Is there a market for a cheaper no frills private school

[Anonymous]

I don't know. The OP is asking if it can be done. It is being done, by a number of excellent schools. So I'm not sure what the OP is asking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused too. Is the OP looking to open a school or find a school with a more reasonable price tag for her children?

I think OP is just posing the same old question ("Why the heck are good schools so expensive?!?") in a creative new way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. The OP is asking if it can be done. It is being done, by a number of excellent schools. So I'm not sure what the OP is asking.

Aren't the Catholic schools subsidized by the Church. If so, then the poster is asking an important question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused too. Is the OP looking to open a school or find a school with a more reasonable price tag for her children?

I think OP is just posing the same old question ("Why the heck are good schools so expensive?!?") in a creative new way.

I would disagree - OP is pointing out something more specific - that many of the "big name" schools seem to spend a lot of money on frills that are may not be a priority for parents of elementary aged children. In some cases - the little ones get to use the frills and in others the frills are more for HS aged kids. Either way - her priority is education - NOT frills (or even prestige) - so she wonders if it would be a more affordable option if these other factors didn't come into play.

It seems like many posters have pointed out schools in the suburbs that may be more of what she is looking for - but there are not so many choices in the district.

I also thought that maybe this sort of model could best be served "in theory" by a Charter school - although I am not sure that "in practice" it is achieved by local Charters.

[Anonymous]

I read the header "Is there a market for ..." to mean that OP was looking to start up an independent school. That for one reason or another other (religion, location in MoCo or PG) she doesn't already see what she wants.

But maybe OP can come back on and elucidate.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but there have been a number non-parochial schools mentioned in detail on this thread.

I encourage anyone who is looking for an excellent education without the frills to look at Grace (yeah - I'm a parent there and proud of it!). It fits the bill of what OP says he/she is seeking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but there have been a number non-parochial schools mentioned in detail on this thread.

I encourage anyone who is looking for an excellent education without the frills to look at Grace (yeah - I'm a parent there and proud of it!). It fits the bill of what OP says he/she is seeking.

PP here - answering 10:21's post (obviously)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused too. Is the OP looking to open a school or find a school with a more reasonable price tag for her children?

I think OP is just posing the same old question ("Why the heck are good schools so expensive?!?") in a creative new way.

I would disagree - OP is pointing out something more specific - that many of the "big name" schools seem to spend a lot of money on frills that are may not be a priority for parents of elementary aged children. In some cases - the little ones get to use the frills and in others the frills are more for HS aged kids. Either way - her priority is education - NOT frills (or even prestige) - so she wonders if it would be a more affordable option if these other factors didn't come into play.

You're reading more commentary into her question than I would. But I think we agree that OP's question was a rhetorical one meant to spark conversation, and not a "real" question aimed at finding some area school or starting her own.

[Anonymous]

I think you are spot on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We have a few kids at Feynman School (which is in MoCo) coming all the way from PG County and Frederick County. In my book I consider it a top school but I'm sure what you are referring to is a big 3. If the program is worthy the families will make the commute. This is especially true if the school serves a population with unique needs as Feynman does.

Oh c'mon. It's not even an accredited elementary school yet (currently K only -- see http://www.msde.state.md.us/nonpublic/nsab_directory/DisplayLocations.asp?County=Montgomery) -- hardly a "top school" by anyone's standard. Right now, it's a preschool/K start-up that hopes to grow. Nothing wrong with that -- if you're candid about it.

[Anonymous]

20:34, some folks are willing to pay more for the K-12 school because they have the means to do so and want to avoid having to reapply for sixth or ninth grades.

[Anonymous]

OP here, sorry for the confusion. I am not in any position to start my own school, but I was curious about how such a school would be received. The school that best fits my description is the British School of Washington, but still 2 K more than I would like. We live in the suburbs, so the commute would be next to impossible. I might have posted on the general schools forum to see if there would be an interest at that price point.
There is no way with the current economic conditions and uncertainty, we can put two kids through a 25-30K school, but I would prefer a school like BSW to our local public school. DC 1 is in private now, DC 2 is in public, I would love to have them together. I love our private school, but it has more frills than we need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We have a few kids at Feynman School (which is in MoCo) coming all the way from PG County and Frederick County. In my book I consider it a top school but I'm sure what you are referring to is a big 3. If the program is worthy the families will make the commute. This is especially true if the school serves a population with unique needs as Feynman does.

Oh c'mon. It's not even an accredited elementary school yet (currently K only -- see http://www.msde.state.md.us/nonpublic/nsab_directory/DisplayLocations.asp?County=Montgomery) -- hardly a "top school" by anyone's standard. Right now, it's a preschool/K start-up that hopes to grow. Nothing wrong with that -- if you're candid about it.

It is a top school by my standard which is why I selected it for my child. My post stated that it was a top school in my book. I didn't make any grand statements or misrepresentations. My point was that if parents feel a school is worthy they will be willing to commute. At least that is my experience with our school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, sorry for the confusion. I am not in any position to start my own school, but I was curious about how such a school would be received. The school that best fits my description is the British School of Washington, but still 2 K more than I would like. We live in the suburbs, so the commute would be next to impossible. I might have posted on the general schools forum to see if there would be an interest at that price point.
There is no way with the current economic conditions and uncertainty, we can put two kids through a 25-30K school, but I would prefer a school like BSW to our local public school. DC 1 is in private now, DC 2 is in public, I would love to have them together. I love our private school, but it has more frills than we need.

I think you've gotten some great responses and suggestions. Grace may be too liberal for you, as I understand that BSW follows a fairly traditional curriculum. Please correct me if I am wrong on this point.

[Anonymous]

I think it is sad that $19k is considered cheaper and affordable. Wow.