Making $300K and getting financial aid for a first grader

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous

We are not a socialist country and the rich have the right, in our country, to segregate themselves from the poor. That is their right. Also, it is the right of the religious to segregate themselves from people who do not share their religion (say, the amish)

You seem to have a very strange idea of the purpose of private schools, and are confusing them with TAG schools. well, please segregate yourself and take your family with you. That exclusive private has poor kids in it. And so will the college you think your kids will attend. And the work place

And this country was based on slave labor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the folks asking why don't we move - it is impractical (not impossible). We own our very modest PG county house but the mortgage is about $40k underwater. In order to sell we'd need to find that amount of cash, plus enough for a down payment, plus enough for moving expenses. We just don't have it. We could of course rent out our house and go rent another, but we would make crappy landlords and we'd lose money. And we really like our little house and our community. But we can afford private school and think school is a better way to spend money than housing, anyway, and because we love the school and our kid is very happy it seems like a good solution. If we had a good public we would send DS without a second thought. But we don't, and so life gets complicated since we want a great school for him, whether it is public or private.

Why did you EVER buy in PG county? And I say this as an AA who graduated from a PG co HS. Seriously. That was a terrible decision. Especially since you are concerned about schools. You couldn't have not realized that schools were bad when you bought the house. You probably could have had a very modest home in parts of Montgomery or Howard and not spent the money on private.

[Anonymous]

OK, so according to pp the ppp has kids that do not deserve a quality education

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I mean...what if you had to sell the giant house you can't afford in order to send your kid to the fancy school you can't afford. It's like Sophie's Choice all over again. :roll:

Are you serious ? Sophie's choice was over which child would go to the gas chamber and which might live and not choosing meant both would be murdered.

Yes. That's the point.

[Anonymous]

PP who ask WHY I WOULD EVER buy in PG county - well, because I happen to like my town, and it makes the best sense for commuting, and we bought before we were married and kids were dim thoughts on a distance horizon. And because I knew that education means so much to me that I would make it work, come hell or high water. And we have - we do private, and the money is not wasted to me, it is the best money I have ever spent. I don't want to be rich, I don't want to live in a fancy town, and I do want a progressive, child centered education for my kid. Voila, I have it all. I'm sorry your experience growing up in PG was so awful - my son's experience growing up in PG is really wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP who ask WHY I WOULD EVER buy in PG county - well, because I happen to like my town, and it makes the best sense for commuting, and we bought before we were married and kids were dim thoughts on a distance horizon. And because I knew that education means so much to me that I would make it work, come hell or high water. And we have - we do private, and the money is not wasted to me, it is the best money I have ever spent. I don't want to be rich, I don't want to live in a fancy town, and I do want a progressive, child centered education for my kid. Voila, I have it all. I'm sorry your experience growing up in PG was so awful - my son's experience growing up in PG is really wonderful.

So you bought a house in PG county many many years ago (you bought before you were married, when kids were still far off, and now have an elementary-aged son), but you still owe 40k more than your house is worth? I'm puzzled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP who ask WHY I WOULD EVER buy in PG county - well, because I happen to like my town, and it makes the best sense for commuting, and we bought before we were married and kids were dim thoughts on a distance horizon. And because I knew that education means so much to me that I would make it work, come hell or high water. And we have - we do private, and the money is not wasted to me, it is the best money I have ever spent. I don't want to be rich, I don't want to live in a fancy town, and I do want a progressive, child centered education for my kid. Voila, I have it all. I'm sorry your experience growing up in PG was so awful - my son's experience growing up in PG is really wonderful.

So you bought a house in PG county many many years ago (you bought before you were married, when kids were still far off, and now have an elementary-aged son), but you still owe 40k more than your house is worth? I'm puzzled.

http://www.zillow.com/local-info/MD-Forest-Heights-home-value/r_57243/

[Anonymous]

Really, PP? You are puzzled? Where were you during the real estate boom? Bought in 2003 for about $250k. House is now worth $190K. The first years of a mortgage are mostly paying interest, so the amount we owe hasn't gone down much. PG lost more ground than other counties and hasn't begun to rebound, unlike other counties. My kid is in Pre K now, going into K. No need for puzzlement.

[Anonymous]

Pp you were also given lousy interest rates and charged more for simply choosing to live in pg county. But of course that's your fault for being priced out of neighborhoods with great schools because the rich should be able to segregate themselves in public and private!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HHI=120K in DC
Offer was 4k off 23K, starting at 6th grade
Answer to school was no thank you.

I think we have too little debt, too much home equity and a SAHM. None of which we are willing to change as it would negative impact on the other members of the family.

It was difficult, but, in the end, probably the best decision for all concerned.

4K off 23K tuition sounds like a very good offer. What was your expectations of FA amount?

Thanks for asking. I did a LOT of number crunching. We could have done it, but it would be hard to save anything after tuition. We, unfortunately, don't have a ton cushion (emergency funds, college, retirement, etc). I'm not whining. I just know what kind of sacrifice it would be to pay $19k plus. If the SAHM returned to work, there would be increased expenses and no guarantee of enough after tax income that would compensate for the benefit of having someone at home.

I was hoping for $9K. That might have sealed the deal. That's just how tight it is here. So we'll re-visit this situation when it's time for HS. There are a lot more options for HS both public and private. Meanwhile, we'll work to get our financial house in better shape. It was definitely worth trying. We met some very nice folks during the process. I only posted to help people get a realistic idea of what could happen. I only wish that I could have known earlier in the process so as not to get too emotionally attached to any school. Because, at the end of the day, you have choose what's best for the entire family - not just one member.

Wait, SAHM is doing what during the day while 5th grader is at school? Can't she work part time and help defray some of the costs? If tuition is $19k, that's easily covered by a part-time salary. I'm just not getting what you mean when you say the benefit of her being home is worth more than your kid going to a good school, if we're talking about a 11-year-old. A 2-year-old, sure, but 11? I guess, as a working mom, I just am not computing the value of having someone at home full-time when the kids are that old, when you don't have a financial cushion.

[Anonymous]

Awful people here
No wonder this country is a mess
Most think the poor are not entitled to a quality education and are horrified at the thought of some private school extending aid to a 1st grader who lives in pg county.

Oh, this country was not founded on socialism and the rich must segregate themselves, except that the private school gave aid to that other kid.

[Anonymous]

I applied for a grant at Hillcrest Christian School, Jackson, MS (twice) and was denied both times. I appealed the first decision because there was no transparency on how they made their decision. Our income combined is less than $50K and that was gross. I dont know how we didnt qualify. Does anyone know where to find assistance like private donations from local Restaurants, etc. I am desperate. My child has learned so much in his 1st year (K5) so I want him to go back, but our income has gone down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I was struck by the article saying that those making $150k to $350k who can pay 50% of the bill are prime candidates for aid. I just think that is not correct - my $140k HHI family was turned down for any aid, which was tough but okay, seeing as how we are able to make it work

You applied to a financially (endowment/student) poor school. Lesson: apply to schools with luxurious endowments (not many day schools in D.C. area fit this bill).

I think some where around 120K is the cut off point for any significant aid and even then you better be a single parent with child care costs or something and no assets.

Didn't you read the article? It's on a school by school basis. They have complete discretion.

[Anonymous]

300k is middle class, no suprise there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Awful people here
No wonder this country is a mess
Most think the poor are not entitled to a quality education and are horrified at the thought of some private school extending aid to a 1st grader who lives in pg county.

Oh, this country was not founded on socialism and the rich must segregate themselves, except that the private school gave aid to that other kid.

...I've been reading your posts and you're crazy. How does giving financial
Aid to anyone at a private school help poor kids get a good education?