Private school for half the cost, would you do it?

[Anonymous]

If you want to be able to travel freely you will need to Home School (maybe with a co-option and private hired teachers) or a private school. With DCPS or DCPCS you will be reported to CPS if you miss more than 10 days per school year. I suppose you could move to a good IB school unenroll & re enroll after your longer trips.
If we could afford private school out right I would apply to several in the area. As it stands we will be aplying to for Elementary to a few of the more affordable ones and hope for a bit of a scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to be able to travel freely you will need to Home School (maybe with a co-option and private hired teachers) or a private school. With DCPS or DCPCS you will be reported to CPS if you miss more than 10 days per school year. I suppose you could move to a good IB school unenroll & re enroll after your longer trips.
If we could afford private school out right I would apply to several in the area. As it stands we will be aplying to for Elementary to a few of the more affordable ones and hope for a bit of a scholarship.

OP here. We only travel during Christmas time (usually miss 4/5 days max) and summer (2-3 months, but miss no school day). I think it won’t be a Problem in our case

[Anonymous]

Personally, I would never pay $40K a year for something I could get for free. In my mind that is just crazy and is throwing money away.

Do you really, really think that some private school will educate your kids so much better--$40K better--than a perfectly good public school like Murch? The kids are not learning something esoteric like nuclear physics. Learning to read and write and do math, assuming you come from an educated family that is providing all the kinds of at-home support that educated families do, is pretty much the same everywhere. What would, exactly, they be getting for that $40K?

If you can afford to move in-bounds to a decent NW public school, do that and save your money for retirement. Or give it away. Or use the money to give your kids highly, enriching summer experiences. Adding up year after year, that is a shitload of money.

I am a highly educated person and I have my kids in a decent, free, public charter school here in DC. We go play in Beauvoir's lovely playground on the weekends. For free. I am saving money for my kids' college educations and my retirement.

[Anonymous]

P.S. I have friends who have invited me to their kids' functions at Beauvoir/National Cathedral School, and school events are held....in the cathedral. I mean, that is not a remotely normal American experience. When I was growing up, school events were held in the auditorium that doubled as a gymnasium where we had gym class. And it was perfectly fine.

Look if you are not comfortable with how much money Americans spend on stuff, then why send your kids to a school where they will be hanging around with families that have HUGE amounts of extra income and spend lavishly and think that is normal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I would never pay $40K a year for something I could get for free. In my mind that is just crazy and is throwing money away.

Do you really, really think that some private school will educate your kids so much better--$40K better--than a perfectly good public school like Murch? The kids are not learning something esoteric like nuclear physics. Learning to read and write and do math, assuming you come from an educated family that is providing all the kinds of at-home support that educated families do, is pretty much the same everywhere. What would, exactly, they be getting for that $40K?

If you can afford to move in-bounds to a decent NW public school, do that and save your money for retirement. Or give it away. Or use the money to give your kids highly, enriching summer experiences. Adding up year after year, that is a shitload of money.

I am a highly educated person and I have my kids in a decent, free, public charter school here in DC. We go play in Beauvoir's lovely playground on the weekends. For free. I am saving money for my kids' college educations and my retirement.

OP here. We would be paying half of what other people pay so, as of now, it’s a little less than 20k. We can afford to move to a better school district. The way i see it, in private school my khusband DS will get a lot more attention, but not necessarily better teachers. At 6 years old I am not sure we need teachers with PhDs, butbhaving half of the kids per class should make a big difference, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I would never pay $40K a year for something I could get for free. In my mind that is just crazy and is throwing money away.

Do you really, really think that some private school will educate your kids so much better--$40K better--than a perfectly good public school like Murch? The kids are not learning something esoteric like nuclear physics. Learning to read and write and do math, assuming you come from an educated family that is providing all the kinds of at-home support that educated families do, is pretty much the same everywhere. What would, exactly, they be getting for that $40K?

If you can afford to move in-bounds to a decent NW public school, do that and save your money for retirement. Or give it away. Or use the money to give your kids highly, enriching summer experiences. Adding up year after year, that is a shitload of money.

I am a highly educated person and I have my kids in a decent, free, public charter school here in DC. We go play in Beauvoir's lovely playground on the weekends. For free. I am saving money for my kids' college educations and my retirement.

OP here. We would be paying half of what other people pay so, as of now, it’s a little less than 20k. We can afford to move to a better school district. The way i see it, in private school my khusband DS will get a lot more attention, but not necessarily better teachers. At 6 years old I am not sure we need teachers with PhDs, butbhaving half of the kids per class should make a big difference, right?

My *kids* not *khusband DS*... how weird

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:P.S. I have friends who have invited me to their kids' functions at Beauvoir/National Cathedral School, and school events are held....in the cathedral. I mean, that is not a remotely normal American experience. When I was growing up, school events were held in the auditorium that doubled as a gymnasium where we had gym class. And it was perfectly fine.

Look if you are not comfortable with how much money Americans spend on stuff, then why send your kids to a school where they will be hanging around with families that have HUGE amounts of extra income and spend lavishly and think that is normal?

OP here. I am not uncomfortable. I just don’t know how to spend like they do (thankfully) so I am able to afford things that people at my HHI would not be able to afford. For example, my nanny has a MUCH better and newer car than we do. She has 2-3 TVs (we only have one and we don’t have cable tv). She eats out quite often (we eat out maybe once a month). And my nanny sends her kids to our not good public highschool option (Columbia Heights educational campus) and has no money for vacations. We just come from a different place where people that made the same amount of money we made would be rich, but still would not spend as much as a much poorer average American. But I do not feel uncomfortable at all... I really do not care to be honest and don’t really think much of it. Maybe I am glad we are different, but do not judge either way.

[Anonymous]

I’m in a similar situation as my DH is at the Fund so we have an even better deal whereby we pay only 25% of the private school fees for my two kids who are now 10 and 8. We are lucky that we are only paying $20,000 a year but I do wonder whether that is money well spent. Of course, I will never know how they would go in public school unless I swap them over. However, both are sensitive and my DS is anxious and quite reserved so I suspect he might find it difficult and the switch would be stressful.

I wish I had done things differently. In hindsight, I would have started my kids at our local public school and then switched to private if I had felt there was a need. It’s difficult to change trajectory after they’ve been in private school for some years and it would seem cruel to change them just to see how they would go given the anxiety issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:P.S. I have friends who have invited me to their kids' functions at Beauvoir/National Cathedral School, and school events are held....in the cathedral. I mean, that is not a remotely normal American experience. When I was growing up, school events were held in the auditorium that doubled as a gymnasium where we had gym class. And it was perfectly fine.

Look if you are not comfortable with how much money Americans spend on stuff, then why send your kids to a school where they will be hanging around with families that have HUGE amounts of extra income and spend lavishly and think that is normal?

Agree. I think this is more of a class discussion than anything. Do you want to be part of/have your kids be part of the upper class? Do you want to meet those people daily? Do you want your kids to have expensive tastes?

I grew up decidedly middle class (not "DC middle class") and I'm so glad I have Toyota tastes not BMW tastes, because it means we have more money for other things that are not material, and we do those cheaply too. I am hoping my kids do not grow up thinking money is everything. And that's maybe what you're in for when your kids are aware they are rich, their entire lives. I realize if you actually do have money and "pretend" you don't that's kind of obnoxious also, I don't think we're in that category though. But, I was brought up to think working class values are better than upper class values. Maybe that's another form of snobbery but it's why I'd never go private unless we lived someplace that didn't have any good schools at all. DC does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:P.S. I have friends who have invited me to their kids' functions at Beauvoir/National Cathedral School, and school events are held....in the cathedral. I mean, that is not a remotely normal American experience. When I was growing up, school events were held in the auditorium that doubled as a gymnasium where we had gym class. And it was perfectly fine.

Look if you are not comfortable with how much money Americans spend on stuff, then why send your kids to a school where they will be hanging around with families that have HUGE amounts of extra income and spend lavishly and think that is normal?

Agree. I think this is more of a class discussion than anything. Do you want to be part of/have your kids be part of the upper class? Do you want to meet those people daily? Do you want your kids to have expensive tastes?

I grew up decidedly middle class (not "DC middle class") and I'm so glad I have Toyota tastes not BMW tastes, because it means we have more money for other things that are not material, and we do those cheaply too. I am hoping my kids do not grow up thinking money is everything. And that's maybe what you're in for when your kids are aware they are rich, their entire lives. I realize if you actually do have money and "pretend" you don't that's kind of obnoxious also, I don't think we're in that category though. But, I was brought up to think working class values are better than upper class values. Maybe that's another form of snobbery but it's why I'd never go private unless we lived someplace that didn't have any good schools at all. DC does.

ps - or worse, think they're poor when they're anything but, because their peers at the private school are uber-wealthy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:P.S. I have friends who have invited me to their kids' functions at Beauvoir/National Cathedral School, and school events are held....in the cathedral. I mean, that is not a remotely normal American experience. When I was growing up, school events were held in the auditorium that doubled as a gymnasium where we had gym class. And it was perfectly fine.

Look if you are not comfortable with how much money Americans spend on stuff, then why send your kids to a school where they will be hanging around with families that have HUGE amounts of extra income and spend lavishly and think that is normal?

Agree. I think this is more of a class discussion than anything. Do you want to be part of/have your kids be part of the upper class? Do you want to meet those people daily? Do you want your kids to have expensive tastes?

I grew up decidedly middle class (not "DC middle class") and I'm so glad I have Toyota tastes not BMW tastes, because it means we have more money for other things that are not material, and we do those cheaply too. I am hoping my kids do not grow up thinking money is everything. And that's maybe what you're in for when your kids are aware they are rich, their entire lives. I realize if you actually do have money and "pretend" you don't that's kind of obnoxious also, I don't think we're in that category though. But, I was brought up to think working class values are better than upper class values. Maybe that's another form of snobbery but it's why I'd never go private unless we lived someplace that didn't have any good schools at all. DC does.

OP here. This is really NOT a class discussion at all. I want my kids to be in the best education environment we can afford. If that means that they will be surrounded by the richest kids in DC so be it, but I would never purposefully enroll my kids in a school because they will be able to be surrounded by rich kids. I have nothing against any type of class or richness levels. If what’s best for my kids is small class size (as I suspect especially for the elementary school years) and we can afford it, then that is what I want for them. I am comfortable rubbing elbows with the richest and poorest people in DC as long as they care about their kids’ education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:P.S. I have friends who have invited me to their kids' functions at Beauvoir/National Cathedral School, and school events are held....in the cathedral. I mean, that is not a remotely normal American experience. When I was growing up, school events were held in the auditorium that doubled as a gymnasium where we had gym class. And it was perfectly fine.

Look if you are not comfortable with how much money Americans spend on stuff, then why send your kids to a school where they will be hanging around with families that have HUGE amounts of extra income and spend lavishly and think that is normal?

Agree. I think this is more of a class discussion than anything. Do you want to be part of/have your kids be part of the upper class? Do you want to meet those people daily? Do you want your kids to have expensive tastes?

I grew up decidedly middle class (not "DC middle class") and I'm so glad I have Toyota tastes not BMW tastes, because it means we have more money for other things that are not material, and we do those cheaply too. I am hoping my kids do not grow up thinking money is everything. And that's maybe what you're in for when your kids are aware they are rich, their entire lives. I realize if you actually do have money and "pretend" you don't that's kind of obnoxious also, I don't think we're in that category though. But, I was brought up to think working class values are better than upper class values. Maybe that's another form of snobbery but it's why I'd never go private unless we lived someplace that didn't have any good schools at all. DC does.

OP here. This is really NOT a class discussion at all. I want my kids to be in the best education environment we can afford. If that means that they will be surrounded by the richest kids in DC so be it, but I would never purposefully enroll my kids in a school because they will be able to be surrounded by rich kids. I have nothing against any type of class or richness levels. If what’s best for my kids is small class size (as I suspect especially for the elementary school years) and we can afford it, then that is what I want for them. I am comfortable rubbing elbows with the richest and poorest people in DC as long as they care about their kids’ education.

I think you are really not giving enough thought to the question of fit with the school community. There is more to the school than the # of kids in a class. For your reference, our friends who are a Bank/Fund couple could have sent their children to Beauvoir, but decided against it after they sat in a couple of parent functions. They could not see themselves fit with the people they saw around. And this couple has a higher HHI than you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:P.S. I have friends who have invited me to their kids' functions at Beauvoir/National Cathedral School, and school events are held....in the cathedral. I mean, that is not a remotely normal American experience. When I was growing up, school events were held in the auditorium that doubled as a gymnasium where we had gym class. And it was perfectly fine.

Look if you are not comfortable with how much money Americans spend on stuff, then why send your kids to a school where they will be hanging around with families that have HUGE amounts of extra income and spend lavishly and think that is normal?

Agree. I think this is more of a class discussion than anything. Do you want to be part of/have your kids be part of the upper class? Do you want to meet those people daily? Do you want your kids to have expensive tastes?

I grew up decidedly middle class (not "DC middle class") and I'm so glad I have Toyota tastes not BMW tastes, because it means we have more money for other things that are not material, and we do those cheaply too. I am hoping my kids do not grow up thinking money is everything. And that's maybe what you're in for when your kids are aware they are rich, their entire lives. I realize if you actually do have money and "pretend" you don't that's kind of obnoxious also, I don't think we're in that category though. But, I was brought up to think working class values are better than upper class values. Maybe that's another form of snobbery but it's why I'd never go private unless we lived someplace that didn't have any good schools at all. DC does.

OP here. This is really NOT a class discussion at all. I want my kids to be in the best education environment we can afford. If that means that they will be surrounded by the richest kids in DC so be it, but I would never purposefully enroll my kids in a school because they will be able to be surrounded by rich kids. I have nothing against any type of class or richness levels. If what’s best for my kids is small class size (as I suspect especially for the elementary school years) and we can afford it, then that is what I want for them. I am comfortable rubbing elbows with the richest and poorest people in DC as long as they care about their kids’ education.

I think you are really not giving enough thought to the question of fit with the school community. There is more to the school than the # of kids in a class. For your reference, our friends who are a Bank/Fund couple could have sent their children to Beauvoir, but decided against it after they sat in a couple of parent functions. They could not see themselves fit with the people they saw around. And this couple has a higher HHI than you.

OP here. I am sure all schools in NW DC are full of international, very educated, but not so rich people. Why would we not fit in? In our current preschool there are many families that will end up at Beauvoir or similar places and we all get along really well. Are you saying that unless you are very wealthy, Protestant and from and old American family you won’t fit in? I am sure you are wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:P.S. I have friends who have invited me to their kids' functions at Beauvoir/National Cathedral School, and school events are held....in the cathedral. I mean, that is not a remotely normal American experience. When I was growing up, school events were held in the auditorium that doubled as a gymnasium where we had gym class. And it was perfectly fine.

Look if you are not comfortable with how much money Americans spend on stuff, then why send your kids to a school where they will be hanging around with families that have HUGE amounts of extra income and spend lavishly and think that is normal?

Agree. I think this is more of a class discussion than anything. Do you want to be part of/have your kids be part of the upper class? Do you want to meet those people daily? Do you want your kids to have expensive tastes?

I grew up decidedly middle class (not "DC middle class") and I'm so glad I have Toyota tastes not BMW tastes, because it means we have more money for other things that are not material, and we do those cheaply too. I am hoping my kids do not grow up thinking money is everything. And that's maybe what you're in for when your kids are aware they are rich, their entire lives. I realize if you actually do have money and "pretend" you don't that's kind of obnoxious also, I don't think we're in that category though. But, I was brought up to think working class values are better than upper class values. Maybe that's another form of snobbery but it's why I'd never go private unless we lived someplace that didn't have any good schools at all. DC does.

OP here. This is really NOT a class discussion at all. I want my kids to be in the best education environment we can afford. If that means that they will be surrounded by the richest kids in DC so be it, but I would never purposefully enroll my kids in a school because they will be able to be surrounded by rich kids. I have nothing against any type of class or richness levels. If what’s best for my kids is small class size (as I suspect especially for the elementary school years) and we can afford it, then that is what I want for them. I am comfortable rubbing elbows with the richest and poorest people in DC as long as they care about their kids’ education.

I think you are really not giving enough thought to the question of fit with the school community. There is more to the school than the # of kids in a class. For your reference, our friends who are a Bank/Fund couple could have sent their children to Beauvoir, but decided against it after they sat in a couple of parent functions. They could not see themselves fit with the people they saw around. And this couple has a higher HHI than you.

This assumes that public options are necessarily worse educational environments.

There is more to an education than what the teacher can impart academically. Although this is obviously key, it can be found in many environments. Another question is what ELSE is the child learning in that environment, about what matters in life, about different kinds of people and backgrounds, about who they are as a person.

[Anonymous]

Another key point is that we all do the best that we can for our kids.

OP, good luck no matter which path you choose!