Went from private to public and am not very happy

[Anonymous]

We are having the same experience, we moved to DC from NYC. In nyc our kids went to a TT private school, they currently go to a well-regarded DC public. We've had a similar experience to OP and have applied to private school for next fall. Thankfully, we will be moving back to private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved from a big 3 to a MD public with a good reputation this year. I want to like it but it's just lacking in a number of ways. It's tough to pinpoint it, but it ranges from the "problem kids" which were pretty minimal at the private, to the lack of parental involvement, to the minimal homework, the ok but not great facilities. Maybe it's just hard trading down, kind of like going from a luxury car to a no frills. It's hard to know if the education is inferior or just the suberficial/environment. I keep telling myself it's good, but frankly I kind of want to get my DC back to private. My DC is ok with it but I don't get the sense it's a "great fit." Any thoughts?

You're a troll trying to sell privates.

[Anonymous]

You're welcome. I am not 100% with public but was not with private either. I may go back for high school. In fact its likely we'll go back for high school. But we'll see. Am very happy with public for elementary.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your comments. I will ask about the comments on the report card. You said that you had also done private school. Are you almost 100% happy with public or would you go back to private? If so, why?

Anonymous wrote:That sounds truly bizarre for a MOCO or DC public school. We get a solid two paragraphs of comments on each report card (four a year). And as for the homework, the research shows that in elementary school, about 15 minutes is right, in middle school about one hour and in high school, there is actually a negative correlation to longer homework and learning. (look up all the no homework groups and books on amazon to see more or just go see a screening of Race to Nowhere). As for "events" if you are talking about fundraising events, I'd say you are probably right that public school parents do not attend as many of the high ticket items, but on the plus side, and I say this having been a private school parent, the events don't turn into the nauseating competitions to show who can spend more either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the original poster here was fake. Not sure why someone needs to rally private school parents around bashing public schools, but the criticisms were clearly so lacking in detail it just didn't read true. There's enough drama on this board already.

OP here: No, it wasn't fake. We moved our DC for financial reasons. I had heard such good things about MOCO schools and I want to be positive about the school but there are things that surprised me. I probably need to give it more time and try harder to get to know other parents. I don't think I can be more detailed about my concerns.
1. There are quite a few badly behaved kids in my DC's grade. Being mild mannered and cooperative, DC is a little disconcerted to see classmates be oppositional and defiant to teachers.

2. I have attended a few events at the school and I was surprised at how few parents attended one event.

3. DC has about 15 minutes of homework a night. In the private school he probably would have had 1-2 hours. (Part of me is glad but I wonder if he is missing out)

4. No foreign language, no science lab, PE once a week....

5. No comments or written descriptions on their report cards, only the letter grade.

Maybe he is getting an equivalent education and what I'm missing is just superficial.