Why are private school applications still at an all time high?

[Anonymous]

When they stopped tracking and did honors for all, people who have $ are leaving. I went to public schools in Moco and believe in public education but I'm seeing it degraded so much from my time. Too many kids; too many discipline problems and not high enough expectations. We are not in MS yet but seriously considering going private. My kids aren't super duper gifted, but they are good, call and hardworking students who like school but would do so much better with smaller glasses and a peer group that's focused on learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When they stopped tracking and did honors for all, people who have $ are leaving. I went to public schools in Moco and believe in public education but I'm seeing it degraded so much from my time. Too many kids; too many discipline problems and not high enough expectations. We are not in MS yet but seriously considering going private. My kids aren't super duper gifted, but they are good, call and hardworking students who like school but would do so much better with smaller glasses and a peer group that's focused on learning.

Public school class sizes are enormous for lower grades, the behavioral problems are 10x what it was previously, and the high schools give 4.0s to the average, not very bright kids. There is no class rigor as a result.

While magnets and special public schools might be better, it is only a matter of time before they decay also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because public school class sizes are huge, there's a range of abilities that is impossible for even the most seasoned teacher to accommodate, and well behaved kids who are on or above grade level are ignored. The established private schools aren't stupid and have done a good job advertising to UMC families of solid students who are increasingly fed up. Throw in a modest merit scholarship for the ones with top grades and test scores and it's not a hard sell.

There are not merit scholarships for top grades at local independent schools

Huh? There are definitely merit scholarships for local private high schools.

Below the high school level, it's not called a merit scholarship but the FA decision is often not *solely* about need, which makes a segment of DCUM crazy but is true nonetheless. Schools use FA to keep students they want to keep, including those who boost test scores or fill out the advanced track classes.

PP. Only the Catholic schools. Which is not what most of us think of when we say the words “private school”.

You cannot name an independent school in DC/MD that hands out true merit money to smart applicants as an enticement. It’s flat out not allowed in AISGW.

"In addition to need-based financial aid, AISGW member schools also awarded more than $11 million in merit scholarships in 2015-2016."

https://www.aisgw.org/affordability

That’s 11 years old

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because public school class sizes are huge, there's a range of abilities that is impossible for even the most seasoned teacher to accommodate, and well behaved kids who are on or above grade level are ignored. The established private schools aren't stupid and have done a good job advertising to UMC families of solid students who are increasingly fed up. Throw in a modest merit scholarship for the ones with top grades and test scores and it's not a hard sell.

There are not merit scholarships for top grades at local independent schools

Huh? There are definitely merit scholarships for local private high schools.

Below the high school level, it's not called a merit scholarship but the FA decision is often not *solely* about need, which makes a segment of DCUM crazy but is true nonetheless. Schools use FA to keep students they want to keep, including those who boost test scores or fill out the advanced track classes.

PP. Only the Catholic schools. Which is not what most of us think of when we say the words “private school”.

You cannot name an independent school in DC/MD that hands out true merit money to smart applicants as an enticement. It’s flat out not allowed in AISGW.

Really?

Why is that?

Because most of the public would label these “catholic schools” or “parochial schools.” In the DMV. “Going private” in actual parlance with your DMV neighbor does not include “going to St. Bernadette parish school k-8.”

They have an entirely different mission than independent private schools. A different funding structure aided in most cases by a diocese.

But yes, technically catholic schools are a subset of “private” schools in that there is no by-right attendance like a public school. Technically. But the not-religious crowd doesn’t think of them that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When they stopped tracking and did honors for all, people who have $ are leaving. I went to public schools in Moco and believe in public education but I'm seeing it degraded so much from my time. Too many kids; too many discipline problems and not high enough expectations. We are not in MS yet but seriously considering going private. My kids aren't super duper gifted, but they are good, call and hardworking students who like school but would do so much better with smaller glasses and a peer group that's focused on learning.

Public school class sizes are enormous for lower grades, the behavioral problems are 10x what it was previously, and the high schools give 4.0s to the average, not very bright kids. There is no class rigor as a result.

While magnets and special public schools might be better, it is only a matter of time before they decay also.

LOL. Going to build my bunker now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the City of Alexandria, every private, no matter how mediocre, is in demand because there is one massive and overcrowded public option for 9-12. No option of magnets or charters, since Alexandria doesn't participate in that.

Yes, ACPS does a commendable job of keeping Alexandria private schools in business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When they stopped tracking and did honors for all, people who have $ are leaving. I went to public schools in Moco and believe in public education but I'm seeing it degraded so much from my time. Too many kids; too many discipline problems and not high enough expectations. We are not in MS yet but seriously considering going private. My kids aren't super duper gifted, but they are good, call and hardworking students who like school but would do so much better with smaller glasses and a peer group that's focused on learning.

Public school class sizes are enormous for lower grades, the behavioral problems are 10x what it was previously, and the high schools give 4.0s to the average, not very bright kids. There is no class rigor as a result.

While magnets and special public schools might be better, it is only a matter of time before they decay also.

LOL. Going to build my bunker now.

You can live in denial or admit that public schools have become a complete and utter failure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because public school class sizes are huge, there's a range of abilities that is impossible for even the most seasoned teacher to accommodate, and well behaved kids who are on or above grade level are ignored. The established private schools aren't stupid and have done a good job advertising to UMC families of solid students who are increasingly fed up. Throw in a modest merit scholarship for the ones with top grades and test scores and it's not a hard sell.

There are not merit scholarships for top grades at local independent schools

Huh? There are definitely merit scholarships for local private high schools.

Below the high school level, it's not called a merit scholarship but the FA decision is often not *solely* about need, which makes a segment of DCUM crazy but is true nonetheless. Schools use FA to keep students they want to keep, including those who boost test scores or fill out the advanced track classes.

PP. Only the Catholic schools. Which is not what most of us think of when we say the words “private school”.

You cannot name an independent school in DC/MD that hands out true merit money to smart applicants as an enticement. It’s flat out not allowed in AISGW.

Really?

Why is that?

Because most of the public would label these “catholic schools” or “parochial schools.” In the DMV. “Going private” in actual parlance with your DMV neighbor does not include “going to St. Bernadette parish school k-8.”

They have an entirely different mission than independent private schools. A different funding structure aided in most cases by a diocese.

But yes, technically catholic schools are a subset of “private” schools in that there is no by-right attendance like a public school. Technically. But the not-religious crowd doesn’t think of them that way.

So is a Quaker school with Quaker values/mission a private school? An Episcopal school situated on the grounds of a cathedral? How about a Catholic school that does not receive diocesan support?

[Anonymous]

Because DC schools suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public schools are under scrutiny and pressure over the scores of low-performing kids. Teachers there focus on the bottom group because that is what Principals and central office demand.

Even in FCPS AAP, the differentiation is modest, not huge, and some believe better behavior is the main benefit.

Many, not all, public elementary schools have stopped - or significantly reduced - direct instruction in areas such as spelling, grammar, multiplication table memorization, and cursive writing. Many privates still teach all of those areas explicitly and in depth, particularly consistent with this are the Catholic schools. Also, for reading, most Catholic and almost all Montessori schools stuck with Phonics-centered literacy instruction - and skipped the whole language/balanced literacy Lucy Calkins crap.

This right here...my kids in Catholic school have homework every night that they write down in a planner. They read novels. They do math with a pencil. They have spelling and grammar as subjects in school. They know their times tables.
Our class sizes are getting huge though. When we started the average class size was 14 and now it's 22. The weirdest part is that the increase is almost completely girls.

Are you in an area and at an age where there are a lot of "mean girl" bullying problems and kids start really excluding others? That might explain the increase. I've noticed a lot of girl parents pulling their kid from public in upper elementary for this reason--more so than boy parents.

Private schools have much more control over this behavior - they can expel kids for behavior. We had 2 kids get expelled for what they posted about another child on social media - they were boys though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because public school class sizes are huge, there's a range of abilities that is impossible for even the most seasoned teacher to accommodate, and well behaved kids who are on or above grade level are ignored. The established private schools aren't stupid and have done a good job advertising to UMC families of solid students who are increasingly fed up. Throw in a modest merit scholarship for the ones with top grades and test scores and it's not a hard sell.

There are not merit scholarships for top grades at local independent schools

Huh? There are definitely merit scholarships for local private high schools.

Below the high school level, it's not called a merit scholarship but the FA decision is often not *solely* about need, which makes a segment of DCUM crazy but is true nonetheless. Schools use FA to keep students they want to keep, including those who boost test scores or fill out the advanced track classes.

PP. Only the Catholic schools. Which is not what most of us think of when we say the words “private school”.

You cannot name an independent school in DC/MD that hands out true merit money to smart applicants as an enticement. It’s flat out not allowed in AISGW.

Really?

Why is that?

Because most of the public would label these “catholic schools” or “parochial schools.” In the DMV. “Going private” in actual parlance with your DMV neighbor does not include “going to St. Bernadette parish school k-8.”

They have an entirely different mission than independent private schools. A different funding structure aided in most cases by a diocese.

But yes, technically catholic schools are a subset of “private” schools in that there is no by-right attendance like a public school. Technically. But the not-religious crowd doesn’t think of them that way.

So is a Quaker school with Quaker values/mission a private school? An Episcopal school situated on the grounds of a cathedral? How about a Catholic school that does not receive diocesan support?

Excellent questions!

My kids go to a private high school in the DMV. It happens to be Catholic. I don’t know a single person who would refer to it as anything other than “private.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because public school class sizes are huge, there's a range of abilities that is impossible for even the most seasoned teacher to accommodate, and well behaved kids who are on or above grade level are ignored. The established private schools aren't stupid and have done a good job advertising to UMC families of solid students who are increasingly fed up. Throw in a modest merit scholarship for the ones with top grades and test scores and it's not a hard sell.

There are not merit scholarships for top grades at local independent schools

Huh? There are definitely merit scholarships for local private high schools.

Below the high school level, it's not called a merit scholarship but the FA decision is often not *solely* about need, which makes a segment of DCUM crazy but is true nonetheless. Schools use FA to keep students they want to keep, including those who boost test scores or fill out the advanced track classes.

PP. Only the Catholic schools. Which is not what most of us think of when we say the words “private school”.

You cannot name an independent school in DC/MD that hands out true merit money to smart applicants as an enticement. It’s flat out not allowed in AISGW.

Really?

Why is that?

Because most of the public would label these “catholic schools” or “parochial schools.” In the DMV. “Going private” in actual parlance with your DMV neighbor does not include “going to St. Bernadette parish school k-8.”

They have an entirely different mission than independent private schools. A different funding structure aided in most cases by a diocese.

But yes, technically catholic schools are a subset of “private” schools in that there is no by-right attendance like a public school. Technically. But the not-religious crowd doesn’t think of them that way.

So is a Quaker school with Quaker values/mission a private school? An Episcopal school situated on the grounds of a cathedral? How about a Catholic school that does not receive diocesan support?

Excellent questions!

My kids go to a private high school in the DMV. It happens to be Catholic. I don’t know a single person who would refer to it as anything other than “private.”

There's always a little snobbery on this forum. When some say "private schools" they mean those private schools that they would consider. They would prefer that schools they consider as lesser not be referred to as "privates".

The "Top 3" or "Top 5", the "very best", most exclusive, and most expensive schools are filled with these people and they are one reason we would never consider them. In spite of some of their supporters insisting the parent group is just a bunch of regular, down-to-earth folks, it's obvious that's not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read an article that staff at Alice Deal in DC chose to eliminate reading full novels from the 8th grade curriculum.

Holy sh*t. I don’t want to start a public/ private debate but is that true? Can someone confirm. If so, what a disgrace. These kids deserve better.

I highly doubt that. My middle school kids in MCPS read a full novel a quarter. I would think DCPS would be similar.

See the link a couple of posts above yours. It is true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because public school class sizes are huge, there's a range of abilities that is impossible for even the most seasoned teacher to accommodate, and well behaved kids who are on or above grade level are ignored. The established private schools aren't stupid and have done a good job advertising to UMC families of solid students who are increasingly fed up. Throw in a modest merit scholarship for the ones with top grades and test scores and it's not a hard sell.

There are not merit scholarships for top grades at local independent schools

Huh? There are definitely merit scholarships for local private high schools.

Below the high school level, it's not called a merit scholarship but the FA decision is often not *solely* about need, which makes a segment of DCUM crazy but is true nonetheless. Schools use FA to keep students they want to keep, including those who boost test scores or fill out the advanced track classes.

PP. Only the Catholic schools. Which is not what most of us think of when we say the words “private school”.

You cannot name an independent school in DC/MD that hands out true merit money to smart applicants as an enticement. It’s flat out not allowed in AISGW.

Really?

Why is that?

Because most of the public would label these “catholic schools” or “parochial schools.” In the DMV. “Going private” in actual parlance with your DMV neighbor does not include “going to St. Bernadette parish school k-8.”

They have an entirely different mission than independent private schools. A different funding structure aided in most cases by a diocese.

But yes, technically catholic schools are a subset of “private” schools in that there is no by-right attendance like a public school. Technically. But the not-religious crowd doesn’t think of them that way.

Well, for the purposes of this discussion, most Catholic schools in the DMV have seen a huge increase in applications as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because public school class sizes are huge, there's a range of abilities that is impossible for even the most seasoned teacher to accommodate, and well behaved kids who are on or above grade level are ignored. The established private schools aren't stupid and have done a good job advertising to UMC families of solid students who are increasingly fed up. Throw in a modest merit scholarship for the ones with top grades and test scores and it's not a hard sell.

There are not merit scholarships for top grades at local independent schools

Huh? There are definitely merit scholarships for local private high schools.

Below the high school level, it's not called a merit scholarship but the FA decision is often not *solely* about need, which makes a segment of DCUM crazy but is true nonetheless. Schools use FA to keep students they want to keep, including those who boost test scores or fill out the advanced track classes.

PP. Only the Catholic schools. Which is not what most of us think of when we say the words “private school”.

You cannot name an independent school in DC/MD that hands out true merit money to smart applicants as an enticement. It’s flat out not allowed in AISGW.

Really?

Why is that?

Because most of the public would label these “catholic schools” or “parochial schools.” In the DMV. “Going private” in actual parlance with your DMV neighbor does not include “going to St. Bernadette parish school k-8.”

They have an entirely different mission than independent private schools. A different funding structure aided in most cases by a diocese.

But yes, technically catholic schools are a subset of “private” schools in that there is no by-right attendance like a public school. Technically. But the not-religious crowd doesn’t think of them that way.

So is a Quaker school with Quaker values/mission a private school? An Episcopal school situated on the grounds of a cathedral? How about a Catholic school that does not receive diocesan support?

If there’s a distinguishing factor, it’s the question of how independent a given school is from a central authority that can call the shots and assign revenue.

Stone Ridge and GP and I think Visi have been argued on DCUM to be independent. Blessed Sacrament is parochial.