of society. No drugs addicts.

Omg. This answer is hilarious…

[Anonymous]

Child's idea -- did not want to attend local middle school and worked out amazingly because COVID hit during her 5th grade year so we were super thankful she was in private starting in 6th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because in the public schools half the kids don't speak English as a first language

I read somewhere once that Fairfax County had more languages spoken by its students than any other county in the US.

Not true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Simple answer? Because we can.

Who wouldn't want the best environment for their child?