Private School for Ordinary Middle Class Family

[Anonymous]

Your kids can make neighborhood friends even if they are not enrolled in the neighborhood schools. Our kids go to privates, but after school and on the weekends play with neighborhood kids, we are members of our community pool and our daughter is in a neighborhood girl scout troop. Don't let the fear of not having neighborhood friends scare you away from privates if you feel its the best fit for your kids.

[Anonymous]

We are a Green Acres family and I would definitely say don't rule it out for consideration.

There are very wealthy families and families that are not so financially secure. Financial wealth hasn't been an issue for our grade. The kids are happy and that is all that matters to us.

[Anonymous]

Another Green Acres family here -- we live in a small bungalow with a mid-$150s income (no grandparent help). We received a small amount of financial aid which helps. We are middle middle class. DC loves school, and it's a great community. Bus routes are convenient-- at first you think about driving your child but after a while a bus really helps. Good luck! You'll find something where you and your family will feel comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kids can make neighborhood friends even if they are not enrolled in the neighborhood schools. Our kids go to privates, but after school and on the weekends play with neighborhood kids, we are members of our community pool and our daughter is in a neighborhood girl scout troop. Don't let the fear of not having neighborhood friends scare you away from privates if you feel its the best fit for your kids.

Same here. We live in CC MD and my kids have tons of neighborhood friends who attend both public and other private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kids can make neighborhood friends even if they are not enrolled in the neighborhood schools. Our kids go to privates, but after school and on the weekends play with neighborhood kids, we are members of our community pool and our daughter is in a neighborhood girl scout troop. Don't let the fear of not having neighborhood friends scare you away from privates if you feel its the best fit for your kids.

This is our experience too. Our neighborhood is full of kids ranging up and down the block. Remember that even within the public system kids go to other schools pretty early: immersion at K, TPES magnet in grade 1. Then HGCs at grade 4 followed by magnets for middle and high school. Some kids peel off for private. It's not an either/or thing when it comes to neighborhood friends.

[Anonymous]

We are a middle class family and have truly felt a part of the Grace community. It's a very warm and genuine community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can speak to Sheridan, as we have been a family there for years now -- like St Pats, there is definitely great wealth there too, and also normal middle class folks, but EVERYONE there is made to feel equal and people are not showy about their wealth. You honestly don't know folks are loaded until you get invited for a play date at their $2M CC/Bethesda/NW home, and even then, there is no pretense, just love for the kids, and a sense of community. We are not at all wealthy and have always felt perfectly comfortable at Sheridan, including at the auction, where money is being thrown around. There is something for everyone to buy at the auction (I scored items for $40 & $60 each this past year). There is a real culture of embracing everyone at Sheridan. Its a wonderful school, academically and socially and we'd love to have you come take a look at it if you are looking for a lovely community for your family.

No offense, but I wouldn't call 2M house "loaded," by most DC private school standards. At DCs' school "loaded" means 10-20mil. Just saying. 2M is about the average. Not saying that's good or bad, but pointing this out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can speak to Sheridan, as we have been a family there for years now -- like St Pats, there is definitely great wealth there too, and also normal middle class folks, but EVERYONE there is made to feel equal and people are not showy about their wealth. You honestly don't know folks are loaded until you get invited for a play date at their $2M CC/Bethesda/NW home, and even then, there is no pretense, just love for the kids, and a sense of community. We are not at all wealthy and have always felt perfectly comfortable at Sheridan, including at the auction, where money is being thrown around. There is something for everyone to buy at the auction (I scored items for $40 & $60 each this past year). There is a real culture of embracing everyone at Sheridan. Its a wonderful school, academically and socially and we'd love to have you come take a look at it if you are looking for a lovely community for your family.

No offense, but I wouldn't call 2M house "loaded," by most DC private school standards. At DCs' school "loaded" means 10-20mil. Just saying. 2M is about the average. Not saying that's good or bad, but pointing this out.

PP, why did you feel the need to post your comment, even if it is a fact? This type of comment ("Oh no, in my private school the typical family lives in a $2M home.") is what makes people resent the "entitled" class in DC. Have you never heard the words humble, discrete, or gracious?

[Anonymous]

I have a daughter at a private school with the same HHI as you and we are always welcomed there. Many have more money, some have less, some just willing to forgo other things for private like us. The girls all get along. We live in Wootton District and hated public. Much happier in private. Go with your gut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can speak to Sheridan, as we have been a family there for years now -- like St Pats, there is definitely great wealth there too, and also normal middle class folks, but EVERYONE there is made to feel equal and people are not showy about their wealth. You honestly don't know folks are loaded until you get invited for a play date at their $2M CC/Bethesda/NW home, and even then, there is no pretense, just love for the kids, and a sense of community. We are not at all wealthy and have always felt perfectly comfortable at Sheridan, including at the auction, where money is being thrown around. There is something for everyone to buy at the auction (I scored items for $40 & $60 each this past year). There is a real culture of embracing everyone at Sheridan. Its a wonderful school, academically and socially and we'd love to have you come take a look at it if you are looking for a lovely community for your family.

No offense, but I wouldn't call 2M house "loaded," by most DC private school standards. At DCs' school "loaded" means 10-20mil. Just saying. 2M is about the average. Not saying that's good or bad, but pointing this out.

PP, why did you feel the need to post your comment, even if it is a fact? This type of comment ("Oh no, in my private school the typical family lives in a $2M home.") is what makes people resent the "entitled" class in DC. Have you never heard the words humble, discrete, or gracious?

To simply give the facts on HHI, which I assume was one of the things OP was looking for, and as I said in my post, the HHI of the "loaded" folks at my school is neither a good thing nor a bad thing (in my eyes), simply a fact. FWIW- I am not a family with a 10 mil house, and at the school I am referencing, any middle class family will certainly fit in and feel welcomed. If anything this should make OP relieved, rather than stressed. Additionally, our experience has been that those that fit into this "loaded" category are indeed discrete, humble and gracious. I'm sorry that you assumed that because I was pointing out some of the "money" OP will likely see (so she isn't shocked) somehow offended you. I'm not offended, so can't figure out you would be. Do you have an inferiority complex because you aren't "rich"? If so, you should get over it.

[Anonymous]

This is absurd. The average family in a DC private does not even live in a $2M house. Give me a break. So a $20M is clearly an outlier. How many of you have been to a LOT of play dates at $20M homes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is absurd. The average family in a DC private does not even live in a $2M house. Give me a break. So a $20M is clearly an outlier. How many of you have been to a LOT of play dates at $20M homes?

Which is what makes the family with the $20M house "loaded" instead of "average." That's the point. It was clear to me that PP was just trying to establish some facts, and I agree with her definitions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another Green Acres family here -- we live in a small bungalow with a mid-$150s income (no grandparent help). We received a small amount of financial aid which helps. We are middle middle class. DC loves school, and it's a great community. Bus routes are convenient-- at first you think about driving your child but after a while a bus really helps. Good luck! You'll find something where you and your family will feel comfortable.

With a mid-$150s income, you are not middle middle class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Green Acres family here -- we live in a small bungalow with a mid-$150s income (no grandparent help). We received a small amount of financial aid which helps. We are middle middle class. DC loves school, and it's a great community. Bus routes are convenient-- at first you think about driving your child but after a while a bus really helps. Good luck! You'll find something where you and your family will feel comfortable.

With a mid-$150s income, you are not middle middle class.

Curios here - what is considered middle class in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Curios here - what is considered middle class in DC?

In DC, in 2010, the average household income by quintile was:

1st quintile: $9,062
2nd quintile: $32,500
3rd quintile: $61,035
4th quintile: $102,994
5th quintile: $259,204

The average household income of the top 5% was $473,343.