Top private (Sidwell, GDS) versus top public (JKLM) for early years: what are the differences?

[Anonymous]

If money is not an impediment, you go with the top private school every time. But whether money is an impediment depends on each family's finances.

I think of it as analogous to picking a car to drive. My trusty Hyundai can get me to the same places an $80,000 Audi might get me. The Audi will be more comfortable on my tush, will have more safety features, will have a better sound system for my music, will probably get me where I'm going faster, will make me generally happier. If I can afford the extra cost, I'll take the Audi every time. But since I don't have that kind of money lying around, I stick with my Hyundai and stare jealously at Audi drivers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If money is not an impediment, you go with the top private school every time. But whether money is an impediment depends on each family's finances.

I think of it as analogous to picking a car to drive. My trusty Hyundai can get me to the same places an $80,000 Audi might get me. The Audi will be more comfortable on my tush, will have more safety features, will have a better sound system for my music, will probably get me where I'm going faster, will make me generally happier. If I can afford the extra cost, I'll take the Audi every time. But since I don't have that kind of money lying around, I stick with my Hyundai and stare jealously at Audi drivers.

Interesting analogy. I drive a $20k Hyundai and wouldn't be caught dead in an $80,000 car because I would find it a total violation of my values. You could say the same for private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If money is not an impediment, you go with the top private school every time. But whether money is an impediment depends on each family's finances.

I think of it as analogous to picking a car to drive. My trusty Hyundai can get me to the same places an $80,000 Audi might get me. The Audi will be more comfortable on my tush, will have more safety features, will have a better sound system for my music, will probably get me where I'm going faster, will make me generally happier. If I can afford the extra cost, I'll take the Audi every time. But since I don't have that kind of money lying around, I stick with my Hyundai and stare jealously at Audi drivers.

Interesting analogy. I drive a $20k Hyundai and wouldn't be caught dead in an $80,000 car because I would find it a total violation of my values. You could say the same for private school.

+1. Completely agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher poster here. You are correct, I can not claim knowledge of every school everywhere. My opinion is just based purely on my own experiemces at my schools

From my three school experiences. In addition to my child's school experience which has never been the same as where I teach. The classrooms, teachers, units of study I saw at my DCPS school and PDs were superior to the other places I have worked.

FWIW. Of the big three, I have only toured GDS. And that was very similar to the DCPS. Magical, love of learning in early childhood. I'm sure several others have the same feel.

pp again. I'd have to agree to an extent, that if we're only talking about preK and K -- "early childhood" -- then all of these schools are going to be warm and sweet. I don't know what OP meant exactly by "early YEARS."

If s/he meant "K all the way through 5th grade," I feel strongly there are very important differences in curriculum and the day-to-day academic experience among Janney/Mann/Key/Lafayette/Murch and Beauvoir/GDS/Sidwell.

These differences have already been discussed in many threads, but generally, it has to do with test-driven curriculum; huge differences in humanities offerings in 1st-5th; and music-studio art-PE frequency. And foreign language during the day, not as an aftercare choice for a fee.

"early years" is a recognized term in education. you can google it yourself but here's what Wikipedia says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_childhood_education

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If money is not an impediment, you go with the top private school every time. But whether money is an impediment depends on each family's finances.

I think of it as analogous to picking a car to drive. My trusty Hyundai can get me to the same places an $80,000 Audi might get me. The Audi will be more comfortable on my tush, will have more safety features, will have a better sound system for my music, will probably get me where I'm going faster, will make me generally happier. If I can afford the extra cost, I'll take the Audi every time. But since I don't have that kind of money lying around, I stick with my Hyundai and stare jealously at Audi drivers.

Interesting analogy. I drive a $20k Hyundai and wouldn't be caught dead in an $80,000 car because I would find it a total violation of my values. You could say the same for private school.

+1. Completely agree.

Does that include college/university as well?

[Anonymous]

My kids don't go to a JKLM but a charter school. Personally, I think people who spend tens of thousands of dollars (or hundreds of thousands) on private education (when they can get comparable education at many public schools in DC) are stupid and have more money than sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If money is not an impediment, you go with the top private school every time. But whether money is an impediment depends on each family's finances.

I think of it as analogous to picking a car to drive. My trusty Hyundai can get me to the same places an $80,000 Audi might get me. The Audi will be more comfortable on my tush, will have more safety features, will have a better sound system for my music, will probably get me where I'm going faster, will make me generally happier. If I can afford the extra cost, I'll take the Audi every time. But since I don't have that kind of money lying around, I stick with my Hyundai and stare jealously at Audi drivers.

Interesting analogy. I drive a $20k Hyundai and wouldn't be caught dead in an $80,000 car because I would find it a total violation of my values. You could say the same for private school.

+1. Completely agree.

Me too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If money is not an impediment, you go with the top private school every time. But whether money is an impediment depends on each family's finances.

I think of it as analogous to picking a car to drive. My trusty Hyundai can get me to the same places an $80,000 Audi might get me. The Audi will be more comfortable on my tush, will have more safety features, will have a better sound system for my music, will probably get me where I'm going faster, will make me generally happier. If I can afford the extra cost, I'll take the Audi every time. But since I don't have that kind of money lying around, I stick with my Hyundai and stare jealously at Audi drivers.

Interesting analogy. I drive a $20k Hyundai and wouldn't be caught dead in an $80,000 car because I would find it a total violation of my values. You could say the same for private school.

+1. Completely agree.

That's fine. If it's against your core values to pay money to improve your child's education, it's certainly your choice not to pay any extra, and it makes this a simple decision for you. I suppose it also means you would not pay extra for tutoring, for extra language instruction, or (taken to an extreme) maybe even to live in a better school district. I'd be very curious to hear where the exact contours of your values apply with regard to spending money for things that benefit you.

For those of us who are willing to spend our money to obtain things we value -- the vast majority of people -- this is a more complex analysis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher poster here. You are correct, I can not claim knowledge of every school everywhere. My opinion is just based purely on my own experiemces at my schools

From my three school experiences. In addition to my child's school experience which has never been the same as where I teach. The classrooms, teachers, units of study I saw at my DCPS school and PDs were superior to the other places I have worked.

FWIW. Of the big three, I have only toured GDS. And that was very similar to the DCPS. Magical, love of learning in early childhood. I'm sure several others have the same feel.

pp again. I'd have to agree to an extent, that if we're only talking about preK and K -- "early childhood" -- then all of these schools are going to be warm and sweet. I don't know what OP meant exactly by "early YEARS."

If s/he meant "K all the way through 5th grade," I feel strongly there are very important differences in curriculum and the day-to-day academic experience among Janney/Mann/Key/Lafayette/Murch and Beauvoir/GDS/Sidwell.

These differences have already been discussed in many threads, but generally, it has to do with test-driven curriculum; huge differences in humanities offerings in 1st-5th; and music-studio art-PE frequency. And foreign language during the day, not as an aftercare choice for a fee.

"early years" is a recognized term in education. you can google it yourself but here's what Wikipedia says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_childhood_education

Thanks. Another source (UNESCO), very useful.
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If money is not an impediment, you go with the top private school every time. But whether money is an impediment depends on each family's finances.

I think of it as analogous to picking a car to drive. My trusty Hyundai can get me to the same places an $80,000 Audi might get me. The Audi will be more comfortable on my tush, will have more safety features, will have a better sound system for my music, will probably get me where I'm going faster, will make me generally happier. If I can afford the extra cost, I'll take the Audi every time. But since I don't have that kind of money lying around, I stick with my Hyundai and stare jealously at Audi drivers.

Interesting analogy. I drive a $20k Hyundai and wouldn't be caught dead in an $80,000 car because I would find it a total violation of my values. You could say the same for private school.

+1. Completely agree.

Does that include college/university as well?

Shhh, don't try too hard to unpack those "values." Never know what you might find in there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If money is not an impediment, you go with the top private school every time. But whether money is an impediment depends on each family's finances.

I think of it as analogous to picking a car to drive. My trusty Hyundai can get me to the same places an $80,000 Audi might get me. The Audi will be more comfortable on my tush, will have more safety features, will have a better sound system for my music, will probably get me where I'm going faster, will make me generally happier. If I can afford the extra cost, I'll take the Audi every time. But since I don't have that kind of money lying around, I stick with my Hyundai and stare jealously at Audi drivers.

Interesting analogy. I drive a $20k Hyundai and wouldn't be caught dead in an $80,000 car because I would find it a total violation of my values. You could say the same for private school.

+1. Completely agree.

That's fine. If it's against your core values to pay money to improve your child's education, it's certainly your choice not to pay any extra, and it makes this a simple decision for you. I suppose it also means you would not pay extra for tutoring, for extra language instruction, or (taken to an extreme) maybe even to live in a better school district. I'd be very curious to hear where the exact contours of your values apply with regard to spending money for things that benefit you.

For those of us who are willing to spend our money to obtain things we value -- the vast majority of people -- this is a more complex analysis.

+1
If it was a question of values, it should relay in paying more taxes so everyone could have a better chance, not only those who can afford to live in-boundary of JKLM and who can pay substantial contributions (or free ride those of others) to their PAC to improve the quality of their school.
In general we can try to disguise inequality of opportunities and position ourselves against elitism while we promote it by creating clearly differentiated schools.
We all one the best education possible for our children, and if the point is that we want it for everyone, lets do it right, lets open boundaries, lets think it different. Otherwise, lets not judge our neighbor because his or her child goes to private, maybe he/she its contributing more than you do to a more equal society by not overcrowding public schools and creating opportunities for the more disadvantage in other ways.
That said, I don't see what is the problem with the Audi (FWIW I have a Dodge and my previous one was a Hyundai) but I find it surprising that we judge people by that type of things. The true values rely in many other day to day actions, not in the car you drive or the school your child is attending (well, with maybe some exceptions, as some friends of us with a very high income that want to give their neighborhood elementary school a chance, even if it is a 99% reduce free lunch).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"pp again. I'd have to agree to an extent, that if we're only talking about preK and K -- "early childhood" -- then all of these schools are going to be warm and sweet. I don't know what OP meant exactly by "early YEARS."

If s/he meant "K all the way through 5th grade," I feel strongly there are very important differences in curriculum and the day-to-day academic experience among Janney/Mann/Key/Lafayette/Murch and Beauvoir/GDS/Sidwell.

These differences have already been discussed in many threads, but generally, it has to do with test-driven curriculum; huge differences in humanities offerings in 1st-5th; and music-studio art-PE frequency. And foreign language during the day, not as an aftercare choice for a fee."

You really sound like you need to take some Xanex; you are way too over the top with the ax that you have to grind. Huge differences in curriculum, really? I'm sorry, but the vast majority of "top" privates in and near NW DC have essentially the same curriculum as the JKLMs - readers and writers workshop, everyday or singapore math, responsive classroom and responsive recess. Do you really think that a bunch of masters-degreed public school teachers can't come up as good a curriculum as less experienced and prepared privates school teachers? Basically, what you get at a private is a secure class size. Most of the rest that you prattle on about ("humanities," really?) is smoke and mirrors.

I'm sorry, but they do not have interchangeable curricula.

Huge differences in curriculum. Really.

Did you know? There is more to an education than reading, writing and math. There is Chinese history, and marine biology and analysis of the poetry of black poets during the Civil Rights movement and consideration of the impact of elections on appointment of Supreme Court justices and macro economics and micro economics.


I don't need Xanax, because I'm actually very chill and relaxed without relying on pharmacology.

[Anonymous]

From my perspective, the greatest advantage in sending your kid to a top private is in the high powered connections that can be made by both the parent and student. However, if you're not into networking or you have a kid that isn't particularly competitive or aggressive, I'm not sure if you'll get your money's worth.

Some see privates as having an advantage in addressing the perception of the need to weed out the "less desirable elements" that are often found in public schools. However, JKLM parents will argue that they have totally accomplished this (often at the expense of diversity and any semblance of a real world environment). I'm sure people will debate this point but that's my perspective.

I've gone on tours of all the top privates. There are many things that are very impressive about these schools. However, IMO, if you get past the ego's desire for your child to wear a sweatshirt with the name of a top 3 private emblazoned across it, you may come to the conclusion that none of the really cool bells and whistles (eg. in school extra curricular activities, longer recess, lack of standardized tests, access to teachers outside of the school day, etc.) are really worth 40k a year, especially if it's a stretch for you.

I will also add that many public schools (and yes, even those outside the JKLM boundaries) have great early childhood programs. And, if you're inbounds for Deal, I wouldn't even think about private until high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If money is not an impediment, you go with the top private school every time. But whether money is an impediment depends on each family's finances.

I think of it as analogous to picking a car to drive. My trusty Hyundai can get me to the same places an $80,000 Audi might get me. The Audi will be more comfortable on my tush, will have more safety features, will have a better sound system for my music, will probably get me where I'm going faster, will make me generally happier. If I can afford the extra cost, I'll take the Audi every time. But since I don't have that kind of money lying around, I stick with my Hyundai and stare jealously at Audi drivers.

Interesting analogy. I drive a $20k Hyundai and wouldn't be caught dead in an $80,000 car because I would find it a total violation of my values. You could say the same for private school.

I don't understand this vaguely smug sounding comment by the violated values PP. How did you arrive at the $20,000 figure? A 2015 Nissan Sentra retails for $16,480 MSRP. If I pulled up in your home in my 2015 Nissan Sentra, would you high-five me for sharing your "values"? What if I won that car at a raffle? Would you think I am even more virtuous than you are because my Sentra costs less than your Hyundai?

What if I pulled up in the $34,000 Hyundai Azera model? It's still a Hyundai, but I spent more to get increased comfort. Do you not value comfort? What in the hell are you saying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher poster here. You are correct, I can not claim knowledge of every school everywhere. My opinion is just based purely on my own experiemces at my schools

From my three school experiences. In addition to my child's school experience which has never been the same as where I teach. The classrooms, teachers, units of study I saw at my DCPS school and PDs were superior to the other places I have worked.

FWIW. Of the big three, I have only toured GDS. And that was very similar to the DCPS. Magical, love of learning in early childhood. I'm sure several others have the same feel.

pp again. I'd have to agree to an extent, that if we're only talking about preK and K -- "early childhood" -- then all of these schools are going to be warm and sweet. I don't know what OP meant exactly by "early YEARS."

If s/he meant "K all the way through 5th grade," I feel strongly there are very important differences in curriculum and the day-to-day academic experience among Janney/Mann/Key/Lafayette/Murch and Beauvoir/GDS/Sidwell.

These differences have already been discussed in many threads, but generally, it has to do with test-driven curriculum; huge differences in humanities offerings in 1st-5th; and music-studio art-PE frequency. And foreign language during the day, not as an aftercare choice for a fee.

Thanks. OP here, your point about what I meant with "early years" is very valid. I meant lower school, but with an emphasis in prek, k, 1st, and 2nd. I know it might sound confusing. I am interested in the whole LS experience, but as of now I want to focus on those "early years" as I read they are the most important ones. One of my work colleagues is an education specialist, she has told me as well how important those "early years" are. She gave me a ton of statistics, not only about ECD, but about 1st and 2nd too.

It is critical for children that come from a low literate environments at home or who are not encouraged or supporting at home. This is the area of most research in literacy and reading, children from language rich and high SES environments are the control group in most research I've read not the focus!!!!