Parents who went to Big 3 private who chose to send their kids public

[Anonymous]

So, a friend (whose opinion I respect) was shocked when I told her I wasn't going to apply to send my 5 year old to the Big 3 private we attended. We are inbound for a good public. I'm pregnant again, so we will soon have two that we'd need to pay for if we chose the private route. Could we swing it? Sure -- if we downsized our house, moved to a crappier neighborhood (or one further out), nixed vacations, and scrimped and budgeted every dollar. But I'd rather use that money to pay for other experiences for them -- trips abroad, music lessons, art, supplemental activities and, if they need it, private tutoring. And we live in a great family-friendly neighborhood that we love.

There is no doubt that the Big 3 we attended is a superior school to the good public we're in bound for. But we don't think it's worth the sacrifices we'd have to make. That said, she is making me second guess our decision. "Why wouldn't you want the best for them?" That hurt, but we're close enough that we're always brutally honest with each other.

Are there any other parents here who went to a Big 3 (or other private in the area) who decided to send their kids public? And why did you make that choice?

[Anonymous]

I went to fancy private in a different city and send my kids public here. I firmly believe it is better for them. But you have to own the choice. Smile at her and say you are very happy with your choice.

[Anonymous]

Are you folks considering private for MS or HS? The overcrowding at Deal and Wilson just seems like it would not be ideal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you folks considering private for MS or HS? The overcrowding at Deal and Wilson just seems like it would not be ideal.

Why are you assuming they are IB for Deal and Wilson?

[Anonymous]

We send our kids to Janney and I probably know about 40 parents who went to Sidwell or Beauvoir for elementary and now send their kids to Janney.

Some could now easily afford a Big 3 and choose not to and for some it would be a stretch (a ratio which is fairly representative of the Janney study body as a whole).

[Anonymous]

How much better can the private teach the ABCs than a good public? Why not do private in middle school and/or in high school? You can save money, you kids can say experience both-public and private and really, middle school is where the US kids fall behind other kids from abroad. Public elementary here is great in my experience.

[Anonymous]

So you are ok with the sacrifices your parents made, but aren't willing to do the same for your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you folks considering private for MS or HS? The overcrowding at Deal and Wilson just seems like it would not be ideal.

Without saying what school we're inbound for, yes we are considering either private for MS/HS or moving to MoCo (but just over the border). Not happy with the inbound MS or Wilson at this point. But things can change in 6 years.

[Anonymous]

I would first question if they could afford it. Completely different if they could and chose public. I would suspect most of they people who are the type to not miss 40k a year don't opt to send their kids to D.C. Public, a few sure but not many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you are ok with the sacrifices your parents made, but aren't willing to do the same for your kids?

Huh? You have no idea what my circumstances were.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would first question if they could afford it. Completely different if they could and chose public. I would suspect most of they people who are the type to not miss 40k a year don't opt to send their kids to D.C. Public, a few sure but not many.

This isn't true. We are another family who will be sending our kids to public elementary and we can afford it. We simply value neighborhood elementary schools. I also have no interest in playing the private school admissions game and then having to donate to the school. The tuition has reached a level that's silly and I don't believe in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you are ok with the sacrifices your parents made, but aren't willing to do the same for your kids?

Some people think the public education is BETTER.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you are ok with the sacrifices your parents made, but aren't willing to do the same for your kids?

Some people think the public education is BETTER.

Lol. Only because they don't really comprehend the differences

[Anonymous]

Tell me the naysayers that times have changed in the city, really changed. Ten years ago, most of us with elementary school age children EotP would have bought houses in Upper NW, chosen privates, or bailed to the burbs by middle school.

[Anonymous]

I went to a big 3 and both my kids are in dcps elementary school. At least in ES, I think the neighborhood community is more valuable than whatever educational advantages private school would offer. That calculus might change in MS or HS.