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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!!!!

How can a SES group be the comparable group for FARMS children???? So many confounding factors. Research has to be done with the appropriate control groups 9that's the key factor for demonstrating attribution), so yes, SES children can, should and are the focus group in many studies (as well as the control group for in fact, those same studies)

[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.

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?

pp here. I am truly sorry if i offended you. I am honestly trying to be smug; to the contrary, this and other threads have me feeling down, not superior. I was picking up on the fact that the earlier poster said she drove a hyundai and that she would naturally rather drive an 80k audi than a hyundai. In response, I was saying, not if it cost four times more (as would be the cost differential in the case of my particular hyundai) there are other things I would do with the extra 60k, either for my family or someone else's.

I am bummed that the attitude throughout this thread and so many others here seems to be that public eduction doesn't have any intrinsic merits of its own. everyone talks like private school is something that anyone in their right mind would do if only everyone had the money. And that simply isn't true for some of us. I am not trying to get into some sort of "gotcha" debate where the fact that public schools vary in quality is used to undermine my commitment to public education and to suggest that i'm a hypocrite because I haven't chosen the worst possible public school to send my kid to.

So my point, to reiterate, is this: Before you assume that everyone would do private if they had the funds, keep in mind that some of us can afford to and don't-- because we think that public provides some important advantages, for our kids, for our communities, and for our democracy.

that's all. I think there may be good reasons for some families and some kids to go private, for the record. But please don't forget that there are values that argue in the other direction, even if people on here prefer to look the other way.

[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.

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?

pp here. I am truly sorry if i offended you. I am honestly trying to be smug; to the contrary, this and other threads have me feeling down, not superior. I was picking up on the fact that the earlier poster said she drove a hyundai and that she would naturally rather drive an 80k audi than a hyundai. In response, I was saying, not if it cost four times more (as would be the cost differential in the case of my particular hyundai) there are other things I would do with the extra 60k, either for my family or someone else's.

I am bummed that the attitude throughout this thread and so many others here seems to be that public eduction doesn't have any intrinsic merits of its own. everyone talks like private school is something that anyone in their right mind would do if only everyone had the money. And that simply isn't true for some of us. I am not trying to get into some sort of "gotcha" debate where the fact that public schools vary in quality is used to undermine my commitment to public education and to suggest that i'm a hypocrite because I haven't chosen the worst possible public school to send my kid to.

So my point, to reiterate, is this: Before you assume that everyone would do private if they had the funds, keep in mind that some of us can afford to and don't-- because we think that public provides some important advantages, for our kids, for our communities, and for our democracy.

that's all. I think there may be good reasons for some families and some kids to go private, for the record. But please don't forget that there are values that argue in the other direction, even if people on here prefer to look the other way.

*honestly NOT trying to be smug

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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?

pp here. I am truly sorry if i offended you. I am honestly trying to be smug; to the contrary, this and other threads have me feeling down, not superior. I was picking up on the fact that the earlier poster said she drove a hyundai and that she would naturally rather drive an 80k audi than a hyundai. In response, I was saying, not if it cost four times more (as would be the cost differential in the case of my particular hyundai) there are other things I would do with the extra 60k, either for my family or someone else's.

I am bummed that the attitude throughout this thread and so many others here seems to be that public eduction doesn't have any intrinsic merits of its own. everyone talks like private school is something that anyone in their right mind would do if only everyone had the money. And that simply isn't true for some of us. I am not trying to get into some sort of "gotcha" debate where the fact that public schools vary in quality is used to undermine my commitment to public education and to suggest that i'm a hypocrite because I haven't chosen the worst possible public school to send my kid to.

So my point, to reiterate, is this: Before you assume that everyone would do private if they had the funds, keep in mind that some of us can afford to and don't-- because we think that public provides some important advantages, for our kids, for our communities, and for our democracy.

that's all. I think there may be good reasons for some families and some kids to go private, for the record. But please don't forget that there are values that argue in the other direction, even if people on here prefer to look the other way.

*honestly NOT trying to be smug

OK, didn't mean to bust your hump. I myself drive an inexpensive car

I also think the neighborhood model of lower school public education has huge merit. The citywide charter school / all-lottery system / San Fran model is still public of course but IMO loses a lot at the lower school level. Not saying such a school wouldn't have a compelling curriculum and nice teachers -- they might.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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?

pp here. I am truly sorry if i offended you. I am honestly trying to be smug; to the contrary, this and other threads have me feeling down, not superior. I was picking up on the fact that the earlier poster said she drove a hyundai and that she would naturally rather drive an 80k audi than a hyundai. In response, I was saying, not if it cost four times more (as would be the cost differential in the case of my particular hyundai) there are other things I would do with the extra 60k, either for my family or someone else's.

I am bummed that the attitude throughout this thread and so many others here seems to be that public eduction doesn't have any intrinsic merits of its own. everyone talks like private school is something that anyone in their right mind would do if only everyone had the money. And that simply isn't true for some of us. I am not trying to get into some sort of "gotcha" debate where the fact that public schools vary in quality is used to undermine my commitment to public education and to suggest that i'm a hypocrite because I haven't chosen the worst possible public school to send my kid to.

So my point, to reiterate, is this: Before you assume that everyone would do private if they had the funds, keep in mind that some of us can afford to and don't-- because we think that public provides some important advantages, for our kids, for our communities, and for our democracy.

that's all. I think there may be good reasons for some families and some kids to go private, for the record. But please don't forget that there are values that argue in the other direction, even if people on here prefer to look the other way.

*honestly NOT trying to be smug

So what are those values? (serious question). And, on the same token, would you like that your children attend in the future a public university?

[Anonymous]

Here's what you wrote, PP: "I ... 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 find that statement somewhat ridiculous as written, and perhaps you were just being flip, so maybe it's inappropriate for me to take what you wrote at face value. I sense you might be trying to explain your position more clearly now. If so, I'm all ears.

[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.

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?

pp here. I am truly sorry if i offended you. I am honestly trying to be smug; to the contrary, this and other threads have me feeling down, not superior. I was picking up on the fact that the earlier poster said she drove a hyundai and that she would naturally rather drive an 80k audi than a hyundai. In response, I was saying, not if it cost four times more (as would be the cost differential in the case of my particular hyundai) there are other things I would do with the extra 60k, either for my family or someone else's.

I am bummed that the attitude throughout this thread and so many others here seems to be that public eduction doesn't have any intrinsic merits of its own. everyone talks like private school is something that anyone in their right mind would do if only everyone had the money. And that simply isn't true for some of us. I am not trying to get into some sort of "gotcha" debate where the fact that public schools vary in quality is used to undermine my commitment to public education and to suggest that i'm a hypocrite because I haven't chosen the worst possible public school to send my kid to.

So my point, to reiterate, is this: Before you assume that everyone would do private if they had the funds, keep in mind that some of us can afford to and don't-- because we think that public provides some important advantages, for our kids, for our communities, and for our democracy.

that's all. I think there may be good reasons for some families and some kids to go private, for the record. But please don't forget that there are values that argue in the other direction, even if people on here prefer to look the other way.

Why?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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?

pp here. I am truly sorry if i offended you. I am honestly trying to be smug; to the contrary, this and other threads have me feeling down, not superior. I was picking up on the fact that the earlier poster said she drove a hyundai and that she would naturally rather drive an 80k audi than a hyundai. In response, I was saying, not if it cost four times more (as would be the cost differential in the case of my particular hyundai) there are other things I would do with the extra 60k, either for my family or someone else's.

I am bummed that the attitude throughout this thread and so many others here seems to be that public eduction doesn't have any intrinsic merits of its own. everyone talks like private school is something that anyone in their right mind would do if only everyone had the money. And that simply isn't true for some of us. I am not trying to get into some sort of "gotcha" debate where the fact that public schools vary in quality is used to undermine my commitment to public education and to suggest that i'm a hypocrite because I haven't chosen the worst possible public school to send my kid to.

So my point, to reiterate, is this: Before you assume that everyone would do private if they had the funds, keep in mind that some of us can afford to and don't-- because we think that public provides some important advantages, for our kids, for our communities, and for our democracy.

that's all. I think there may be good reasons for some families and some kids to go private, for the record. But please don't forget that there are values that argue in the other direction, even if people on here prefer to look the other way.

*honestly NOT trying to be smug

So what are those values? (serious question). And, on the same token, would you like that your children attend in the future a public university?

Not the PP but I agree with her sentiment. Even if we had the money for private I don't think we would do it. My husband and I both grew up in modest, blue collar neighborhoods and attended public school. We both excelled academically but we also learned important life lessons that I just don't think you get when surrounded by privilege. If I truly felt that my kids were not getting a proper education I would consider other options, but for now they are getting a great education at their DCPS so we will stick with it, even if we won the lottery.

[Anonymous]

Hmm. . . Not in DC, but we started out committed to public for K-5 for our two children, and then private thereafter, mainly because our well regarded public middle/high schools are very large and we wanted a smaller environment. The first three years in public were great, K teachers were excellent and thereafter, the school had tracked by reading level for reading, which meant the kids needing extra help were placed in small classes for reading and those needing extra challenge were in larger, but homogenous classes offering challenging materials. Math was always weak because differentiation didn't start until 3rd.

Then, parents at our school successfully resisted a planned redistricting which would have place some children at a brand new, state of the art school, leading to class size going from approximate 20 kids per class to approximate 30 kids. Those ten kids make a huge difference. Then decision was made at a county level to go towards mixed class rooms instead of tracking for math (after 3rd) and reading. Compacted math is no longer offered (formerly was in third grade). Huge difference between two hours of reading in a homogenous group and 30 kids divided in three reading groups, each of which gets about 20 minutes one on one time with teacher. I have no issues with common core in principle, but implementation has been a bit bumpy with some of the curriculum being poorly developed when given to teachers. Kids get specials one a week with gym being a special. Recess is 15 minutes a day after kindergarten. No foreign language is offered. What we learned was that in public you are at the mercy of the Board of Ed and they may make decisions that are not what you want for your children.

Kids now in 4th and 1st and we are moving to private. Class size will be 15 for most subjects. Gym multiple times a week. More recess time and more than one special a day. Math is more advanced than at our local public (which was not true a mere three years ago). Foreign language taught starting in first. Stronger computer science offerings in lower school (coding basics, some robotics, use of technology such as imovie for class projects). More time spent on science and social studies.

But private is hugely expensive. If financing it was an issue, I would wait until middle school for private and supplement out the wazoo afterschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm. . . Not in DC, but we started out committed to public for K-5 for our two children, and then private thereafter, mainly because our well regarded public middle/high schools are very large and we wanted a smaller environment. The first three years in public were great, K teachers were excellent and thereafter, the school had tracked by reading level for reading, which meant the kids needing extra help were placed in small classes for reading and those needing extra challenge were in larger, but homogenous classes offering challenging materials. Math was always weak because differentiation didn't start until 3rd.

Then, parents at our school successfully resisted a planned redistricting which would have place some children at a brand new, state of the art school, leading to class size going from approximate 20 kids per class to approximate 30 kids. Those ten kids make a huge difference. Then decision was made at a county level to go towards mixed class rooms instead of tracking for math (after 3rd) and reading. Compacted math is no longer offered (formerly was in third grade). Huge difference between two hours of reading in a homogenous group and 30 kids divided in three reading groups, each of which gets about 20 minutes one on one time with teacher. I have no issues with common core in principle, but implementation has been a bit bumpy with some of the curriculum being poorly developed when given to teachers. Kids get specials one a week with gym being a special. Recess is 15 minutes a day after kindergarten. No foreign language is offered. What we learned was that in public you are at the mercy of the Board of Ed and they may make decisions that are not what you want for your children.

Kids now in 4th and 1st and we are moving to private. Class size will be 15 for most subjects. Gym multiple times a week. More recess time and more than one special a day. Math is more advanced than at our local public (which was not true a mere three years ago). Foreign language taught starting in first. Stronger computer science offerings in lower school (coding basics, some robotics, use of technology such as imovie for class projects). More time spent on science and social studies.

But private is hugely expensive. If financing it was an issue, I would wait until middle school for private and supplement out the wazoo afterschool.

Then you really shouldn't be commenting on the super-specific question asked: "please assess these seven schools."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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?

pp here. I am truly sorry if i offended you. I am honestly trying to be smug; to the contrary, this and other threads have me feeling down, not superior. I was picking up on the fact that the earlier poster said she drove a hyundai and that she would naturally rather drive an 80k audi than a hyundai. In response, I was saying, not if it cost four times more (as would be the cost differential in the case of my particular hyundai) there are other things I would do with the extra 60k, either for my family or someone else's.

I am bummed that the attitude throughout this thread and so many others here seems to be that public eduction doesn't have any intrinsic merits of its own. everyone talks like private school is something that anyone in their right mind would do if only everyone had the money. And that simply isn't true for some of us. I am not trying to get into some sort of "gotcha" debate where the fact that public schools vary in quality is used to undermine my commitment to public education and to suggest that i'm a hypocrite because I haven't chosen the worst possible public school to send my kid to.

So my point, to reiterate, is this: Before you assume that everyone would do private if they had the funds, keep in mind that some of us can afford to and don't-- because we think that public provides some important advantages, for our kids, for our communities, and for our democracy.

that's all. I think there may be good reasons for some families and some kids to go private, for the record. But please don't forget that there are values that argue in the other direction, even if people on here prefer to look the other way.

*honestly NOT trying to be smug

So what are those values? (serious question). And, on the same token, would you like that your children attend in the future a public university?

Not the PP but I agree with her sentiment. Even if we had the money for private I don't think we would do it. My husband and I both grew up in modest, blue collar neighborhoods and attended public school. We both excelled academically but we also learned important life lessons that I just don't think you get when surrounded by privilege. If I truly felt that my kids were not getting a proper education I would consider other options, but for now they are getting a great education at their DCPS so we will stick with it, even if we won the lottery.

Absolutely!

I want my kids to meet children from all walks of life and to learn how to be open to everyone. I want them to understand that not everyone comes from a privileged background. I want them to have friends in their neighborhood. I want them to see diversity -- racially, ethnically, religiously and most importantly socio economically. I want them to understand that education is a right, not a privilege. And I want to support public schools by sending my kids to them, not have the higher SES kids with the most involved, educated parents creamed off to some stuck up private school that they drive half way across the city to attend. Public schools are for everyone not just those who can't afford private school and we should ALL be supporting them for them to improve and meet our needs.

And beyond all that, I think you guys are crazy for wasting your money on something that you have already paid for through your tax dollars. I am certain that my children's public charter school is as good as or better than any of your privates. Truly. You are kidding yourself if you think that the tens of thousands that you pay has any other impact but snob value and some networking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hmm. . . Not in DC, but we started out committed to public for K-5 for our two children, and then private thereafter, mainly because our well regarded public middle/high schools are very large and we wanted a smaller environment. The first three years in public were great, K teachers were excellent and thereafter, the school had tracked by reading level for reading, which meant the kids needing extra help were placed in small classes for reading and those needing extra challenge were in larger, but homogenous classes offering challenging materials. Math was always weak because differentiation didn't start until 3rd.

Then, parents at our school successfully resisted a planned redistricting which would have place some children at a brand new, state of the art school, leading to class size going from approximate 20 kids per class to approximate 30 kids. Those ten kids make a huge difference. Then decision was made at a county level to go towards mixed class rooms instead of tracking for math (after 3rd) and reading. Compacted math is no longer offered (formerly was in third grade). Huge difference between two hours of reading in a homogenous group and 30 kids divided in three reading groups, each of which gets about 20 minutes one on one time with teacher. I have no issues with common core in principle, but implementation has been a bit bumpy with some of the curriculum being poorly developed when given to teachers. Kids get specials one a week with gym being a special. Recess is 15 minutes a day after kindergarten. No foreign language is offered. What we learned was that in public you are at the mercy of the Board of Ed and they may make decisions that are not what you want for your children.

Kids now in 4th and 1st and we are moving to private. Class size will be 15 for most subjects. Gym multiple times a week. More recess time and more than one special a day. Math is more advanced than at our local public (which was not true a mere three years ago). Foreign language taught starting in first. Stronger computer science offerings in lower school (coding basics, some robotics, use of technology such as imovie for class projects). More time spent on science and social studies.

But private is hugely expensive. If financing it was an issue, I would wait until middle school for private and supplement out the wazoo afterschool.

Then you really shouldn't be commenting on the super-specific question asked: "please assess these seven schools."

I think the risks of what could go wrong in public are equally applicable to DC, especially since there is an overcrowding problem in some of the highly regarded dc public schools and a fairly unpredictable BOE.

[Anonymous]

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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?

pp here. I am truly sorry if i offended you. I am honestly trying to be smug; to the contrary, this and other threads have me feeling down, not superior. I was picking up on the fact that the earlier poster said she drove a hyundai and that she would naturally rather drive an 80k audi than a hyundai. In response, I was saying, not if it cost four times more (as would be the cost differential in the case of my particular hyundai) there are other things I would do with the extra 60k, either for my family or someone else's.

I am bummed that the attitude throughout this thread and so many others here seems to be that public eduction doesn't have any intrinsic merits of its own. everyone talks like private school is something that anyone in their right mind would do if only everyone had the money. And that simply isn't true for some of us. I am not trying to get into some sort of "gotcha" debate where the fact that public schools vary in quality is used to undermine my commitment to public education and to suggest that i'm a hypocrite because I haven't chosen the worst possible public school to send my kid to.

So my point, to reiterate, is this: Before you assume that everyone would do private if they had the funds, keep in mind that some of us can afford to and don't-- because we think that public provides some important advantages, for our kids, for our communities, and for our democracy.

that's all. I think there may be good reasons for some families and some kids to go private, for the record. But please don't forget that there are values that argue in the other direction, even if people on here prefer to look the other way.

*honestly NOT trying to be smug

So what are those values? (serious question). And, on the same token, would you like that your children attend in the future a public university?

Not the PP but I agree with her sentiment. Even if we had the money for private I don't think we would do it. My husband and I both grew up in modest, blue collar neighborhoods and attended public school. We both excelled academically but we also learned important life lessons that I just don't think you get when surrounded by privilege. If I truly felt that my kids were not getting a proper education I would consider other options, but for now they are getting a great education at their DCPS so we will stick with it, even if we won the lottery.

Absolutely!

I want my kids to meet children from all walks of life and to learn how to be open to everyone. I want them to understand that not everyone comes from a privileged background. I want them to have friends in their neighborhood. I want them to see diversity -- racially, ethnically, religiously and most importantly socio economically. I want them to understand that education is a right, not a privilege. And I want to support public schools by sending my kids to them, not have the higher SES kids with the most involved, educated parents creamed off to some stuck up private school that they drive half way across the city to attend. Public schools are for everyone not just those who can't afford private school and we should ALL be supporting them for them to improve and meet our needs.

And beyond all that, I think you guys are crazy for wasting your money on something that you have already paid for through your tax dollars. I am certain that my children's public charter school is as good as or better than any of your privates. Truly. You are kidding yourself if you think that the tens of thousands that you pay has any other impact but snob value and some networking.

This is silly. There are definitely differences between schools and each has its own set of pros and cons. Different people evaluate them differently. But to say all the privates have going is "snob appeal and networking" tells me you aren't interested in actually looking at the differences and have a huge chip on your shoulder.

[Anonymous]

And besides the point, not everyone gets into cgarters, if we were even to accept your premise. Don't be so judgemental.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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?

pp here. I am truly sorry if i offended you. I am honestly trying to be smug; to the contrary, this and other threads have me feeling down, not superior. I was picking up on the fact that the earlier poster said she drove a hyundai and that she would naturally rather drive an 80k audi than a hyundai. In response, I was saying, not if it cost four times more (as would be the cost differential in the case of my particular hyundai) there are other things I would do with the extra 60k, either for my family or someone else's.

I am bummed that the attitude throughout this thread and so many others here seems to be that public eduction doesn't have any intrinsic merits of its own. everyone talks like private school is something that anyone in their right mind would do if only everyone had the money. And that simply isn't true for some of us. I am not trying to get into some sort of "gotcha" debate where the fact that public schools vary in quality is used to undermine my commitment to public education and to suggest that i'm a hypocrite because I haven't chosen the worst possible public school to send my kid to.

So my point, to reiterate, is this: Before you assume that everyone would do private if they had the funds, keep in mind that some of us can afford to and don't-- because we think that public provides some important advantages, for our kids, for our communities, and for our democracy.

that's all. I think there may be good reasons for some families and some kids to go private, for the record. But please don't forget that there are values that argue in the other direction, even if people on here prefer to look the other way.

*honestly NOT trying to be smug

So what are those values? (serious question). And, on the same token, would you like that your children attend in the future a public university?

Not the PP but I agree with her sentiment. Even if we had the money for private I don't think we would do it. My husband and I both grew up in modest, blue collar neighborhoods and attended public school. We both excelled academically but we also learned important life lessons that I just don't think you get when surrounded by privilege. If I truly felt that my kids were not getting a proper education I would consider other options, but for now they are getting a great education at their DCPS so we will stick with it, even if we won the lottery.

Absolutely!

I want my kids to meet children from all walks of life and to learn how to be open to everyone. I want them to understand that not everyone comes from a privileged background. I want them to have friends in their neighborhood. I want them to see diversity -- racially, ethnically, religiously and most importantly socio economically. I want them to understand that education is a right, not a privilege. And I want to support public schools by sending my kids to them, not have the higher SES kids with the most involved, educated parents creamed off to some stuck up private school that they drive half way across the city to attend. Public schools are for everyone not just those who can't afford private school and we should ALL be supporting them for them to improve and meet our needs.

.

I enjoyed your rousing soapbox speech. I also really, really strongly suspect that you do not live anywhere near Ward 3, District of Columbia. That is the area that is the subject of this thread, by the way. Not "private schools in general everywhere."

Here's why: if you, and any subsequent posters (!!) actually knew the neighborhoods surrounding Janney, Key, Mann, Lafayette and to a lesser extent, Murch, you would understand that 95% of the children attending these public schools are not from "all walks of life." They are all from "a privileged background." They are NOT socio-economicallly diverse. They all, with very very few exceptions, are the products of parents in the highest SES bands in the entire United States.

This is a fact. True, there are handfuls of somewhat lower income renters at a handful of these schools but the numbers do not lie.