Rich but send kids to urban public school?

[Anonymous]

We live in a nice house in McLean in the "best" school district in mclea. Besides the large classes, we are pretty happy in public but will jump at private if we feel the need.

[Anonymous]

I don't believe McLean HS fits the definition of "urban public"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous[b wrote:]We are wealthy (2 homes; $650k HHI)--and do public schools but in Arlington.[/b] We left DC because we are public school products and wanted the same for our kids-ethnic diversity, SES diversity--bit didn't want to sacrifice quality of education. We also wanted a neighborhood where almost all of the kids are at the same school, same rec teams, etc. our DC neighborhood--every kid on the block was at a different private school.

Where in Arlington do you reside? It sounds like the place for my family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]We are wealthy (2 homes; $650k HHI)--and do public schools but in Arlington.[/b] We left DC because we are public school products and wanted the same for our kids-ethnic diversity, SES diversity--bit didn't want to sacrifice quality of education. We also wanted a neighborhood where almost all of the kids are at the same school, same rec teams, etc. our DC neighborhood--every kid on the block was at a different private school.

Where in Arlington do you reside? It sounds like the place for my family.

And which school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello. My kid is not yet school age but is about to be and we go bak and forth on whether to send them to a public or private. We are blessed to be able to afford private, but think it's important to utilize and help strengthen public institutions when possible. Are there any other wealthy parents out there that are currently or considering in the future sending their kids to city public schools?

Your obligation is to your child, not to society. If the public schools are good send your child there by all means. If they are crappy, you are doing your child a disservice and I doubt would make any change to the system.

Not in the U.S. -- every person living in a democratic country should be interested in the development of an educated citizenry.

And just because someone sends their kid to private means that they're not interested in the development of an educated citizenry? OK.

[Anonymous]

Bumping this thread up with a related question: "Are you rich, but send your kids to urban public school, EVEN THOUGH YOU REALIZE THE ACADEMIC EDUCATION IS NOT AS GOOD (but because you feel there are other important reasons to go there)?" This is where I am leaning, but I am wondering if I am crazy.

Now the background:

I am not from DC (former DC resident). Now live in the middle of the US.

We are considering kindergarten. We live in the city. Our neighborhood school is consider the best of the city schools, but it is a city school that has suffered lots of budget cuts in recent years.

I have viewed some top private schools and our neighborhood school and I see a clear difference, at least impression, on the quality of education. The private schools seem to do so much better based on the time I spent in the classroom, the class sizes, the calmness of the atmosphere, and the customer service of the administration. The public school was, on the other hand, chaotic, huge classes (around 25 for kindergarten), lots of budget cuts, the instruction we saw seemed pretty basic, and there seemed to be lots of unattended/bored kids on the fringes (the enthusiastic kids seemed to be just fine). I do hear great things about the teachers in the public school, but again, my gut found the atmosphere jarring.

That being said, even though we are well off, private school tuition is still a stretch at this point is our lives (hoping we make more as we get older) and we really don't want to pinch pennies (at least not in elementary school) to make it happen.

There is also a part of me (but not necessarily DH) that feels strongly about supporting public education by sending my child there, and giving my child the public school experience (diversity in all its forms, being part of a larger school et cetera). The public school has a measurable community of enthusiastic parents supporting the school and part of me was so inspired by that.

[Anonymous]

If you are rich, you probably live in an area that has a good public school. Regardless of public or private - your kid's experience and peer group will be the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello. My kid is not yet school age but is about to be and we go bak and forth on whether to send them to a public or private. We are blessed to be able to afford private, but think it's important to utilize and help strengthen public institutions when possible. Are there any other wealthy parents out there that are currently or considering in the future sending their kids to city public schools?

Your obligation is to your child, not to society. If the public schools are good send your child there by all means. If they are crappy, you are doing your child a disservice and I doubt would make any change to the system.

No need to be a poser. No one cares. Do what's best for your kid, not your ego.

[Anonymous]

What did Obama do?

[Anonymous]

i would not risk my childs education i believe in social responsibility but there are other ways to teach that and other ways for you to help. your young child does not need to be the embodiment of your belief system. teach her your values, volunteer at the school or other venues, have her volunteer places with you but only send her to the school in which she ( and both parents) will feel good about.

[Anonymous]

We live in the core of DC, and we are lucky enough to have resources at our disposal for education. We were offered no strings attached funding for private school of our choosing. This is similar to what other family members have enjoyed. We have sent our child to a wonderful, very urban charter school for the past four years, and we plan to to stay through high school. I couldn't be happier with our decision. But I know we are lucky in many ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well my kids go to private and are not snobby, intolerant, or entitled. They are great kids with diverse friends and interests, and volunteer and give back. Our kids dont get international vacations and we dont live in a big house. We are a mixed race, solidly middle class family getting great financial aid. Our kids are thriving at their progressive school, and we love the education they are getting.

Dont believe generalities.

This is us as well! We feel so happy to be part of such an inclusiv, diverse, and welcoming communit. The kids are thoughtful, creative, driven by social justice, and fun. Its a sacrifice even with great FA - no big vacations or fancy camps - but it is worth it.

[Anonymous]

I am the poster at 15:08....

One observation I would like to add. To all of those who send your kids to private school and insist your kids are just as tolerant, giving, not-spoiled et cetera for the experience....I'd like to add an observation....which is, that time will tell how the environment has impacted them.

For example, I went to a great public school. My DH and his family (who were not rich) went to a great private school. My own (anecdotal) observation is that my husband, and his private school friends were impacted as adults by the experience of being in private school. On the positive, they are all 'well polished' and know (or married) lots of rich people, which opens certain doors in the world. But at the same time, they generally all ASSUME they will send their kids to private school. They simply don't value public institutions and the idea of public school the way I do (and in my observation, people who grew up in public school). And of course, why would they? They were not in that environment/it was not a value that their parents choose for them. They are by no means horrible people and may be charitable/tolerant et cetera in other ways...but the value of equal public education for all (and the general value for public institutions) is lacking. Also, my DH (and his siblings) have certain lifestyle assumptions...My DH grew up with a bunch of rich people, and as an adult is very into the idea of having (or least appearing to have) that lifestyle.

Of course this is a generality and 100% anecdotal...but nobody should kids themselves that we can all have it all....and time will tell if your kid is as tolerant et cetera as you say....

And that is the point of my question:

I don't think my city public school will deliver as good as an education (you can't have everything), and am I crazy to pick it anyways, because of other values I have?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What did Obama do?

He chose security, which is not what was asked here.

Although I actually think this analysis was irrelevant for their decision, I am in the same DCPS boundaries as the White House, and I would not have chosen to send children of his children's age to the inboundary DCPS school at the time he was making the decision. Actually, I was making the choice for my own tiny child at the time, and I did not choose our inboundary either; the stakes are even bigger, and the program is much weaker, at the middle school level.. On the other hand, I am a pp who said that I am extremely happy with our urban public charter school choice. I actually think that the academics at our school, that I have seen so far, are as good if not better than the privates that we were considering (Big 3 plus WIS). More importantly, however, the focus of our school fits our family much better than any of the private options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are rich, you probably live in an area that has a good public school. Regardless of public or private - your kid's experience and peer group will be the same.

Where are you from? Likely not an urban area of DC! Not that there aren't some good schools, but this is by no means a guarantee. But there is now money everywhere.