i went to private and my kids are in public...

[Anonymous]

and sometimes i feel awkward.
i grew up in the area so went to a big 3 here.
my kids are in public and i feel that whenever i mention where i went to school, i get an automatic, "why aren't you sending your kids there?"

the school in question has gone up in cost 3 fold since i went there and while we are well off, we can't afford 2 of these tuitions... and i'm actually perfectly happy at our public school. But the school i went to is so well-known and well-thought of that i think people think i'm a terrible person for not automatically putting my kids there...

anyone else in the same boat?

[Anonymous]

It is expensive to go to private school, but does not guarantee success in life. Many of my classmates can not afford the tuition bill either.

[Anonymous]

I went to a Big 3 school, as well, and although I make a very good living, my single income isn't enough to support two of those tuitions, either. We'd rather have DW home for the kids, though, so it's a trade-off we've elected to make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
and sometimes i feel awkward.
i grew up in the area so went to a big 3 here.
my kids are in public and i feel that whenever i mention where i went to school, i get an automatic, "why aren't you sending your kids there?"

the school in question has gone up in cost 3 fold since i went there and while we are well off, we can't afford 2 of these tuitions... and i'm actually perfectly happy at our public school. But the school i went to is so well-known and well-thought of that i think people think i'm a terrible person for not automatically putting my kids there...

anyone else in the same boat?

Not exactly but I understand. I get a lot of flack from family because everyone on my side (including me) went to parochial for like generations and DH's family is pretty much like that too. Our children go to private (big 3) and they just don't understand. Everyone has to do what is best for their family. We didn't care for the parochial system here and got lucky with private.

You are not a terrible person at all. Please don't think that you are doing what is best for your children with the resources you have available.

[Anonymous]

I went to a big 3 that rejected my oldest kid. I am pissed at them but totally fine with the school district we are in. My youngest has a bunch of special needs which make the prospect of private impossible.

[Anonymous]

Since I'm a foreigner, nobody cares where I went to school.
Actually I went to the top-ranked high school in my country, where Presidents and famous actors sent their kids. It was a completely different world from the public school system here... but like OP, I can't afford a top private school here for my children, and I'm not sure I see the benefits either. It seems to me that tuition goes mostly to luxurious extras instead of paying to retain the best teachers.

So I'd rather stay in public and use the money to pay for enrichment and travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
and sometimes i feel awkward.
i grew up in the area so went to a big 3 here.
my kids are in public and i feel that whenever i mention where i went to school, i get an automatic, "why aren't you sending your kids there?"

the school in question has gone up in cost 3 fold since i went there and while we are well off, we can't afford 2 of these tuitions... and i'm actually perfectly happy at our public school. But the school i went to is so well-known and well-thought of that i think people think i'm a terrible person for not automatically putting my kids there...

anyone else in the same boat?

people at work are weird about it too. I went to a really exclusive new England prep. people are always weird about it. my so wants to send kids to public, but I would sacrifice everything to send them to private. he will not and thinks we should spend $ on house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
and sometimes i feel awkward.
i grew up in the area so went to a big 3 here.
my kids are in public and i feel that whenever i mention where i went to school, i get an automatic, "why aren't you sending your kids there?"

the school in question has gone up in cost 3 fold since i went there and while we are well off, we can't afford 2 of these tuitions... and i'm actually perfectly happy at our public school. But the school i went to is so well-known and well-thought of that i think people think i'm a terrible person for not automatically putting my kids there...

anyone else in the same boat?

people at work are weird about it too. I went to a really exclusive new England prep. people are always weird about it. my so wants to send kids to public, but I would sacrifice everything to send them to private. he will not and thinks we should spend $ on house.

Ok, I am truly curious. what do you think a private school offers over a good public that makes it worth sacrificing everything to send your child there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Since I'm a foreigner, nobody cares where I went to school.
Actually I went to the top-ranked high school in my country, where Presidents and famous actors sent their kids. It was a completely different world from the public school system here... but like OP, I can't afford a top private school here for my children, and I'm not sure I see the benefits either. It seems to me that tuition goes mostly to luxurious extras instead of paying to retain the best teachers.

So I'd rather stay in public and use the money to pay for enrichment and travel.

Very similar here.

[Anonymous]

Went to Sidwell.
No desire to be part of the current community of parents and I don't think the environment is great for kids.
Going public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went to Sidwell.
No desire to be part of the current community of parents and I don't think the environment is great for kids.
Going public.

Op here. Interesting. Would you mind saying more about what bothers you about the community?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
and sometimes i feel awkward.
i grew up in the area so went to a big 3 here.
my kids are in public and i feel that whenever i mention where i went to school, i get an automatic, "why aren't you sending your kids there?"

the school in question has gone up in cost 3 fold since i went there and while we are well off, we can't afford 2 of these tuitions... and i'm actually perfectly happy at our public school. But the school i went to is so well-known and well-thought of that i think people think i'm a terrible person for not automatically putting my kids there...

anyone else in the same boat?

people at work are weird about it too. I went to a really exclusive new England prep. people are always weird about it. my so wants to send kids to public, but I would sacrifice everything to send them to private. he will not and thinks we should spend $ on house.

Ok, I am truly curious. what do you think a private school offers over a good public that makes it worth sacrificing everything to send your child there?

A lot. I don't care to elaborate on the countless threads that have already covered this topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
and sometimes i feel awkward.
i grew up in the area so went to a big 3 here.
my kids are in public and i feel that whenever i mention where i went to school, i get an automatic, "why aren't you sending your kids there?"

the school in question has gone up in cost 3 fold since i went there and while we are well off, we can't afford 2 of these tuitions... and i'm actually perfectly happy at our public school. But the school i went to is so well-known and well-thought of that i think people think i'm a terrible person for not automatically putting my kids there...

anyone else in the same boat?

You don't have to tell people where you went to school, especially nosy people who then quiz you about your decision to send your children to public. Its likely that when they ask they are looking for that "it was'nt that great a school" kind of answer which they can then repeat to others and themselves to make them feel better about not attending themselves.

[Anonymous]

I know several Sidwell grads in the area who send their kids to public, several of the, could very well afford it.

I went to a Sidwell equivalent in a different city and my kids are also in public as are many of my high school friends' kids. In my case, we simply cannot afford private. Sometimes I am sorry about it but am also glad to not have my kids and family in that environment. Private school definitely has some advantages but it's not the ticket to a perfect life.

[Anonymous]

Op, it's odd that where you went to school comes up in conversation. I mean consider all the people who are from elsewhere else, they never discuss their high school. Unless you're currently running w/your high school crowd, you need to drop it. Your decisions for the here-and-now, for your children, are sound. Stop trying to complicate your experience.